Ambassadors of Hope

At the age of 63, retired food-service worker Ruth Brinker became a pioneer of HIV care in her community and would become a legend among San Franciscans. The AIDS epidemic hit San Francisco the hardest and created a wave of fear and uncertainty that left many victims feeling hopeless and alone. Brinker, a woman whose deep compassion became a source of strength for others struggling to cope with the times, began cooking meals in her kitchen to deliver to her neighbors who were too ill to take care of themselves. Her goal was to not only provide meals but to also revitalize the city's sense of community and spend time with HIV/AIDS patients to end the isolation they experienced.

Burn a Light Productions joins Harambee Arts in Nepal to capture the inspiring journey of survivors, told by Sashi, one of the many brave women reclaiming their voice and future through the healing power of art.

Eric Butler, a Hurricane Katrina survivor and pioneer of the restorative justice movement, relocates to Oakland, California, to counsel vulnerable Black and Latino teenagers. The film follows Butler's impassioned efforts to nurture troubled youth and keep them in school, fighting racial discrimination, but when his own teenage son is arrested and beaten in jail, he begins to question his methods and ability—not just as a teacher, but also as a father. With incredible access, Circles is an inspirational portrait of a father desperate to provide his son with the leadership and compassion he never received from his own.