Almost Home
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almosthomefilm

Feature-length documentary that examines the many challenges people face when they get released from prison.
Many congrats to these formerly incarcerated GRADU Many congrats to these formerly incarcerated GRADUATES from our film!! 🎓 Can you believe there were 29 graduates of the @palomarcollegerisingscholars program this year?! They overcame so many obstacles to get to this incredible moment and now they are officially college graduates. Wow!! We can’t wait to see what’s next for them. 🙌🏼 We also want to acknowledge our fallen brother, Jesse, who passed away in December 2024 and earned his A.A. posthumously. The photo of him throwing his cap was from 2024, when he earned a certificate in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies. Rest in peace, beautiful Jesse. We love and miss you always. ♥️ #graduation #classof2025 #risingscholars #almosthomefilm
Wow check out this awesome review just in from Ind Wow check out this awesome review just in from Independent Film Guide @filmthreat !! Here’s a snippet: “Directed by Bill Wisneski, Almost Home: Life After Incarceration explores the uphill battle formerly incarcerated individuals face as they reenter society with limited support and overwhelming odds. The film powerfully illustrates how giving hope and structure to people statistically expected to fail can break cycles of trauma and open doors to transformation.... The documentary’s narrative is great as it introduces the participants of the program and documentary and just lets the camera roll. Almost Home: Life After Incarceration doesn’t waste time with theories—it shows a program that actually works.” Read more here (Link in Bio): https://filmthreat.com/reviews/almost-home-life-after-incarceration-ang/ #almosthomefilm #incarceration #filmreview #filmthreat
Did you know word is spreading around the nation o Did you know word is spreading around the nation of our award-winning film?! Requests for screenings of Almost Home continue to come in from across the country. People are giving the film’s message a chance and being that it is #secondchancemonth we are so grateful to see the voices from our film being heard! Have you seen it yet? If you haven’t caught the FULL film yet, it’s available to stream now for FREE! Please watch and SHARE! 🎥 [Link in Bio] www.almosthomefilm.com #almosthomefilm #educationnotincarceration #documentary #streamingnow
Wow, Almost Home has been honored with another awa Wow, Almost Home has been honored with another award! 🤩 Thanks to the @impactdocsawards for recognizing our film with the Award of Excellence Special Mention - an award that is actually one of the top ten awards from this competition!! They had this to say: “The judges firmly believe that your entry was exceptional, showing a depth of craft and creativity that is truly unique!” This is just another testimony to all of the stories shared by those who appeared in our film - without them this film wouldn’t have been possible. Your voices ARE being heard and you ARE helping in raising awareness. Thank you!! #almosthomefilm #impactdocsawards #documentaryfilm #award #risingscholars #formerlyincarcerated
WOW! The program, Rising Scholars, that is feature WOW! The program, Rising Scholars, that is featured in our film just received a huge honor in the San Diego County area! The County has declared December 10th as Palomar College Rising Scholars Day for the “outstanding service, leadership, and commitment to the citizens of San Diego County.” What well deserved recognition for an amazing program we were so fortunate to highlight in our film. See more in the article: Link in Bio! #risingscholarsday #almosthomefilm
Hola! Habla Español? Good news - our film is now Hola! Habla Español? Good news - our film is now streaming in SPANISH! We know many of you asked for a version you could share or watch with Spanish subtitles and now it's here! Find it on our Vimeo channel here (Link in Bio)! During this week of gratitude and Thanksgiving, we can't help but also recognize one major thing -- we are SO thankful to you all for helping us share the important message of this film! #almosthomefilm #spanish #thanksgiving #gratitude
If you were looking for another way to stream our If you were looking for another way to stream our film online, your moment has come! 🙌🏼 Catch it now on YouTube (Link in Bio) and remember to SHARE! https://youtu.be/GciyvJGNfno?si=Tp5NZbg8d_vtE7N4 #almosthomefilm #nowstreaming #nowplaying
Exciting News! 🤩 We’ve been awarded an Award Exciting News! 🤩 We’ve been awarded an Award of Excellence Special Mention from the @indiefestfilmawards this past month! We feel honored to get recognized in this way for our documentary. They had this to say about the film in their review: “Emmy winner Wisneski delivers a powerful film exploring the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals and the transformative impact of education. Following students in a groundbreaking program at a SoCal community college, the film reveals how education heals trauma, opens doors, and uplifts families, offering hope and second chances.” Don’t forget to share this good news along with the link to watch our film FREE on our website! Link in Bio: www.palomar.edu/almosthomefilm #indiefestfilmawards #almosthomefilm
THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!! 🙌🏼 The moment you THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE!!! 🙌🏼 The moment you've all been waiting for...our film is now streaming FREE! 🤩 Go to our site at www.palomar.edu/almosthomefilm (link in bio) to see the full documentary, complete with the newest edit -- watch and share, share, SHARE! So excited to put this out there to audiences far and wide. We hope you'll join us in not only watching but sharing this film with as many people as possible. Perceptions can shift, stigmas can be removed, new paths can be forged, lives can be saved. #almosthomefilm - NOW PLAYING!
