{"id":1114,"date":"2026-07-20T13:37:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T13:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1114"},"modified":"2026-07-20T13:41:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T13:41:19","slug":"boys2men-three-lives-one-system-and-the-fight-for-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1114","title":{"rendered":"boys2MEN: Three Lives. One System. And the Fight for Freedom."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" data-id=\"1115\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01_CFF_boys2Men_Poster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01_CFF_boys2Men_Poster.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01_CFF_boys2Men_Poster-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01_CFF_boys2Men_Poster-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/01_CFF_boys2Men_Poster-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">boys2MEN: Three Lives. One System. And the Fight for Freedom is an intimate and unfiltered look into the lives of three young men coming of age within a system that influences their choices, opportunities, and futures.<br>Through deeply personal storytelling, the film examines how systemic barriers shape identity, decision-making, and access to opportunity. Each story reveals the tension between circumstance and choice, while highlighting the strength, vulnerability, and resilience required to navigate these challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than a documentary, boys2MEN is a call to reflection and action, inviting audiences to examine the systems that impact young people and consider what it truly takes to create pathways toward freedom, purpose, and transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are actively using this film as part of a broader community impact initiative and welcome opportunities for panel discussions, youth engagement, and community conversations.<br>#socialjustice #youth #criminaljustice #systeminequility #community #impact #mentorship<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Project Type:<\/strong> Documentary<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Runtime:<\/strong> 52 minutes 34 seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Completion Date:<\/strong> March 6, 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Country of Origin:<\/strong> United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Country of Filming:<\/strong> United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Language:<\/strong> English<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"720\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1280 \/ 720;\" width=\"1280\" controls src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/df39d65e-boys2men_trailer_final_1080p.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:64px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-a9130f6a1e-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-a9130f6a1e-headshot.jpg 800w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-a9130f6a1e-headshot-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Headshot-a9130f6a1e-headshot-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kenneth D Crowley Sr, Jayana Crowley, Kenneth D Crowley II, Jean Crowley<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfreeway-production-storage-01-connector.filmfreeway.com\/press_kits\/headshots\/003\/832\/889\/original\/a9130f6a1e-headshot.jpg?1775000387\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Director Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the founder of the Crowley Foundation, this project comes from years of working directly with young men whose stories are often misunderstood or overlooked. boys2MEN was created to give voice to those experiences, not to define them by circumstance, but to highlight their humanity, their struggles, and their strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This film is deeply personal and rooted in real relationships. It reflects the realities I have witnessed firsthand and the urgency of creating spaces where young men can be seen, heard, and supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our hope is that audiences leave not only with a deeper understanding, but with a sense of responsibility, to engage, to listen, and to contribute to meaningful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Photos<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1119\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-1-5Q6A0517.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1120\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1120\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-2-5Q6A0617.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1121\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1121\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-3-5Q6A0595.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1123\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1123\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-4-5Q6A0525.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1124\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1124\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-5-5Q6A0516.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"1118\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-5Q6A0626-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1118\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-5Q6A0626-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-5Q6A0626-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-6-5Q6A0626.jpg 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-7-William.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1122\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1122\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-8-Brian.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-id=\"1126\" src=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1126\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Photo-9-5Q6A0475.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Project Links<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowleyfoundation.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Website<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thecrowleyfoundation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/crowleyfoundation\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&nbsp;Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>boys2MEN: Three Lives. One System. And the Fight for Freedom is an intimate and unfiltered look into the lives of three young men coming of age within a system that influences their choices, opportunities, and futures.Through deeply personal storytelling, the film examines how systemic barriers shape identity, decision-making, and access to opportunity. Each story reveals &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/?p=1114\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;boys2MEN: Three Lives. One System. And the Fight for Freedom.&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feataure-film-documentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1114"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1132,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1114\/revisions\/1132"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cdfilmfestival.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}