Inmates Produce Groundbreaking Documentary Inside Utah Prison

The raw, emotional film "Breaking Chains" offers an unprecedented look at life behind bars.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 12:07pm

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A group of inmates at the Utah State Prison have created a groundbreaking documentary called "Breaking Chains" that provides an unprecedented look at life behind bars. The film, conceived, filmed, and produced entirely by the incarcerated individuals, follows six men and women as they confront their pasts and work towards rebuilding their lives. The project was coordinated by filmmaker Bo Landin and funded by the One Kind Act a Day initiative, with the goal of encouraging compassion and giving the inmates a platform to share their stories in an authentic and emotional way.

Why it matters

This documentary provides a rare glimpse into the lives and experiences of incarcerated individuals, challenging stereotypes and humanizing a population that is often overlooked or misunderstood. The film's raw honesty and the inmates' willingness to be vulnerable offers valuable insights that could inform criminal justice reform efforts and promote greater empathy and understanding within the community.

The details

The documentary, titled "Breaking Chains," was created through a collaboration between the Utah Department of Corrections and the One Kind Act a Day initiative. Roughly 18-20 inmates participated in the program, learning the fundamentals of filmmaking, storytelling, and production. The resulting film follows six incarcerated men and women as they reflect on their pasts and work towards rebuilding their lives. Filmmaker Bo Landin, who coordinated the project from outside the prison, says the decision to have the inmates interview each other created a level of honesty and authenticity that he didn't expect.

  • The program began in 2021 with roughly 18-20 students.
  • The documentary "Breaking Chains" debuted at the Utah International Film Festival in 2026 and won the Audience Choice Award.

The players

Casey Vanderhoef

An inmate participant in the documentary who is now living in a halfway house as he completes his sentence. Vanderhoef says revisiting his past on camera wasn't easy, but the experience has been transformative.

Bo Landin

The filmmaker and educator who coordinated the project from outside the prison. Landin says the inmates' honesty and vulnerability in the film was unexpected and powerful.

Khosrow Semnani

The philanthropist behind the One Kind Act a Day initiative, which provided the funding and equipment for the documentary project. Semnani hopes the effort will encourage compassion and expand to prisons across the country.

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What they’re saying

“When I was incarcerated in 2021, I had no more answers. I knew I was broken in a way I couldn't fix.”

— Casey Vanderhoef (ksltv.com)

“It's authentic. It's raw. It's emotional. I think it's important because it is their voice. They are telling us a story.”

— Bo Landin, Filmmaker and Educator (ksltv.com)

“Human nature is born with kindness. But in prison, it's not there.”

— Khosrow Semnani, Philanthropist (ksltv.com)

What’s next

Semnani says he recently spoke with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi about expanding the program nationally, potentially bringing similar opportunities to prisons across the country. Filmmaker Bo Landin now hopes to promote "Breaking Chains" at film festivals worldwide in hopes of getting it in theaters for the public to see.

The takeaway

This groundbreaking documentary project not only gives a voice to incarcerated individuals but also challenges preconceptions about life behind bars. By allowing the inmates to share their stories authentically, the film promotes greater empathy and understanding, and could serve as a model for similar initiatives aimed at rehabilitating and reintegrating the incarcerated population.