‘Coldwater Kitchen,' a Free Press film, wins James Beard Award for best documentary
Detroit Free Press, June 3, 2023: ‘Coldwater Kitchen,' a Free Press film, wins James Beard Award for best documentary
“The Detroit Free Press’ own ‘Coldwater Kitchen’ took home a James Beard Foundation media award for best documentary Saturday evening.
“The documentary, which follows the Food Tech program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan, highlights the complexities of the criminal justice system through the journeys of four men involved in the culinary arts program. It features Chef Jimmy Lee Hill — who has led the culinary training program at the prison for nearly 30 years — and three of his students, who must navigate incarceration and the challenges of transitioning back into society after leaving prison.
“‘The James Beard award not only validates the power of the film, but also the power of Chef Hill’s program to support and transform the lives of incarcerated men through the restorative power of food,’ said Kathy Kieliszewski, senior news director for visuals at the Free Press and a producer of the film. ‘We are honored and humbled to have been able to tell and share their stories.’”
Additional reading:
Stateside Podcast, March 31, 2023: How one culinary prison program is changing lives
NPR, January 22, 2021: From Prisoner to Restaurateur: How Learning to Cook Changed Dink Dawson’s Life
