At the Death House Door

Last weekend Executive Producer Gordon Quinn and Co-Director/Cinematographer Peter Gilbert accepted the first ever outreach award from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty for At the Death House Door. The award, which recognizes the successes of noteworthy leaders in the field, was given during the Coalition's annual conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, following a screening of the film. Peter also participated on the panel "Using the Arts to Make Change Happen," speaking about his experiences mobilizing audiences to effect change with the film.

Kartemquin's Steve James will curate a series of sports films for Full Frame's 2009 thematic program, "This Sporting Life" . In recent years, Full Frame has screened James’ Stevie, Reel Paradise, and At the Death House Door, which received the Inspiration Award at the festival last year.

James describes his involvement, “When Full Frame approached me about curating a series of sports films, it took me two seconds to say yes. Maybe it has something to do with a lifelong fascination with sports and film. And I’ve been a fan of how Full Frame selects a topic each year to do a series of films around. It challenges the viewer to engage with documentaries both thematically and historically, something that doesn’t happen enough in the festival world.”

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Kartemquin is thrilled to announce that Peter Gilbert and Steve James have been nominated for the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary for At the Death House Door. It is Peter's third DGA nomination (he won in 1998 with Jerry Blumenthal and Gordon Quinn for Vietnam: Long Time Coming). It is Steve's second nomination, having previously won for Hoop Dreams.

The winners will be announced at the 61st Annual DGA Awards Dinner on Saturday, January 31, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. Read more.

Read these recent reviews of Kartemquin films: Milking the Rhino is covered in Variety and At the Death House Door is featured in the Chicago Reader's Best of 2008.

Leading up to the 2009 Academy Awards announcement, read some recent blog coverage of At the Death House Door with this Steve James interview by "Movie Mom." The film airs on IFC again on January 6th at 5:30pm (CST).

As At the Death House Door returns from IDFA, the buzz about the documentary short list intensifies. Watch Steve James' masterclass from the festival. Read this discussion on the hot blog or this one from the fortnightly.

A large Kartemquin contingent heads to the International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam (IDFA) today representing Milking the Rhino and At the Death House Door. Additionally, Kartemquin Board Member Pat Aufderheide is participating on a panel during the festival.

David Simpson's Milking the Rhino is in competition for the Joris Ivens Prize and the center of a large special screening at the end of the festival sponsored by OXFAM. At the Death House Door is up for a Human Rights Award and following its screening, Steve James will speak about his experiences to be joined by Peter Gilbert and Gordon Quinn for the second half. Buzz about At the Death House Door is building following yesterday's announcement about the Academy Award shortlist. Read continued coverage in The Chicago Sun Times.

Kartemquin is honored and excited to announce that their recent documentary, At the Death House Door has been included on this year's shortlist for the Academy Awards. Get the full list from Variety and from The Hollywood Reporter.. Also, read analysis of the list from film writer AJ Schnack.

Congrats to Steve James, Peter Gilbert and the whole At the Death House Door crew.

Kartemquin's recent doc At the Death House Door has its Winnipeg premiere at the "Gimme Some Truth" festival. Director Steve James will be in attendance. A post screening reception is planned. Get the details.

Catch Kartemquin's At the Death House Door at the Lake County Film Society Doc Fest, ILL - DOCS this Saturday night.

College Of Lake County - Grayslake, IL 60030 8pm

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Kartemquin is thrilled that two of its recent documentary features will be included in this year's prestigious International Documentary Festival, Amsterdam (IDFA) in November. David Simpson's Milking the Rhino will screen in competition for the Joris Ivens Award, screening details to be announced shortly. Additionally, Steve James and Peter Gilbert's At the Death House Door will be screening, followed by "A Conversation with Steve James," on Friday, November 21st.

Kartemquin's At the Death House Door will be screening for free in Glen Ellen, Illinois at the College of DuPage on September 15. Reverend Carroll Pickett will be speaking the following day at the College. Get the details.

Kartemquin's Peter Gilbert and Reverend Carroll Pickett were interviewed for yesterday's edition of the radio program The Story. Listen here.

Kartemquin's Steve James is at BritDoc this week with At the Death House Door and Paradise Regained a 3 minute short Steve did for Cinelan. At the Death House Door is being presented at BritDoc by SXSW as the "Best of Fest."

Members of the Chicago Tribune's Subscriber Advantage program will have another chance to view Kartemquin's recent award-winning doc, At the Death House Door on Saturday morning at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago. A panel discussion with the filmmakers and Steve Mills, from the Tribune, will follow the screening.

Kartemquin's recent doc At the Death House Door is screening on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, tomorrow evening, June 19 at 6pm before a House Judiciary Subcommittee. Director/Producer Steve James will will be there to answer questions.

Kartemquin's At the Death House Door will be re-broadcast five times this month on the Independent Film Channel. Tune in to IFC (all CST, check local listings for details): Monday, June 16th at 8pm and midnight Tuesday, June 17th at 8:10am Wednesday, June 18th at 7am and 12:15pm