| Sing Sing | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Greg Kwedar |
| Screenplay by |
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| Story by |
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| Based on |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Pat Scola |
| Edited by | Parker Laramie |
| Music by | Bryce Dessner |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | A24 |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million[1] |
| Box office | $5.1 million[2][3] |
Sing Sing is a 2023 Americanprisondrama film directed byGreg Kwedar and written byClint Bentley and Kwedar. Based on the real-lifeRehabilitation Through the Arts program atSing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film centers on a group of incarcerated men involved in the creation of theatrical stage shows through the program.[4] It stars professional actorsColman Domingo, Sean San José andPaul Raci, alongside many real-life formerly incarcerated men who were themselves alumni of the program during their incarceration, includingClarence "Divine Eye" Maclin andJon-Adrian "JJ" Velazquez.[4][5][6]
The film premiered in the Special Presentations program at the2023 Toronto International Film Festival.[7] It was released byA24 in the United States on July 12, 2024. It received acclaim from critics and was named one of the top ten films of 2024 by theNational Board of Review and theAmerican Film Institute.[8] It received numerous accolades, including three nominations at the78th British Academy Film Awards (includingBest Actor for Domingo andBest Supporting Actor for Maclin) and at the97th Academy Awards (includingBest Actor for Domingo).
In 2005, Divine G is incarcerated atSing Sing Correctional Facility, and he discovers a sense of purpose through participation in a smalltheater group made up of fellow inmates. These inmates are part of theRehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program, which aims to use theater as a form of rehabilitation. Under the guidance of theater director Brent Buell, Divine G emerges as the star playwright and performer, highly respected for his emotional depth and acting talent. While pursuing his passion for theater, Divine G is also determined to prove his innocence and regain his freedom.
As the group prepares for their new production, Divine G takes part in recruiting new members, including a gruff and aggressive inmate named Divine Eye with a difficult personality. Initially, Divine Eye is dismissive of acting and performance, considering it a pointless and disingenuous pursuit. In contrast, Divine G views theater as a transformative and therapeutic process that helps individuals connect with their inner selves. The two men clash further when they disagree on the genre of their next play. Divine G advocates for another drama to challenge his acting abilities, while Divine Eye pushes for a lighthearted comedy, a choice supported by the majority of the inmates. Their rivalry intensifies when Divine Eye auditions for the only dramatic role in the comedy, frustrating Divine G, who sees it as hypocritical and is puzzled by this decision from Divine Eye.
Over the following weeks, the inmates engage in acting exercises led by Buell, designed to help them tap into their emotions. Divine G excels effortlessly at all the acting exercises, demonstrating vulnerability and inspiring his peers, while Divine Eye struggles, unable to connect with his emotions or the art of acting. However, after a heart-to-heart conversation where the two open up about their personal lives, Divine Eye begins to open up and take the program more seriously. His acting skills gradually improve, earning the respect of the group, including Divine G and Buell.
The RTA group eventually performs a sample of the play for the prison's board of executives to gain approval for their production. Despite a chaotic and mixed performance, the board approves the play, surprising the RTA group.
Divine G's world is shaken with grief and sadness when a fellow inmate, Mike Mike, with whom he had bonded, passes away due to abrain aneurysm.
At aclemency hearing, Divine G presents evidence that another man confessed to the crime he is incarcerated for and delivers a passionate speech about how acting has changed him for the better. He is blindsided when the interviewer questions whether he is simply acting at the present moment that he is delivering this parole hearing. Divine G's parole is denied, while Divine Eye's hearing is approved and he is granted release. During a dress rehearsal of the play, Divine G suffers a breakdown, having lost hope that the RTA program will make any difference in helping them. Frustrated and disillusioned, he attempts to fight Divine Eye and walks out of the performance, quitting RTA.
In the following days, Divine G isolates himself. Divine Eye eventually reaches out and the two reconcile. Divine G apologizes for his outburst and Divine Eye reassures him that he is always welcome back in the group. The play is a success and Divine Eye is soon released from the facility, becoming a free man.
Years later, Divine G successfully passes his parole hearing and is released. Divine Eye waits outside to greet him and the two share an emotional reunion before driving away together, hopeful for the future. The film closes with real-life footage from the RTA program at Sing Sing, featuring the real actors who portrayed themselves in the film, performing in past productions when they were still inmates at the facility.
Along with Maclin, the supporting cast also consists of real-life formerly incarcerated men who were themselves alumni of the RTA program, portraying themselves in the film, including:
The real-life John "Divine G" Whitfield also cameos as an inmate who asks the fictionalized Divine G to sign his book.
