Kaori Sakagami is an independent documentary filmmaker, a non-fiction writer, a workshop practitioner, and a visiting associate professor at Hitotsubashi University. Founded the non-profit organization out of frame, serving as chair. Received numerous awards for her documentaries including Journey of Hope: Two Weeks of Families of Murder Victims with Families of Death Row Inmates (1996), Miller on Monsters (1996), Lifers: Reaching for Life Beyond the Walls (2004), and Prison Circle (2020). Currently running a series of collaborative hip-hop workshops inside juvenile facilities with a rapper, a poet, a dancer, and volunteers and voice message-making workshops at a women’s facility. outofframe http://outofframe.org/en.html prison circle https://prison-circle.com

Title

Witnessing Hope in the Dark through Documentary Filmmaking: Observations of Cross-Cultural Prison Therapeutic Communities

Abstract

As the prominent psychologist George De Leon described “Community as Method”, the purpose of Therapeutic Community (TC) is to promote human growth through communal living and the process of (un)learning rather than punishing and curing addiction/problematic behavior. This is especially in stark contrast to the culture of Japanese prisons, known for their extremely strict military-like discipline and control; therefore, never believed TC would work in a Japanese setting. However, documenting prison TCs both in the US and Japan, holding public screenings, and doing collaborative art workshops inside/outside the walls for a couple of decades has been a way to witness the possibility of unlearning violence, and finding hope in the darkness while struggling with institutional and cultural barriers. This presentation will introduce the philosophy and approach of the Amity model, e.g. hiring formerly incarcerated as staff, emotional literacy, dealing with trauma rooted in childhood, restorative paradigm, aftercare facilities, etc., and share the filmmaker’s observations on the prison TCs in two cultural settings.

Earl Hopper, PhD, is a psychoanalyst, group analyst and organisational consultant in private practice in London. He is a Fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society, an Honorary Member of the Institute of Group Analysis, an Honorary Member of the Group Analytic Society International, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. A former President of the International Association for Group Psychotherapy and Group Processes (IAGP). He is the author and editor of many books and articles in psychoanalysis, sociology and group analysis.

Sheila Dallas-Katzman, M.A., is an accomplished applied theatre practitioner with over 20 years of experience. As co-founder of Ten Lanterns Transformative Theatre, she utilizes theatrical arts and drama-based processes to address critical issues, including social justice, anti-racism, and violence against women. Sheila is the President of the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT/USA) and chairs the NYC for CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women) Act Coalition. Sheila serves on the British Psychodrama Association’s (BPA) Diversity and Inclusion Committee and its Ethics Committee, as well as the American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama (ASGPP) Sociatry and Social Justice Committee.

Title

Muted Echoes: Confronting the Global Crisis of Violence Against Women and Girls, Including Women Journalists

Abstract

Global crises—climate change, economic inequality, geopolitical conflicts, pandemics, and human rights violations—shape the realities of societies worldwide. At the heart of these crises lies an often-overlooked issue: Violence Against Women and Girls, including targeted violence against women journalists. Women journalists play a critical role in reporting these interconnected challenges, often bringing the human element to global crises. However, they face unique threats at the intersection of their identities as women and journalists. These include professional marginalization, forced isolation into domestic life, and targeted violence aimed at silencing their voices. This keynote will explore the overlooked traumas experienced by women journalists and their broader implications for violence against women and girls worldwide. Through the use of action methods such as sociodrama and psychodrama, we will examine how to raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire action to address these issues. Shedding light on these experiences not only highlights the plight of women journalists but also enriches the global conversation on gender-based violence and the vital importance of preserving access to information.

Jorge Burmeister: Trainer, Psychodrama, CBT, Analytic Psychology Jung, Analytic Family therapy, Hypnotherapy; Ex-President, IAGP; Founding member, FEPTO; Founder, Academy for Integrative Psychotherapy/CH; Founder, Center “Jakob and Zerka Moreno” Granada; Dean, “International Summer Academy” Granada; Facilitator, MsF (Doctors without Borders); Recipient of the International Yaacov Naor Award for Peace and Intercultural Dialogue