September 12, 2014 10:20 am

We're thrilled to kick-off the theatrical distribution of The Homestretch with a week-long run at Chicago's Gene Siskel Film Center today.
Ahead of the screenings - many of which are already sold out - reviews and interviews with the filmmakers have been flowing in.
Here are some of the best:
"Its intimacy is a reflection of its compassion... The Homestretch invites you to empathize with its subjects, to worry with them, to laugh with them, to worry about them. It’s engaging and compelling viewing." - Glenn Kenny, RogerEbert.com.
"Offers an unprecedented look into the day-to-day lives of three of the estimated 1.6 million homeless youth living in the United States." - Joe Erbentraut, Huffington Post.
"Directors Anne De Mare and Kirsten Kelly persuasively indict America's failure to assist homeless teenagers, which a title estimates at 1.6 million people. Yet the stories they present are genuinely uplifting, charting the lives of three homeless Chicago teens as they find housing, complete their high school educations, and ready themselves for the adult world. De Mare and Kelly are up-front about the challenges their subjects face—chiefly their memories of abuse and abandonment—though the tone remains optimistic. It's an impressive balancing act." - Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader.
"This is an important film that people need to see... It's very heartbreaking, but it's also very inspirational... five minutes in, I was a wreck. It's a great story, a great film." Richard Roeper, Windy City Live.
"This is an important film that people NEED to see!" - @richardroeper on #chicago #documentary @HomestretchDoc
— WindyCityLIVE (@WindyCityLIVE) September 12, 2014
"An unstinting look at the reality... It doesn't exploit its subjects. In fact, it films each in such a way that you feel very protective of them." Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune.
"Dispiriting onscreen statistics include: “There are 2,000-3,000 homeless youth out on the streets of Chicago every night” and “There are more than 19,000 registered as homeless with the Chicago Public Schools.” This understated documentary, though, has no agenda to shame any one family or agency." Bill Stamets, Chicago Sun-Times.
"Their compelling stories are presented in an unforced way that allows us insight into their lives and affords these teens the dignity and respect that they deserve." - Richard Knight, Jr. Windy City Times.
"Covers an important topic and has several stirring images." - Matt Pais, RedEye.
"The Homestretch is one of those documentaries that presents a social problem that can’t provide easy answers. Still, the strength of the film’s profiles is enough to give some hope — maybe not the hope of fixing our urban homelessness problems, but there is a clear awareness that there are people who are working really hard to make sure those who have fallen into this situation are cared for and have options to live a more comfortable life. Hopefully seeing these efforts sparks at least one viewer to do a little more." - Aaron Pinkston, Battleship Pretension.
"De Mare and Kelly's approach to the film's central figures is so compassionate that it branches out to everyone else we see (When they lose track of one of the teens, a text exchange shows that the filmmakers' connection to their subjects is genuinely felt). This is particularly true of the various people helping these youths... As affecting as these teenagers' stories in The Homestretch are, the accounts of their advocates are equally inspiring." - Mark Dujsik, Mark Reviews Movies.
The filmmakers have also given great interviews to Scott Duff of OutChicago Radio (part 1 and part 2) and Mike Thomas of the Chicago Sun-Times, and to WBEZ's Afternoon Shift with Niala Boodhoo and Milos Stehlik.
September 12-18 Chicago screenings of THE HOMESTRETCH:
Link for tickets: http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org/homestretch
Friday, September 12 at 8:15 pm
Co-presented by Kartemquin and Spargel Productions
SOLD OUT!
Saturday, September 13 at 3:00 pm
Co-presented by DCFS and UCAN
Saturday, September 13 at 5:30 pm
Saturday, September 13 at 7:45 pm
Co-presented by Chicago Hopes
Sunday, September 14 at 3:00 pm
Co-presented by The Night Ministry
SOLD OUT!
Sunday, September 14 at 5:30 pm
Co-presented by Teen Living Programs
SOLD OUT!
Monday, September 15 at 6:00 pm
Co-presented by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
SOLD OUT!
Monday, September 15 at 8:15 pm
Co-presented by Teen Living Programs
Tuesday, September 16 at 6:00 pm
Co-presented by The Night Ministry
SOLD OUT!
Tuesday, September 16 at 8:15 pm
Co-presented by National Runaway Safeline
SOLD OUT!
Wednesday, September 17 at 8:30 pm
Co-presented by The Night Ministry
Thursday, September 18 at 6:00 pm
Co-presented by Teen Living Programs
SOLD OUT!
Thursday, September 18 at 8:15 pm
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Tweets about the film's opening weekend:
Tonight at our theatrical premiere, we're honoring 12 homeless liaisons who serve the @ChiPubSchools students who need help the most.
— The Homestretch (@HomestretchDoc) September 13, 2014
"The Homestretch" film may make you re-think about what is most important in life. Best film of the year so far. http://t.co/qKvcSODmOF
— Ingmar Bergman (@Ingmar__Bergman) September 13, 2014
Saw a fantastic documentary about homeless teens, @HomestretchDoc. Complete stereotype buster.
— Michael S Carroll (@nucAmbiguous) September 14, 2014
If you are in Chicago this week you MUST SEE the film @HomestretchDoc at the Gene Siskel @filmcenter. It's amazing! @Kartemquin @ChiHomeless
— katy boza (@katyboza) September 13, 2014
Wow, what an amazing documentary.@homestretchdoc ! Very inspirational!
— _socialmeisha (@HelloImTeisha) September 14, 2014
Go see this new film...and prepare to drop your stereotypes about homeless teens. https://t.co/8hQjyDwoBf @HomestretchDoc
— Colleen Mulcahy (@colleenmulcahy) September 14, 2014
@HomestretchDoc its not easy to let people on such a large scale see your personal challenges/struggles #respect to those #makingadifference
— Blessed (@cinnamon_suga) September 14, 2014
"This hit home. Hard. To my core." Viewer at @filmcenter reveals he has a similar story to those in @HomestretchDoc. pic.twitter.com/tXHiTbUzgl
— Kartemquin Films (@Kartemquin) September 13, 2014
"This is a call to arms, in the most beautiful way." - @ChiScottDuff with a lovely summary of the @HomestretchDoc!
— Kartemquin Films (@Kartemquin) September 13, 2014