In 2022, it was reported thatColman Domingo,Paul Raci, and Sean San José were cast and that they would act alongside former incarcerated actors, includingClarence "Divine Eye" Maclin. Inspired by theRehabilitation Through the Arts program at theSing Sing Correctional Facility in New York, the story was developed by Clint Bentley,Greg Kwedar, Maclin and John "Divine G" Whitfield, with the screenplay being written by Bentley and Kwedar.[10][11][12] The latter also came onboard to direct while Monique Walton joined as producer, alongside Bentley and Kwedar.[13][14][15]
Maclin started acting as an inmate in Sing Sing. According to Maclin, the experience of acting in the film, along with his time in the prison and the transformative theater program, changed the course of his life.[6] He revealed that it was his decision to star as a version of himself, explaining: "It was a choice that Greg and Clint had given me. They said, we can make up a character for you and give them a fictitious name, or you could just use your own name and be your own character, and I chose to use my own name. I guess it was my own arrogance."[16]
In exchange for a percentage ofequity, variating based on level of overall production involvement, all cast and crew agreed to be paid the same daily salary, thus ensuring a lower budget with increasedprofitability potential. As a result, with only one month out from filmmaking,Black Bear Pictures agreed to fully finance the film.[17]
Sing Sing was filmed over the course of 19 shooting days in July 2022, across numerous decommissioned correctional facilities, which are reportedly tough environments to be in, logistically and for formerly incarcerated actors to return to, even with a counselor in tow. "It's all concrete and there's just no airflow", said Bentley, adding: "But whenever the alumni were filming together, they brought so much joy that it far surpassed any of the misery of filming in that place. Walking into the space they'd created was like walking into color inThe Wizard of Oz."[18]
The three major filming locations were split between the decommissionedDownstate Correctional Facility and nearby Hudson Sports Complex, both of which doubled for different exteriors and interiors of the real Sing Sing prison, plusBeacon High School inUpstate New York, where the RTA theater productions were filmed.[19] The film cost under $2 million to produce.[1]
Cinematographer Pat Scola shot the film on16 mm. "When we scouted the Downstate Correctional Facility, one of the things I found both impressive and oppressive, was the number of windows and the natural daylight coming through them", Scola recalled. "Beyond the confines of the prison walls and the razor wire, you can see trees and forests in the distance. That element of tragedy – that you can see the world out there, but can't actually go and touch it, that the place was actually light and warm, and not bleakly lit with fluorescents – was really striking. We made the decision to allow the spaces to light themselves naturalistically and speak to the visual story we were looking to tell." As for shooting on 16mm film, Scola said: "In this story, the human face was our landscape, often with very intimate close-ups. The taller nature of the 1.66:1 frame allowed us to create that kind of intimate portraiture, and we used the 25mm a great deal during production ... The Ultra 16 lenses are small, simple and fast, typically T1.3, and give great optical performance on 16mm film."[19][20][21]
Bryce Dessner composed the film's score, which was released byMilan Records on July 12, 2024.[22]Adrian Quesada andAbraham Alexander wrote and performed the song "Like A Bird," which appears during the film's credits. The song was nominated at the97th Academy Awards forBest Original Song.[23]
Elaborating on the process of the biggest dramatic considerations he took while composing, Dessner explained: "The film itself has elements of documentary. It has real-life characters who were in the program, it has a play within the film, and it has a sense of creative freedom or finding your horizon. These characters are finding their humanity, rebuilding themselves through the arts, and dreaming beyond the walls of where they're confined. The music kind of felt in that space. It was the horizon, or the poetry, of the whole thing. I was relating to that. I wasn't really scoring tension or drama or the little bits of conflict that happen. There are some darker cues, but in general, the music feels like this sort of river running under the film."[24]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lysander" | 1:27 |
| 2. | "Sing Sing" | 2:04 |
| 3. | "Auditions" | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Portal to Portal" | 4:16 |
| 5. | "Blades" | 3:06 |
| 6. | "Perfect Place" | 2:14 |
| 7. | "Escape" | 2:53 |
| 8. | "Song & Dance" | 2:31 |
| 9. | "Miguelito" | 1:16 |
| 10. | "Slow Time" | 2:24 |
| 11. | "Backstage" | 5:14 |
| 12. | "The Void" | 3:31 |
| 13. | "Circles" | 0:35 |
| 14. | "Come Home" | 2:11 |
| 15. | "Homeward" | 1:01 |
| 16. | "Seven Years of Curtain Calls" | 2:05 |
| 17. | "The Gate" | 1:25 |
| Total length: | 40:56 | |
To promote the film, A24 offered free screenings hosted byCommon,Stephanie Hsu,Liza Koshy,Natasha Lyonne,Bette Midler, theBrooklyn Nets andGabrielle Union, in participatingAMC Theatres from August 22 to 28.Variety said that while "A24 is looking to positionSing Sing as a major awards player ... [its] campaign is uniquely audience-facing, as opposed to targetingOscar voters later in theawards season".[25]
The film premiered in the Special Presentations program at the2023 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was acquired by A24.[26]
