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This weekend saw the final episode of At the Movies broadcast on American television. Kartemquin has always been fond of the program ever since it was so integral in raising awareness of Hoop Dreams with this famous review in 1994.

It seems we're not alone in feeling this way, as many other writers over the past few days have marked the end of the show with tributes that make special mention of that landmark Hoop Dreams review, including NPR, IFC.com, Reuters, and the superb Not Just Movies blog, who felt that most appropriate way to pay tribute to was by profiling Hoop Dreams in detail, since they discovered the film "solely through the attention it received on the program."

Our thanks and eternal gratitude go to Gene Siskel, Roger Ebert and At the Movies.

Please read the blog "Howard Reich's Journey to Understand his Mother and Himself" on the Dart Society's "Blogging Trauma" website for a thoughtful and insightful consideration of Prisoner of Her Past.

The blog states: "Reich deserves credit for his honesty and willingness to show us a little-explored aspect of the Holocaust as well as for his courage in exploring new formats through which to express himself."

The Dart Society exists to "connect and support journalists worldwide who advance the compassionate and ethical coverage of trauma, conflict and social injustice."

Prisoner of Her Past is available on DVD, and will be screening around the world in the coming months, with dates already announced for Greece, Czech Republic, Illinois, Texas and Indiana. Check the film's events page for details and updated listings.

American Arab director Usama Alshaibi is profiled in today's Chicago Reader, in advance of tonight's party fundraiser at Chicago's Stan Mansion at 6pm. Bring a copy of the Reader article to tonight's event to receive $10 off your entry to the event. Please come out to support Usama and the completion of this important film!

And if you can't wait until tonight, here's another sneak peak clip from the demo, which will world premiere tonight!

Carmen Prieto, the Associate Director of the Wieboldt Foundation, will become the newest member of the Kartemquin Board when she joins for the next meeting in September.

“Carmen’s long-term involvement with the Wieboldt Foundation, which supports grassroots multi-issue community organizing, fits perfectly with Kartemquin’s mission of developing documentaries that focus on people who are often overlooked or misrepresented by the media,” says Justine Nagan, Executive Director of Kartemquin Films. “We are thrilled to have another person on our board whose work experience and philanthropic endeavors reflect our organization’s commitment to opening dialogue, both within communities and between the general public and policymakers to directly affect social and political change.”

“I am honored to have been asked to serve on the board of Kartemquin Films,” says Prieto. “In my professional life I facilitate the provision of resources for grassroots community organizing for positive social change and am excited about the opportunity to engage with individuals who are committed to the creation of documentary films that tell personal stories that inspire, challenge, and move people to collective action.” 

Ms. Prieto is the associate director of the Wieboldt Foundation, an eighty-nine year old private family foundation supporting grassroots, multi-issue, community organizing in the metropolitan Chicago area. She has been with the foundation for 20 years.

In addition to her role at the foundation, Ms. Prieto has also served in a number of leadership positions within the philanthropic sector, both locally and nationally. She served on the board of directors of the Chicago Foundation for Women from 1998 through 2006, serving as board chair from 2003-2005. She was a member of the board of directors of the Donors Forum from 2004 through 2009, serving as a board vice-chair, co-chair of the board development committee, and co-chair of the Community Building Task Force.

Ms. Prieto is a member of the executive committee of Chicago Latinos in Philanthropy and currently serves on the board of directors of the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing and the Chicago Area Women’s History Council.  Past civic involvements have included serving as a former board member and vice-chair of Chicago Health Outreach, a clinic providing comprehensive physical, mental, and dental health services to underserved populations.

In 2000 Ms. Prieto was honored by Mujeres Latinas en Accion with the Maria “Maruca” Martinez Community Service Award.  In October of 2003 Carmen was honored by the National Museum of Mexican Art with their 2003 Sor Juana Achievement Award.