ART & KRIMES BY KRIMES

While locked-up for six years in federal prison, artist Jesse Krimes secretly creates monumental works of art—including an astonishing 40-foot mural made with prison bed sheets, hair gel, and newspaper. He smuggles out each panel piece-by-piece with the help of fellow artists, only seeing the mural in totality upon coming home. As Jesse's work captures the art world's attention, he struggles to adjust to life outside, living with the threat that any misstep will trigger a life sentence.

The story unfolds through original footage and animations made in collaboration with award-winning animator Molly Schwartz and Jesse Krimes.

2022 / 85 min

Watch the Trailer

Watch the Film: Paramount+, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Google Play

Official Website

Directed by Alysa Nahmias

Produced by Amanda Spain, Benjamin Murray, Alysa Nahmias

Executive Producers: Sheila Nevins, Patty Quillin, Jenifer Westphal, Joe Plummer, Hallee Adelman & Ivy Herman

Co-Executive Producers: Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman, Ruth Ann Harnisch, Sheri Sobrato-Brisson

Edited by: Miranda Yousef, Benedict Kasulis, Kristen Nutile

Animation by: Molly Schwartz in collaboration with Jesse Krimes

Original Score: Amanda Jones in collaboration with Musicambia

Supported by: Sundance Institute Momentum Fellowship, Wavelength, The New York State Council on the Arts, Meadow Fund, World of HA, LEF Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, The Harnisch Foundation

An AJNA Films Production
Distributed by MTV Documentary Films / Paramount+

Awards & Festivals

Winner: Emmy Award, Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary

DOC NYC, Official Selection
Philadelphia Film Festival, Winner: Audience Award, Student Choice Award, & Best Animation Award
Berkshire International Film Festival, Opening Night
RiverRun Film Festival, Winner: Best Documentary
Fargo Film Festival, Winner: Best Documentary
Justice on Trial Film Festival, Winner: Best Documentary
Oxford Film Festival, Winner: Audience Award
Filmocracy Festival, Winner: Audience Award
Naples Int’l Film Festival, Winner: Focus on Arts Award
Heartland International Film Festival
Denver Film Festival
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
Cleveland International Film Festival
Bentonville Film Festival
Salem Film Fest
Lakefront Film Festival
Lo Schermo Dell’Arte
Charlotte Film Festival
For the Love of Docs, DEADLINE x ida Series
Houston Cinema Arts Festival

Selected Press & Reviews

The New York Times
Deadline
The Wrap
Hyperallergic
Film Forward
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Women in Hollywood
The Art Newspaper
ArtNews

 
Image of Jesse Krimes from the film, looking intensely to the right with a prismatic reflection from a window across his eyes.
Still image from the film of a moment of art animation by animator Molly Schwartz basd on Jesse Krimes's artwork. It's in a rough sketch style with browns blacks yellows and greens - a boy waving his arms and art elements swirling around.
Still image from the film of Jesse Krimes holding out his hand and in his palm are four of his soap carved blocks with photos human faces transferred on to them.
Still image from the film of Jesse Krimes working in his studio, he is lit from above and sitting at a table focused on his work.
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