Coldwater Kitchen: The Heartwarming Journey of Prisoners Rebuilding Their Lives through Culinary Art

The documentary “Coldwater Kitchen,” produced by the Detroit Free Press, has gained international recognition and will be featured in the 2025 American Film Showcase. This curated film collection will be screened by United States’ embassies around the world as part of a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts.

“Coldwater Kitchen” provides an inside look at the culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Here, students receive training in culinary skills necessary for success in fine dining restaurant kitchens, such as mastering French mother sauces and understanding wine pairings. The film follows Chef Jimmy Lee Hill and three of his students as they navigate challenges within the prison system and work towards rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

The documentary premiered in Michigan at the Freep Film Festival in 2023 and globally at DOC NYC, the largest documentary film festival in the U.S. It won the James Beard Foundation media award for best documentary in 2023.

The American Film Showcase aims to provide a nuanced view of American life and reflect the diversity of the American experience. With over 40 films each year, AFS allows for cross-cultural dialogue with a diverse range of international audiences. This cultural exchange program connects people through the power of visual storytelling and partners with American filmmakers and distributors to offer critically acclaimed American documentaries for screening at U.S. embassies.

To learn more about “Coldwater Kitchen,” visit the film’s website at www.coldwaterkitchen