- Produced and Directed by
- Maria Finitzo
- Executive Producer
- Gordon Quinn
- Associate Producer
- Justine Nagan
- Editors
- Michael O’Brien
- David E. Simpson
- Janet Sutcliffe
- Director of Photography
- Jim Morrissette
- Ines Sommer
- Additional camera
- Jason Longo
- Slawomir Grunberg
- Stan Staniski
- Justine Nagan
- Original Music
- Joel Diamond
- Musicians
- Jack Bashkow - Flute and oboe Joel Diamond - Piano and clarinet
- Karen Waltuch - Strings
- Additional Music
- John Keltonic
- Sound
- Rich Pooler
- Byron Smith
- Zak Piper
- Adam Singer
- Additional Sound
- Juan Rodriguez
- Matt Vogel
- Michael Kranicke
- Steve Clack
- Post Production Technical Director
- Jim Morrissette
- Post Production Assistant
- Zak Piper
- Liz Kaar
- Editorial Consultant
- Steve James
- Kartemquin Staff
- Justine Nagan
- Zak Piper
- Gordon Quinn
- Joanna Rudnick
- Leslie Simmer
- Bookkeeping
- Yvonne Afable
- Animation & Opening Credits
- Sol FX Design Chicago
- Additional Graphic Design
- Dizzy Giant
- Interns/Production Assitants
- Ahnna Lee
- Amadi Jordan-Walker
- Beckie Stocchetti
- Brendan Kirwin
- Bryce Goodman
- Chad Owen
- Charle Luckett
- Danielle Krudy
- Dorian Anderson
- Ellen Wohlberg
- Fouzia Najar
- Ivana Stolkiner
- Katie Weber
- Kevin O’Dowd
- Kirsten Johnson
- Matt Wittmer
- Meghan McGillen
- Michael Carney
- Rich Simpson
- Ryan Gilbert
- Sara Wagley
- Sari Gezler
- Shana East
- Susan Hanrahan
- Tobiah Gaster
- Todd Lillethun

Maria Finitzo

Gordon Quinn
Founder and Senior Advisor
Artistic Director and founding member of Kartemquin Films, Gordon Quinn has been making documentaries for over 50 years. Roger Ebert, of the Chicago Sun Times, called his first film Home for Life (1966) "an extraordinarily moving documentary." With Home for Life Gordon established the direction he would take for the next four decades, making cinéma vérité films that investigate and critique society by documenting the unfolding lives of real people.

Justine Nagan
From 2008-2015, Justine led Kartemquin Films as Executive Director as well as being an Executive Producer on each new film. She was responsible, in concert with the Board of Directors, for creating and implementing the strategic vision for Kartemquin. Justine successfully transitioned to the ED role in a historic founder-led organization, and made major strides in building a foundation for long-term sustainability.

David E. Simpson
David E. Simpson is a documentary filmmaker with over three decades of experience. Films he has produced, directed or edited have garnered three national Emmys, a pair of Peabody awards, two DuPont-Columbia batons, an Oscar nomination, a Sundance jury award and best in category at countless festivals. He has worked in close association with Kartemquin Films since 1997.
An experienced director/producer, David deems editing the heart of documentary-practice and spends the bulk of his time in the cutting room crafting impactful works with talented collaborators.

Jim Morrissette
Technical Director Emeritus
For over thirty-five years, Jim Morrissette has had extensive experience as both a professional videographer and teacher, supporting his conviction that sharing and access are instrumental to the vitality of the independent production community.

Ines Sommer

Zak Piper
Zak is an Emmy and PGA award-winning documentary filmmaker who has made films for over 15 years.
Currently, Zak is producing several feature films: City So Real with producer/director Steve James; Until the Lion Speaks (working title), for Concordia Studio, with co-directors Bing Liu and Joshua Altman; and The Ants and the Grasshopper (working title), a film he is also co-directing/producing with Raj Patel and producer Rachel Wexler.

Adam Singer
Filmmaker Associate; Creative Committee Co-Chair
Adam D. Singer began working with Kartemquin Films in 1989, spending 5 years on the critically acclaimed documentary Hoop Dreams, and has continued his association with them ever since. He has worked on various productions, both nationally and internationally, as a producer, cameraman and sound recordist.

Liz Kaar

Steve James
Steve James' affiliation with Kartemquin began in 1987 with the start of production of Hoop Dreams, for which he served as director, producer, and co-editor. He has since then become one of the most acclaimed documentary makers of his generation, with noted works being Stevie, The New Americans, The War Tapes, At the Death House Door, The Interrupters, Life Itself, and most recently the 2018 Academy Award®-nominated Abacus: Small Enough to Jail.

Joanna Rudnick
Joanna Rudnick is an Emmy®-nominated director and producer.

Leslie Simmer
Director of Editing, Senior Editor on Staff
Leslie Simmer is Kartemquin's Director of Editing as well as Senior Editor on staff.

Yvonne Afable
Board Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair
Yvonne P. Afable was Kartemquin's Director of Finance from 2004-2012, before transitioning to the Board of Directors. A graduate of DePaul University, Yvonne has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting & Finance. She is a Certified Management Accountant with 16 years of accounting experience. She was an auditor for two years before beginning her career in the not-for-profit industry. She monitored the budget and assisted with investments for the American College of Surgeons before becoming the Assistant Accounting Manager.