( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) The Richardsons Launched “Time II” Film Alongside #TimeIIWatch Campaign For Freedom
Sibil ‘Fox’ Richardson and Rob Richardson are a powerful couple and justice advocates behind the Oscar-nominated documentary “Time” in 2020, one of Obama’s favorite films that year. “Time II: Unfinished Business” is the sequel directed by Fox Richardson herself. A Black cinematic film with storytelling, the documentary launched alongside the #TimeIIWatch campaign for freedom. On Juneteenth, June 19th, 2025, the Richardsons’ goal for the film’s release was to mobilize 1 million people through national watch parties, community action, and direct calls for justice. The film “Time II: Unfinished Business” picks up right where we left off after Rob’s release from Angola. A story rooted in love, family, and fighting injustice, it shows the continued fight to free their nephew, Ontario, who remains unjustly incarcerated. “Time II: Unfinished Business” has won the Best Documentary Feature at its “Essence” premiere.
This documentary film highlights the impact of the 13th Amendment loophole and advocates for carceral reform. Fox Richardson reflects on her visionary role and her personal journey with this production and declares, “If ‘TIME’ was the cry, ‘TIME II’ is the call. This project is a purposeful and intentional call-to-action that acts as a mirror reflecting the cracks in our justice system, a megaphone confronting excessive sentencing and other unjust acts that continue to enslave us through mass incarceration, and a whole movement that redefines what it truly means to be free in America.”
We are excited to delve into the Richardsons’ experience in the ongoing fight for Ontario’s freedom, their involvement in the film, and how it created a message of systemic change. We will also explore the actions of viewers on Juneteenth in support of the #TimeIIWatch campaign for freedom. Furthermore, the Richardsons share their contribution to the Amistad Research Center and how they hope it changes policies and broadens carceral reform.
“TIME II: Unfinished Business” delves into the ongoing fight for your nephew Ontario’s freedom. How has the personal and emotional battle impacted your family?
The ongoing fight for our nephew’s freedom has been both a source of pain and profound purpose for our family. Having endured 21 years as an incarcerated family, we understand intimately that our personal struggles are not isolated—they’re emblematic of what so many American families face due to systemic injustice. This battle has deepened our bonds and sense of responsibility: each setback and small victory reminds us that our story is only one chapter in a much larger narrative about love, sacrifice, and the ongoing quest for justice. Wrestling with the emotional toll has made our family more resilient and more united, and it continually renews our commitment to fight for others who remain trapped in the system.
Fox, as the director of TIME II, you’ve stated, “If ‘TIME’ was the cry, ‘TIME II’ is the call.” Could you elaborate on how directing this sequel allowed you to strengthen the narrative from a personal cry for justice into a broader call for systemic change?
Directing “TIME II: Unfinished Business” allowed me to elevate our family’s personal cry for justice from the first film into a broader call to action for systemic change. With TIME, the world saw our anguish and the intimate struggles of a family torn apart by incarceration. With TIME II, I wanted viewers to see not just the pain, but the collective power we all possess to demand change. The film documents our renewed fight for our nephew and, in doing so, makes visible the ways in which personal stories like ours are inseparable from the politics and policies that shape our lives.
The sequel strives to reach deeper—inviting audiences to recognize their shared stake in justice and urging them to become part of the solution. As I stated: “To be free is to free others”—the work is unfinished because the system still holds too many captive, and everyone has a role in changing it.
The #TimeIIWatch campaign to mobilize people and reframed Juneteenth as a call for action. What specific actions did viewers take after participating in the watch parties, and what do you see as the most critical “unfinished business” of freedom in America today?
The #TimeIIWatch campaign mobilized thousands through watch parties, where viewers moved beyond discussion to specific, civic actions. Participants used the TIME II Toolkit to write clemency letters, sign the People’s Pledge to Freedom, and contact elected officials about justice reform. Many donated to the Amistad Research Center, helping to archive stories like ours for future generations. These gatherings reframed Juneteenth—not just as a celebration of emancipation, but as a day to recommit to the ongoing fight for true liberation.
The most critical “unfinished business” of freedom in America remains dismantling mass incarceration and the policies that disproportionately impact Black and marginalized families.
Beyond the financial contribution to the Amistad Research Center, how do you envision this “people power” translating into tangible policy changes and broader incarceration reform?
- Financial support for institutions like the Amistad Research Center is crucial for cultural preservation, but real change comes through sustained public engagement and policy advocacy. “People power” can look like:
- Organizing grassroots campaigns for clemency and sentencing reform.
- Voting for candidates and supporting legislation focused on justice and anti-mass-incarceration.
- Sharing personal stories to humanize the impact of harsh sentencing laws and encourage compassionate alternatives.
- Demanding transparency and accountability at every level of the criminal legal system.
When people come together, tell their stories, and push for reform, they help turn private pain into public policy—and drive the transformation toward a more just and equitable society.
In short: Our journey as a family has taught us that freedom is not just a personal triumph, but a collective responsibility. By telling our story and inviting others to participate, we hope to inspire lasting change—because “to be free is to free others.”
To deepen their impact, Fox and Rob Richardson have pledged to contribute $1 from each watch party registration to the Amistad Research Center, the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive independent-held Black archive. The Richardsons aim to raise 1 million dollars through the #TimeIIWatch campaign to benefit the Amistad and ultimately preserve the authentic Black narratives that powerful forces seek to silence. Rob Richardson, who served 21 years in the Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola), adds, “We’re flipping the script on how films drive change. TIME II isn’t about algorithms or streaming royalties; it’s about people power. Freedom isn’t free, and this campaign asks audiences to invest not just their time, but their voices.”
“Time” was praised in “Time Magazine” in their “25 Most Defining Works of the Black Renaissance” and was listed among “The Hollywood Reporter” as one of the “Top 50 Films of the Century.” “TIME II: Unfinished Business” is a Rich Time Production, presented by Twin Pine Productions in association with TillSow Studios. The film’s development team includes Executive Producers Alex Benton, Nick Pasternak, Rob G. Rich, and Fox Rich; Co-Executive Producers Hope Harris, Michael Refuerzo, and Brittany K. Barnett; Producer Daniel Lafrentz; and Co-Producer Joshua Montrel. Edited by Anna V. Patel. For more information on both documentaries, podcast, books, and more, visit https://foxandrob.com/ or follow them on Instagram. Interested in watching the movie or learning all about both documentaries? Visit http://www.timetwomovie.com or go to their YouTube channel.
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