Kartemquin Films

The deadline for Round Two of the Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund is approaching! 🕘

Applications will close in SEVEN (7) days, on June 30th, 11:59p CST.

Learn more and apply here!: https://kartemquin.org/program/zhao-chen-family-aapi-voices-fund/

Doctors should never have to choose between saving lives and risking their own.

Join us for a special screening and fundraiser for FRACTURED: Humanitarian Aid Under Fire, a documentary fighting to protect the lives of doctors and humanitarian aid workers in war zones around the world.

The evening will include a screening of the Emmy-nominated short documentary KHSARA, followed by a
Q&A with doctors from the film.

Hosted by Sayf Primary Care in partnership with PAMA.

📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 2 TransAm Plaza Dr., Suite 450, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
🍽️ Refreshments provided
🎟️ Space is limited — scan the QR code to RSVP or visit www.fracturedthefilm.com

Doctors are not targets. Hospitals are not battlefields. Humanitarian aid is not a crime.

It's officially PRIDE MONTH! And to celebrate this month, our KTQ 'Uncut Gem' 💎 is celebrating the trans and q***r experience with pregnancy with Oliverio 'Oli' Rodriguez's endearing and informative documentary, PAPI'S PREGNANT.

KTQ's Program Coordinator, Sydney Bauer writes...

In the feature documentary. PAPI'S PREGNANT, director Oli Rodriguez's infectious personality blooms through the screen, adding a wonderful sense of humor and quirkiness to a film about a medically complicated and potentially traumatic experience. The film begins with the quintessential q***r story: coming out to your parents. As the film progresses, the audience grows alongside Oli - both in age and in pregnancy. We see the years-long process it took to learn about trans-masc pregnancies, succeed in getting pregnant, and the journey of labor and delivery itself. We meet the various physicians who provided the care Oli needed to bring him to parenthood, their explanations of the process illuminated through animation.

It was such an honor to learn so deeply about Oli as a person and learn even more about the various methods of conception. In a world where trans & gender expansive people are losing rights every day, stories like PAPI’S PREGNANT remind us that q***r and trans healthcare is of utmost importance. Gender-affirming care IS life-affirming care, helping q***r and trans people make the choices that are best for them.

From a personal experience, my sister and her husband experienced infertility for a number of years before having a child through surrogacy - one of her lifelong friends offered to carry their embryo created through IVF (as discussed in the film!). Although my sister and her husband are both cis, to me, telling these stories of "non-traditional" conception is so important and it is a representation that often isn't thought of. For many people, conception and pregnancy is a bumpy road, with potholes of heartbreak on every block. It was a joy to see Oli find his way to parenthood, and see how expansive the idea of "it takes a village" can actually be.

Check out the film and the review on our Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/kartemquin/film/papis-pregnant/

A Birthday Wish from our Founder:

Dear Friends, every year, I say the same thing: please, no gifts. But as Kartemquin celebrates its 60th year, I'd like to make a small exception. If you feel inclined to mark my birthday, I hope you'll consider making a contribution to Kartemquin Films instead.

For much of my life, Kartemquin has been my creative home and my community… a community of people who believe documentary film can deepen understanding and strengthen democracy. That work feels as important today as ever..

You can make your donations at https://kartemquin.org/donate

Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping carry it forward.

With gratitude,

Gordon Quinn

The day is HERE! Applications for Round TWO of the Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund at Kartemquin Films are officially OPEN!

Round 2 Fund Eligibility:
- Center AAPI-stories and communities
- Be working on a short documentary film project
- Are not enrolled in a degree seeking program
- Be in mid- to late production

📆 Applications close on June 30th. 📆

Apply HERE: https://kartemquinfilms.submittable.com/submit

Questions? Email [email protected].

Event alert!!

Aisha Allen, filmmaker, Founder of Reel Mamas Chicago, and a proud 2019 Diverse Voices in Docs alumni, is hosting a community storytelling event titled Healing Through History: The Cook County Experience.

The event will take place TOMORROW, Wednesday, May 27th from 6–8 PM in Chicago and will explore the history of Cook County Hospital and the legacy of civil rights activist and public health champion Dr. Quentin Young through storytelling, genealogy, film, and community dialogue.

The event will feature two documentary filmmakers- Maya Cueva and Aisha. Maya will participate in a conversation about the legacy of her grandfather, Dr. Quentin Young.

Learn more and register here!: http://bit.ly/4uyZiM4

🪷 KTQ x Mayor Brandon Johnson for AAPI Month 🪷

Kartemquin met Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for the city’s annual event celebrating Asian-American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander month.

Thank you Mayor Johnson for recognizing the rich contributions and deep history of our AANHPI community!

We also met up with friends new and not so new!

Slide 1: (L-R) Supervising Producer of the Zhao-Chen Family AAPI Voices Fund Cindy Martin, Development Associate Aira Aquino, Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson, Director of Finance and Operations Yvette Flojo

Slide 2: Aira, Cindy, Yvette and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of Full Spectrum Features Jason Matsumoto

Slide 3: Cindy, Vietfive Coffee Founder Tuan Huynh, Yvette

Slide 4: Cindy, Aira, Yvette, Haibayô Co-Founder Hac Tran

Slide 5: Performance by AANHPI dancers

Slide 6: Mayor Johnson giving speech

HOLDING LIAT is now available for screening bookings on Kinema!

Learn more here!: https://kinema.com/films/holding-liat-yoykc?mc_cid=6e50e61845&mc_eid=85ae377655

Summer's around the corner and we're not waiting! Join the Kartemquin community on Friday, June 12th at Ludlow Liquors in Chicago for a Summer Kick-Off.

Come raise a glass with us! 🍹🎉😎