The most emotional, thought-provoking films are often those that soften the hearts, lift the spirits and change the minds of their viewers about life’s most important issues. The honest and hopeful new documentary, ‘District of the Second Chances,’ is doing just that through its raw, intimate human stories. The movie is showing how Washington, D.C. has decided to welcome home a generation it once abandoned.

‘District of Second Chances’ will have its World Premiere at Dances With Films NYC on Sunday, December 3 at 1:45pm ET at Regal Union Square. In honor of the documentary’s screening at the New York-based film festival, Film Factual is exclusively premiering the poster for the feature.

‘District of Second Chances’ follows a quest for redemption in Washington, D.C. With the help of second chance legislation, three men who were sentenced in their youth to life in prison have the chance to plead for release.

Through heartfelt, gritty stories, the movie follows their journeys. Anthony “Pete” Petty has just won his freedom and must rebuild his life after three decades in prison. Gene Downing, who is awaiting his second chance hearing after two decades behind bars, hopes to reunite with a daughter born after his incarceration. Colie Levar Long is mentoring youth incarcerated with him at D.C. Jail. He longs to finish college as a free man after a 26-year interruption. But, as the movie shows, a second chance is never guaranteed.

Award-winning filmmaker Wynette Yao directed ‘District of Second Chances.’ The project comes after she produced, helmed and written movies on subjects as wide-ranging as Egypt, tornadoes, bees and bog mummies. She relishes storytelling that brings alive the human experience in history, science, social justice and modern life.

After a career making films for the National Geographic Channel, Discovery and the Smithsonian Channel, Yao joined FAMM Foundation, a non-profit that advocates for criminal justice reform, as staff filmmaker. She has created videos, spots and long-form documentaries that highlight the need for a more fair and effective justice system, including the award-winning ‘Half of Us’ and ‘The Vanishing Trial’ (Bronx Social Justice Matters Festival and 1st Place, Documentary Shorts).

Yao’s previous work also includes ‘Oceans at the Tipping Point,’ which was the winner of the Innovation Award at the Blue Ocean Film Festival, for Conservation International; ‘Who Betrayed Anne Frank?,’ the winner of the Gold Remi Award at the Worldfest Houston Film Festival, for the Discovery Channel; ‘The Mystery of the Mummy Murders,’ the winner of a Telly Award, for the National Geographic Channel; and ‘All Quiet on the Western Front,’ which was nominated for a National Emmy, for the Discovery Channel.

The cinematographer and editor for ‘District of Second Chances’ is Travis Edwards. With work ranging from commercials to documentaries and narratives, Edwards’s focus has always been on the impact of storytelling through video. His award-winning work has taken him across the country and has involved everything from filming undercover in puppy mills to filming politicians in Washington, D.C. He strives to present ideas and stories through innovative and engaging content that can help improve people’s lives.

For more information on ‘District of Second Chances,’ including how to purchase tickets for its upcoming New York City screening, visit its Dances With Films, Instagram and Facebook pages.