It was released in the United States in alimited release on July 12, 2024, with a plannedwide release on August 2.[27] However, the wide release did not materialize, expanding weeks later to only 191 theaters. It was not made available onvideo on demand orstreaming at that time.[28] It was later announced to be re-released in 500 theaters on January 17, 2025, as part of itsawards season campaign before the97th Academy Awards nomination announcement on January 23.[29] Edovo, a non-profit organization providing educational material to inmates, is set to begin streaming the film to participating prisons on January 17, in collaboration with A24 and RTA.[29] The film was eventually released on digital video on demand on January 31, 2025.[30]
As of February 23, 2025[update],Sing Sing has grossed $5.2 million.[2][3] In the United States, the film made $137,119 from four theaters (located in Los Angeles and New York) in its opening weekend (July 12–14), for a per-screen-average of $34,279.[31]IndieWire noted: "In an unusual move, it is expected to not expand until August in order to build expected word of mouth and avoid competing with the juggernauts the next two weeks."[32] In its fourth weekend (August 2–4), the film expanded to 18 theaters and made $164,565.[33][34] It peaked at 191 theaters before returning to 149 screens in its eighth weekend.[35] The film ended its original theatrical run after thirteen weeks in October 2024.[36] In January 2025, it was re-released in 560 theaters, earning $289,829 over the four-dayMLK weekend.[37]
On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 97% of 201 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "A moving celebration of art's redemptive power,Sing Sing draws its estimable emotional resonance from a never better Colman Domingo and equally impressive ensemble players."[38]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 83 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[39]
ABC News'Peter Travers declared the acting of Domingo as "simply stupendous" and highly praised the film in his review, writing: "Sing Sing is one of the best and most powerful movies you'll see this year. Despite the grim surroundings, it has a heart full to bursting and a spirit that soars."[40]Richard Roeper of theChicago Sun-Times called the film "gloriously lionhearted and brilliantly rendered", and considered Domingo's performance as "award-worthy work", concluding that the film "will be remembered for the amazing, multilayered, complex and shining work by Domingo and the entire ensemble".[41] Though she believed the film "shoulders some heavy-duty ideas about forgiveness and redemption",Stephanie Zacharek ofTime believed that it recognized the value and delight of pure play, writing: "It's easy, and comfortable, to pass judgment [about incarcerated individuals]. But Greg Kwedar's true-to-life prison dramaSing Sing asks more of us: 'If we believe in our own capacity for growth and change, how can we not extend that good faith to other individuals who have made mistakes?'"[42]
FilmmakerJeff Nichols named it one of his favorite films of 2024, saying "Greg Kwedar blended part-scripted, part-improvised experiences into a delicate film unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I’m proud of my friend Greg, but most importantly I’m proud that this film is in the world. It’s an example of the best of us, both as an industry and as a society."[43] Other filmmakers, includingTim Fehlbaum,William Goldenberg,Nicole Holofcener,Rich Peppiatt andDaniel Scheinert also praised the film.[44][45]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA International Awards | February 7, 2025 | Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | [46] |
| AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | February 25, 2025 | Best Actor | Nominated | [47] | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble | Sing Sing | Won | |||
| Academy Awards | March 2, 2025 | Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | [48] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Song | "Like a Bird" -Abraham Alexander andAdrian Quesada | Nominated | |||
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 7, 2025 | Best Film | Sing Sing | Nominated | [49] |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | John H. Richardson, Brent Buell & Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Astra Film Awards | December 8, 2024 | Best Picture | Sing Sing | Nominated | [50] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Austin Film Critics Association | January 6, 2025 | Best Film | Sing Sing | Nominated | [51] |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley | Won | |||
| Best Ensemble | Sing Sing | Won | |||
| Best Austin Film 2024 | Won | ||||
| Black Reel Awards | February 10, 2025 | Outstanding Film | Nominated | [52] | |
| Outstanding Lead Performance | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Performance | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
| Outstanding Ensemble | Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Original Song | "Like a Bird" – Adrian Quesada and Abraham Alexander | Nominated | |||
| Boston Society of Film Critics | December 8, 2024 | Best Ensemble Cast | Sing Sing | Won | [53] |
| British Academy Film Awards | 16 February 2025 | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Colman Domingo | Nominated | [54] |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley,Greg Kwedar,Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield | Nominated | |||
| Chicago Film Critics Association | December 12, 2024 | Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | [55] |
