In 2025, the Detroit Free Press’ documentary “Coldwater Kitchen” will be featured in the prestigious American Film Showcase (AFS). This curated film collection, a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, will screen at United States’ embassies around the world.
The documentary provides an in-depth look at the culinary training program at Lakeland Correctional Facility in Coldwater, Michigan. Here, students receive instruction in essential skills for success in fine dining restaurant kitchens, such as perfecting 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. Co-directed by Free Press executive video producer Brian Kaufman and former Free Press restaurant critic Mark Kurlyandchik, the documentary premiered in Michigan at the Freep Film Festival in 2023 and was shown globally at DOC NYC, one of the largest documentary film festivals in the U.S. It also won a 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 diversity across the country through its selection of documentaries each year. With over 40 films annually, AFS allows for cross-cultural dialogue with international audiences through screenings at U.S. embassies worldwide. This cultural exchange program offers a unique opportunity to connect people through visual storytelling and collaborate with American filmmakers and distributors to showcase critically acclaimed American documentaries to audiences around the world.