Gilda Sheppard is an award-winning filmmaker who has screened her documentaries throughout the United States, and internationally in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, France, and Germany. For over a decade, Sheppard has volunteered to teach sociology courses in several women and men’s prisons in Washington State. Her work has culminated in an award-winning documentary Since I Been Down, on the restorative and transformative role of education and prisoner initiated programs for incarcerated individuals. Her documentary Since I Been Dwon has been praised by the Washington State Supreme Court, community organizations, City and State Legislators and inspired a multifaith coalition of Christians, Jews, and Muslims to support restorative and transformative justice. Sheppard is a 2017 Hedgebrook Fellow for documentary film, a 2019 recipient of an Artist Trust Fellowship and 2023 Best Director Award for Documentary from the New York Independent Film Festival. In addition, Sheppard is Emerita Professor of Sociology, Cultural and Media Literacy at Evergreen State College in Tacoma, Washington.