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Most Promising Performer | Won | ||||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, & John Whitfield | Nominated | |||
| Milos Stehlik Award for Breakthrough Filmmaker | Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Cinema Eye Honors | January 9, 2025 | Heterodox Award | Sing Sing | Nominated | [56] |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 12, 2025 | Best Picture | Nominated | [57] | |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Acting Ensemble | Sing Sing | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley | Nominated | |||
| Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | December 18, 2024 | Best Picture | Sing Sing | 10th Place | [58] |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | 4th Place | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | 5th Place | |||
| Deauville American Film Festival | September 15, 2024 | Grand Special Prize | Sing Sing | Nominated | [59] |
| Golden Globe Awards | January 5, 2025 | Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Colman Domingo | Nominated | [60] |
| Golden Trailer Awards | May 30, 2024 | Best Independent Trailer | Reality Trailer,A24, andMark Woollen & Associates | Nominated | [61] |
| Gotham Awards | December 2, 2024 | Outstanding Lead Performance | Colman Domingo | Won | [62] |
| Outstanding Supporting Performance | Clarence Maclin | Won | |||
| Social Justice Tribute | Cast ofSing Sing | Won | [63] | ||
| Greater Western New York Film Critics Association | January 4, 2025 | Best Lead Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | [64] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley, Clarence Maclin, and John Whitfield | Won | |||
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Clarence Maclin | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||||
| Hamptons International Film Festival | October 14, 2024 | Breakthrough Performer Award | Won | [65] | |
| Independent Spirit Awards | February 22, 2025 | Best Feature | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, and Monique Walton | Nominated | [66] |
| Best Lead Performance | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Performance | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Los Angeles Film Critics Association | December 8, 2024 | Best Supporting Performance | Runner-up[a] | [67] | |
| Miami Film Festival | April 14, 2024 | Impact Award | Greg Kwedar | Won | [68] |
| Middleburg Film Festival | October 20, 2024 | Colman Domingo and Clarence Maclin | Won | [69] | |
| NAACP Image Awards | February 22, 2025 | Outstanding Independent Motion Picture | Sing Sing | Won | [70] |
| Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review | December 4, 2024 | Top 10 Films | Sing Sing | Won[b] | [71] |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Won | |||
| New York Film Critics Online | December 16, 2024 | Best Picture | Sing Sing | Nominated | [72] |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Runner-up | |||
| Breakthrough Performer | Runner-up | ||||
| Best Ensemble Cast | Sing Sing | Runner-up | |||
| Palm Springs International Film Festival | January 3, 2025 | Spotlight Award | Colman Domingo | Won | [73] |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 9, 2024 | Best Picture | Sing Sing | Won | [74] |
| Best Director | Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Craig Bentley and Greg Kwedar | Won | |||
| Best Cinematography | Pat Scola | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble | Sing Sing | Nominated | |||
| Best Stunt Choreography | Nominated | ||||
| San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle | December 15, 2024 | Best Film | Nominated | [75] | |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin and John "Divine G" Whitfield | Won | |||
| Santa Barbara International Film Festival | February 9, 2025 | Virtuoso Award | Clarence Maclin | Won | [76] |
| Satellite Awards | January 26, 2025 | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Sing Sing | Nominated | [77] |
| Best Director | Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar, Clarence Maclin, and John "Divine G" Whitfield | Nominated | |||
| SCAD Savannah Film Festival | November 2, 2024 | Spotlight Award | Colman Domingo | Won | [78] |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | February 23, 2025 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | [79] | |
| Seattle Film Critics Society | December 16, 2024 | Best Picture | Sing Sing | Nominated | [80] |
| Best Lead Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Won | |||
| Best Ensemble | Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Seattle International Film Festival | May 27, 2024 | Golden Space Needle Award: Best Film | Sing Sing | Won | [81] |
| Southwest Film & TV Festival | March 16, 2024 | Audience Award: Festival Favorite | Won | [82] | |
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 15, 2024 | Best Film | Nominated | [83] | |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble | Sing Sing | Nominated | |||
| Toronto Film Critics Association | December 15, 2024 | Best Lead Performance | Colman Domingo | Runner-up | [84] |
| Best Supporting Performance | Clarence Maclin | Runner-up | |||
| Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | ||||
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 8, 2024 | Best Film | Sing Sing | Nominated | [85] |
| Best Actor | Colman Domingo | Won | |||
| Best Supporting Actor | Clarence Maclin | Nominated | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar | Nominated | |||
| Best Acting Ensemble | Sing Sing | Nominated |
