Gloria Steinem joins board of new Kartemquin film

Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem

Legendary activist
and writer
strengthens diverse
and powerful
leaders advising
‘The Dilemma of Desire’

Writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem will join the project advisory board for the upcoming feature-length documentary The Dilemma of Desire. The co-founder of Ms. and former New York magazine columnist strengthens a powerful group of leaders dedicated to the thought-provoking work.

The Dilemma Of Desire explores the clash between gender politics and the imperatives of female sexual desire by following two scientists and two artists who use their work to shatter myths about sexual desire and physical identity. The newest feature from Maria Finitzo and Kartemquin Films, it includes portraits of five individuals who share their stories about what it means to be sexual today.

Ti Chang in 'Dilemma of Desire'
Ti Chang in ‘Dilemma of Desire’

Finitzo is a Peabody and Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award-winning director and producer whose work includes Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita. Kartemquin is a four-time Academy Award-nominated production house based in Chicago.

“We’re thrilled to have the remarkable Gloria Steinem, a fierce advocate for gender equality, join the incredible women and men on our esteemed advisory board,” says Finitzo. “The new additions to our board, our acceptance to IFP Week, and support from the International Documentary Association (IDA) and Film Independent as a DocuClub participant all serve to strengthen our resolve to complete the film for a 2020 release.”

The Dilemma of Desire Advisory Board
Aymar Jean “AJ” Christian | Eve Ensler | Jessica Fields |
Carol Gilligan | Mara Gubuan | Frances Kissling | Shelby Knox |
Cynthia Lopez | Lisa L. Moore | Nicole Page | Catherine Park |
Junauda Petrus | Katha Politt | Dr. Nabeela Rasheed | Gloria Steinem |
Deborah L. Tolman | Yvonne Welbon | Jenny Yang

 
 
 
IFP Spotlight on Documentaries
Besides adding Steinem to the advisory board, The Dilemma of Desire has also been selected to participate in Independent Filmmaker’s Project’s (IFP) 2019 Project Forum’s Spotlight on Documentaries.

Held during IFP Week, the program connects 60+ work-in-progress non-fiction features and series with financiers, distributors, broadcasters, sales companies, and festival programmers.

The Dilemma of Desire is produced by Maria Finitzo, Cynthia Kane (ITVS, Al Jazeera, Sundance Channel), and Diane Quon (Minding the Gap). The film’s executive produces are Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA), Jolene Pinder, Gordon Quinn, and Hugh Schulze. Ro*Co Films has signed on for sales.

Also joining the film’s advisory board with Steinem are prominent scholars, filmmakers, and activists: Mara Gubuan, Lisa L. Moore, Catherine Park, Junauda Petrus, Dr. Nabeela Rasheed, Yvonne Welbon, and Jenny Yang.

 
 
LA screening
On Monday, August 5th, the film will participate in a work-in-progress screening at Film Independent in Los Angeles as part of the Independent Documentary Association and Film Independent’s DocuClub LA. Director Maria Finitzo, producer Cynthia Kane, and producer Diane Quon, will be present for post-screening discussion and feedback session moderated by independent producer Katie Doering. For additional information, click on this. RSVP here.

 
 
About Kartemquin Films
Chicago-based Kartemquin is a collaborative center empowering filmmakers who create documentaries of global consequence and foster a more engaged and just society. In 2016, Kartemquin celebrated 50 years of sparking democracy through documentary. The 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization’s films have received four Academy Award nominations and won six Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and multiple Independent Spirit, IDA, PGA and DGA awards as well as duPont-Columbia and Robert F. Kennedy journalism awards. Kartemquin has also helped hundreds of artists via filmmaker development programs like KTQ Labs, Diverse Voices in Docs, and the acclaimed KTQ Internship.

 
Send your indie film news to Reel Chicago Editor Dan Patton, dan@reechicago.com.