BIG NEWS!!! 📢 Have you been waiting to see our BIG NEWS!!! 📢 Have you been waiting to see our film? The countdown has officially begun for our WIDE RELEASE!! We are thrilled to announce that in just under ONE WEEK our film will be streaming... FREE!! 🤯 Details coming soon! #almosthomefilm #comingsoon #staytuned
Mental health struggles are common among all races Mental health struggles are common among all races, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds. But why are formerly incarcerated people at higher risk? Being incarcerated can contribute to many long-lasting negative effects. Exposure to violence, traumatic assaults, solitary confinement, and overcrowding can exacerbate existing mental health disorders and lead to post-traumatic stress . Post-traumatic stress symptoms can include anxiety, depression, avoidance, hypersensitivity, hypervigilance, flashbacks, difficulty with emotional regulation, and even suicide. Mental health struggles often become worse after the incarcerated person is released and needs to establish housing, employment, financial stability, and healthy relationships. Unfortunately, inadequate healthcare often exacerbates these issues; as a result, untreated depression and feelings of hopelessness leave many seeing suicide as the only way to stop their suffering. On this World Suicide Prevention Day, we hope to raise awareness about not only justice-impacted people we have lost to suicide, but also about everyone who has considered ending their life. If you are struggling with depression, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Hotline at 988. There is help and you are not alone. 🙏🏽🙏🏽 #worldsuicidepreventionday #suicidepreventionmonth #incarceration #suicideawareness #almosthomefilm
If you missed our recent Alcatraz screening, here If you missed our recent Alcatraz screening, here are some highlights from our Q&A session after the screening. The continued presence and support from the formerly incarcerated community has made all the difference at events like this - your voices are being heard in many ways! Thanks again to the Alcatraz Island NPS for hosting this screening and allowing us the space to have such a meaningful discussion. #almosthomefilm #alcatraz
What a weekend premiering the new edit of our docu What a weekend premiering the new edit of our documentary on Alcatraz Island! 🙌🏼 We are so thankful to have had over 400 people in attendance at the historic prison site, including many of the formerly incarcerated @palomarcollege students featured in our film. This screening was memorable and emotional for a variety of reasons, but particularly because this was the premiere for the new edit of the film addressing the loss of Luis. While there were many tears, there was also a lot contemplation and even some laughter. Everyone seemed to love the film and we’re so glad it was well received. Special thanks to the Alcatraz National Park Service @alcatraz_np for hosting this amazing event! 👉🏼👉🏼Stay tuned for a big announcement on our film’s upcoming wide release! #almosthomefilm #alcatraz #restinpowerluis
Ready to win tickets to an exclusive National Park Ready to win tickets to an exclusive National Park Service hosted screening of Almost Home AND a day trip excursion to Alcatraz Island?! Here’s your chance! We have FIVE TICKETS to giveaway to this amazing event! 🙌🏼 On Friday, August 16th, the lucky winners will get a FREE ferry ride to/from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco to Alcatraz Island, explore the historic island at their leisure, and attend the exclusive screening of Almost Home that afternoon. Not only will the screening debut a newly revised version of the film, but you’ll also enjoy a live panel discussion afterwards with filmmakers, experts, and formerly incarcerated students. How to enter: - Follow our page @almosthomefilm - Share this Post - Tag a friend (or several) in the comments below & tell us what intrigues you most about this giveaway *Entry period ends 7/30* **Winners must be located within the Bay Area and provide their own transportation to the ferry terminal, and be willing to commit to attendance on 8/16/24 prior to receiving tickets. #giveaway #almosthomefilm #alcatraz
