New Film: "Tehachapi" 

The feature documentary Tehachapi, directed by JR, captures the stories of the incarcerated men with whom he collaborated to create monumental artworks in a U.S. maximum-security prison. After its premiere at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival, Tehachapi was released in theaters across France in June 2024. It can now be streamed worldwide on MasterClass. 

In October 2019, JR received unprecedented permission to work in one of California's most violent supermax prisons: Tehachapi. There, he met with a group of 28 incarcerated men, many of whom were serving life sentences for crimes committed as minors. JR invited them to participate in an art project, never anticipating the ripple effects the mural would have. 

The film Tehachapi follows the journey of the participants as they tell their stories, reconnect with family, and heal. It demonstrates how art is a powerful force for hope, reveals individuals’ capacity for change, and offers a poignant look at the humanity within prison walls. 

Tehachapi is an official selection at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Copenhagen Film Festival, and Rome Film Festival. It can be watched on MasterClass anywhere in the world (except France). To discover the film in France, find a screening at a cinema near you.