© Jenifer McShane
Netflix has acquired the global streaming rights to a 32-minute documentary short titled The Quilters, an acclaimed 2024 film directed by Jenifer McShane. The film, which premiered at the DC/DOX Film Festival, offers an inside look at a unique quilting program at South Central Correctional Center, a maximum-security prison in Missouri. Here’s what you need to know.
The Quilters follows a group of incarcerated men who dedicate their days to crafting personalized quilts for local foster children. Through this restorative justice initiative, the film hopes to demonstrate the transformative power of creativity and community within prison walls.
Director McShane, known for her previous works Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops and Mothers of Bedford, also serves as a producer on the short, which gained intimate access to the prison and covered the intricate details of the quilting process, emphasizing the care and collaboration among the participants.
In addition to its premiere at the DC/DOX Film Festival, the documentary also went on to screen at DOC NYC and other festivals throughout 2024. It won numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the BendFilm Festival and the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, as well as a Jury Award at the Santa Fe International Film Festival. At one point, it was considered an Oscar contender, although it ultimately missed out on a nomination when the nominations were announced.
Netflix, which has acquired the global rights to the short, will label it as an Original and premiere the new documentary on May 16, 2025.
May 2025 is going to be an exceptionally busy month for new documentary releases, with a broad range of series and feature films on the way. As we’ve recently covered, we’re getting two new British docs with Britain and the Blitz on May 5th and a crime docu-series Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, a few days later. Other docs on the way include A Deadly American Marriage (May 9th), a new batch of “Untold” episodes, and American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (May 14th).
Executive Producer: Abigail Disney, Ryan Harrington, Josh Braun, Abigail Disney, Ryan Harrington, Josh Braun
Producer: Jenifer McShane, Jenifer McShane
Cinematographer: Scott Ruderman, Scott Ruderman
Editor: Will Rogers, Toby Shimin, Will Rogers, Toby Shimin
Will you be watching The Quilters when it drops on Netflix? Let us know in the comments down below.