A variety of challenges exist for those released f A variety of challenges exist for those released from prison. Unfortunately, many formerly incarcerated people succumb to suicide. 💔 A recent nationwide study revealed that they have a nine times greater risk of dying by suicide within one year of their release, and a seven times greater risk of suicide within two years of release. In fact, suicides within the formerly incarcerated community account for every 1 in 5 adult suicides. Why do you think suicide is so prevalent in this community? How can we better manage mental health and prevent this tragedy from happening to someone else? #suicideprevention #almosthomefilm Sources: American Journal of Epidemiology, 2024. (Suicide Mortality Among Formerly Incarcerated People Compared With the General Population in North Carolina, 2000–2020) https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2024/03/21/formerly-incarcerated-at-higher-risk-of-suicide-even-years-after-prison-release-study-finds/ Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation and Curtin University School of Public Health, 2024 (Share of Adult Suicides After Recent Jail Release) https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-05-15/recent-release-from-jail-a-big-risk-factor-for-suicide Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, University of Washington. 2022 (Incarceration and subsequent risk of suicide: A statewide cohort study) https://newsroom.uw.edu/blog/high-risk-suicide-seen-formerly-incarcerated-people
Our tribute to Luis Bolanos Jimenez- a father, fri Our tribute to Luis Bolanos Jimenez- a father, friend, son, scholar, and so much more - who made a lasting impact on a large community during his short life. His legacy will live on and he will forever be remembered for his selflessness, friendship, ambition, generosity, and humor. Rest in Power Luis. We hope this video is at least a small glimpse into the many lives he touched. ❤️ #almosthomefilm #RIP #tribute
Last weekend we had the Celebration of Life event Last weekend we had the Celebration of Life event for Luis. ❤️ There was so much love and appreciation for the incredible person that Luis was and countless stories of the positive impact he had on so many people. #almosthomefilm #restinpower
These last few months have been difficult coping w These last few months have been difficult coping with the loss of Luis. 💔 While he had many recent successes in his life, he still struggled with his mental health. It’s a stark reminder of the many formerly incarcerated people who have dealt with depression, post-traumatic stress, substance abuse, and suicide. Mental health is often not addressed enough, both within prison walls and on the outside. Most people do not receive the care they need for it while incarcerated. Once released, they are not only faced with the challenge of a new lifestyle and responsibilities on the outside, but also the state of their mental health which has often not been addressed at all. We hope Luis’ voice in our film can help be a voice for the voiceless so that less people have to suffer in silence. 🙏🏼 #mentalhealthawareness #almosthomefilm #RIP #formerlyincarcerated
Last weekend we had our first film festival screen Last weekend we had our first film festival screening since we lost Luis. It was hard, but we were thankful to be able to share his story with the audience in Utah and continue to honor his legacy by bringing attention to the issues he cared so much about. ♥️ #almosthomefilm #inmemoriam #docutah
We are devastated to inform our followers that on We are devastated to inform our followers that on December 13, 2023, Luis Jimenez, one of the amazing students featured in our documentary, passed away, leaving behind two young sons, his mother, and his beloved Palomar College community. In our documentary, Luis shared his life story with us in hopes the film would prompt systemic change. He was passionate about criminal justice reform and education for formerly incarcerated individuals like him. Even though he was very accomplished and recently completed his bachelor’s degree with honors at UCLA, he talked very openly about his struggles with addiction and previous suicide attempts. We want the film to become an even louder call to action and to continue Luis’s legacy of activism and social reform. Rest in Power, Luis Jimenez. It was an honor to know you, and we will always appreciate you letting us be a part of your inspirational life. #suicideawareness #mentalhealthmatters #endthestigma #988helpline
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