“The Ants and the Grasshopper”

One woman’s journey from Malawi to the U.S. and back as she struggles to educate people on the challenges of farming, gender equality, and climate change.

“I am blown away… a hero of such grace and intelligence and power…” — Michael Pollan

“…an effective consciousness raiser.” — The Guardian

“…an uplifting sense of what strong, intelligent and thoughtful women can achieve.” — Film Review Daily

antsandgrasshopper.org

“Chicago Stories: Ida B. Wells”
The work and life of trailblazing civil rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells.
Chicago/Midwest Emmy: Outstanding Achievement for Documentary – Historical 
Peter Lisagor Award for Journalism
“Chicago Stories: The Birth of Gospel”
Follows the roots of Gospel music, from its origins in the spirituals of enslaved Africans through the Great Migration of Black Southerners to Chicago.
Chicago/Midswest Emmy: Outstanding Achievement for Documentary – Cultural 
 

“Witness: Katrina”
Network: National Geographic Channel
A moment by moment account of Hurricane Katrina as captured by those who lived through it.
Emmy – Outstanding Historical Program
“The film’s intimacy is hypnotic … knocked me flat. It’s a visit to a lost world.” — NOLA.com / The Times-Picayune
“Twitchy, lo-res, in-your-face … It’s the negligible made monumental.” — Boston Globe
“Provides an intimate, fresh look at a calamity many of us thought we already knew.” — Tampa Bay Times

“JFK: 3 Shots That Changed America”
Network: History Channel
A chronicle of the days surrounding JFK’s assassination and its ramifications. The story is assembled using archive footage only, without narration,taking the viewer back to a moment in history as it was experienced.
Realscreen Award – Best Special or One-off
FOCAL Award – Best Use of Archive
 
“Remarkable … perhaps the best on that subject you will ever see.”
— NY Post
“Hypnotic, powerful, spellbinding stuff.”
— United Media

“A Place Called Pluto”
 
Director: Steve James
A long time reporter’s journey with Alzheimer’s as he writes his way through the experience, and how his family also deals with the illness. One of several short films made for the Living with Alzheimer’s film project.
 
Tribecca Film Festival short film selection, 2014
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, 2014
AFI DOCS Festival, 2014
Sarasota Film Festival, 2014
Special screening at MoMA, 2014
 

“In The Game”
Network: Kartemquin Films
Director: Maria Finitzo
Follows the ups and downs of a girls’ soccer team to reveal the very real obstacles that low-income students confront in their quest for higher education.
Official Selection – Madrid International Film Festival 2015
Nominee – Best Editing of a Documentary – Madrid Intl. Film Fest
“Kartemquin at its best” — Chicago Reader
“Wondrous, gentle, assured … compassionate” — New City Film

“First 48: Missing Persons”
Network: A&E
Episode 5 in the spinoff series that follows detectives of the Chicago Police Department as they search for missing persons.
“African Digital Schools Initiative”
Network: GESCI and MasterCard Foundation
Director: Intersect Productions
A look at how digital technologies are transforming classrooms in Kenya. A partnership between MasterCard Foundation and GESCI, the Global e-Schools and Communities Initiative, a non-profit founded the United Nations Task Force.
“The Case Against Sadam”

Network: Discovery Times

An exclusive, behind the scenes look at an American-led team of investigators as they gather evidence in Iraq for the trial of Saddam Hussein.
“22nd Century: World Wide Mind”
Network: PBS
The pilot episode for a new science series. Takes a look at current technologies and how they could shape our future
“Full Body Whisper”
Director: Ravi Batista
The life and teaching methods of Chicago theater legend Joyce Piven are explored through the director’s personal relationship with Joyce.