From Prison to Tribeca: Documentary on Reginald Dwayne Betts Selected for Tribeca Festival
A documentary about Reginald Dwayne Betts’ life, work, and the power of literature.
Freedom Reads announced today that March Forth, a film chronicling the life and work of its founder and CEO, Reginald Dwayne Betts, has been officially selected for the 2026 Tribeca Festival.
The documentary traces Betts’ journey from nearly nine years of incarceration as a teenager to becoming a nationally recognized poet, lawyer, and founder of Freedom Reads.
The film’s title, March Forth, reflects a date of profound personal significance for Betts, who was released from prison on March 4, 2005. He often points out that it is the only date that is also a command—one that speaks to movement, possibility, and the act of stepping into a life beyond incarceration.
“When I left prison on March 4, 2005, I never expected to return,” said Reginald Dwayne Betts. “I never expected to talk about prison outside of its walls. To be here today, with a story about those years and this work premiering at the Tribeca Festival, is a wildly unexpected and profound honor. Come watch this story of becoming with me.”
Founded in 2020, Freedom Reads brings literature into prisons through curated libraries and literary programming, including author talks, performances, and book discussions. With a team that includes formerly incarcerated staff, the organization fosters conversations about reading, connection, and the possibilities people can begin to imagine for themselves beyond prison.
The film is directed and produced by Robe Imbriano and Valerie Hong of Soul Palace Studios. March Forth is scheduled to premiere on Monday, June 8, at 5 p.m. ET. Tickets for this and other screenings of the film can be purchased at https://tribecafilm.com/films/march-forth-2026.