Kartemquin Films, the 41-year old social documentary collective, has reestablished a board of directors as it proceeds with a multi-year leadership succession.
Board chair is Steve Whisnant, director of Capital and Business Development for Seattle-based Venture Philanthropy Partner.
Mary Dombrowski, operations director of at See3 Communications, Chicago is treasurer and Kartemquin’s Justine Nagan is secretary.
When Kartemquin was incorporated as a non-profit in 1975, its board was composed of the group’s original stakeholders, an intimate group of filmmakers working on a handful of communal projects.
Since then, Kartemquin has evolved into a media arts organization with long-standing relationships in filmmaking, non-profit and media policy communities.
The new expanded board will focus on Kartemquin’s mission and vision, and will provide support as it ventures into new areas of fundraising and distribution, and help maximize its overall impact in the community.
Other board members are Pat Aufderheide, Center for Social Media, American University; Margaret Caples, Community Film Workshop; Peter Gilbert, filmmaker, Kartemquin associate; Susan Gzesh, Human Rights Program, University of Chicago; Gordon Quinn, Kartemquin Films co-founder.
“This group of individuals shows a long-term commitment to Kartemquin’s mission, core values and future direction,” said Joanna Rudnick, Kartemquin director of development.
Currently in production in association with the Chicago Tribune is “At the Death House Door,” about wrongly executed Carlos DeLuna, directed and produced by Steve James and Peter Gilbert, executive producer Gordon Quinn.
Director Maria Finitzo has a feature doc in development, “The One and the Many,” focusing on a microcosm of world religions in the most ethnically diverse county in this country, Flushing, Queens. David Simpson’s “The Mind’s Eye,” about the world of blindess through first person encounters, is also in the works.
Some of Kartemquin’s notable past productions include “Hoop Dreams,” “5 Girls,” “The New Americans,” “Stevie,” “Golub” and “The Last Pullman Car.”
Kartemquin Films is located at 1901 W. Wellington; phone, 773/472-4366. See www.kartemquin.com.
