As 2017 begins, certain social issues explored in our films are becoming particularly pertinent. For the next 45 days, receive 45% off the following titles on DVD or streaming in our VHX catalogue with the code: DEMOCRACY ON DISABILITY: When Billy Broke His Head on DVD Refrigerator Mothers on DVD and VHX ON BEING AMERICAN: American Arab on DVD and VHX Continued

In honor of our 50th Anniversary Year, we streamed every Kartemquin Film for free, week by week, all year. Our films were watched by viewers in 49 countries around the world. Here are the top eight films that viewers watched most: 8. Trick Bag (1974) A classic from Kartemquin's early years, Trick Bag features gang members, Vietnam vets and young factory workers from Chicago's neighborhoods sharing their personal experiences with racism: who gets hurt and who profits. The project grew out of Peter Kuttner's association with Rising Up Angry, a radical working-class organization, many of whose members are featured in the film. Continued

Retrospectives in New York and Los Angeles to Highlight Five Decades of Documentaries Nearly 1,000 Party Attendees Include CEO of PBS, Stars of Films and Directors from the Past 50 Years of Kartemquin, Elected Officials Not-for-profit documentary production collective Kartemquin Films, the Chicago-based producers of The Interrupters, and The Trials of Muhammad Ali, marks the occasion of its 50th Birthday Party tonight to announce major retrospectives in New York and Los Angeles this summer, a new fund to support filmmakers, and a showcase for emerging midwest independent documentary makers this fall. Continued

On Beauty will screen at the Positive Exposure was founded in 1998 by former award-winning fashion photographer Rick Guidotti. Disillusioned with the fashion industry, Guidotti created Positive Exposure in order to utilize photography and video to transform public perceptions of people living with genetic, physical, behavioral and intellectual differences. Continued

Last week, we announced Raising Bertie's world premiere at Full Frame Documentary Festival in Durham, North Carolina. The festival today confirmed the screening will take place at 4:30PM on Saturday, April 9th at the Carolina Theater's Fletcher Hall. Tickets go on sale April 1, 2016. For info, please visit the Full Frame website: http://www.fullframefest.org/passestickets/passes/. The subjects of the the film will all attend this "Center Frame" screening along with Director Margaret Byrne, producer Ian Kibbe, cinematographer Jon Stuyvesant, editor Leslie Simmer, Kartemquin's Tim Horsburgh and Ryan Gleeson. Continued

The Ashland Independent Film Festival will honor Kartemquin Films’ 50 years of creating high-quality, social-issue documentaries during the 15th annual AIFF on April 7-11, 2016. The festival, which features more than 90 films and dozens of special events across the town of Ashland, Oregon, will welcome special guests Kartemquin Artistic Director and co-founder Gordon Quinn, Emmy-nominated director Joanna Rudnick and Peabody Award-winning director Maria Finitzo. In celebration of Kartemquin’s 50th anniversary, the festival will screen a program of Kartemquin films directed by and about women, including the following films: Continued

The Midwest brings good news to Kartemquin this week. The Midwest Independent Film Festival announced the Best of the Midwest Awards (BMAs) nominees from around the region that have screened at the festival's monthly first Tuesday events. Almost There leads the BMAs in overall nominations, being represented in 4 categories: Best Editing for Aaron Wickenden; Best Artistic Specialization for Ross Thomas, Jenna Caravello and Peter Anton's work on the film's Visual Effects; Best Director for Aaron Wickenden and Dan Rybicky, and the main prize of Best Feature. Director Joanna Rudnick's On Beauty will compete in 2 categories: Best Editing for Liz Kaar and Best Short Film. Congratulations to both Kartemquin teams! Continued

Attendees of the 2015 National Media Market voted On Beauty "Best of Show" in the K-12 category. The 37th National Media Market - "the premier conference for educational media acquisitions and technology" - gathered together representatives from many K-12, Post Secondary, Public Library and other institutions this October in Albuquerque, NM. Announcing the news, the film's educational distributor Women Make Movies describes the award as an endorsement that "On Beauty is the premiere film to address issues of health, body image, bullying and disabilities." On Beauty is now available to order for educational institutions as a DVD or for public screening. Find out pricing at Women Make Movies. Continued

This year’s Houston Cinema Arts Festival, which takes place from November 12-19, will be hosting a tribute to Kartemquin Films. As part of this incredible honor, three of our documentaries - Golub, On Beauty, and Almost There - will screen at the festival, and there will also be two free panel discussions. Gordon Quinn will be in attendance for the screenings as well as participating as a panelist. Continued

Following a successful summer of events, On Beauty has announced several new educational initiatives. The film, directed by Joanna Rudnick, challenges us to rethink the way we see differences and norms while also redefining beauty. On Beauty’s distribution partner, Women Make Movies, will assist in creating educational DVDs for schools and other institutions to screen. Not only will this bring the film to students across the country, but also serve as a perfect pair with the film’s other educational materials. DVDs will be completed by early 2016. You can pre-order here. Continued