Kartemquin Films

Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick comments on Angelina Jolie’s New York Times o-ed.“She is going to...

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:30 -0500

Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick comments on Angelina Jolie’s New York Times o-ed.“She is going to...

Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventive double mastectomy...

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:40:48 -0500

Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventive double mastectomy because she carries the BRCA1 mutation.

Don’t know what a BRCA1 mutation is? Filmmaker Joanna Rudnick shared her story after she tested positive for the mutation as well. Her story was captured in the Emmy-nominated documentary In The Family, which is available for free here.

Last Saturday Gordon Quinn visited the Juvenile...

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:03:19 -0500

Last Saturday Gordon Quinn visited the Juvenile Injustice-Criminalization of Youth in Palestine and Chicago luncheon. The event was sponsored by The Arab Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East and featured speakers Sahar Francis, Bernadine Dohrn and Emmanuel Andre.

Almost There has received money from the Independent Television...

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:36:20 -0500

Almost There has received money from the Independent Television Service, allowing director/producers Dan Rybicky and Aaron Wickenden to finish the project.

https://www.kartemquin.com/node/5791

Almost There will be ready for screening at festivals in 2014 and eventually will air on PBS. You can follow their progress via Facebook and Twitter.

Joseph Stiglitz, former chairman of Bill Clinton’s Council...

Mon, 06 May 2013 10:47:51 -0500

Joseph Stiglitz, former chairman of Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors, explores the issues with gene patenting and the issues with the US patenting system as a whole.

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/the-myriad-problems-of-intellectual-property-by-joseph-e—stiglitz

“That is why we do not allow patents for basic insights in mathematics. And it is why research shows that patenting genes actually reduces the production of new knowledge about genes: the most important input in the production of new knowledge is prior knowledge, to which patents inhibit access,” he writes.

Gene patenting is one of the issues at the heart of Joanna Rudnick’s documentary, In the Family.

In the Family is available for free online until May 15th: http://www.pbs.org/pov/inthefamily

Tickets for Kartemquin’s Spring Showcase are now on sale....

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:16:43 -0500

Tickets for Kartemquin’s Spring Showcase are now on sale. It will take place on May 19th at the Gene Siskel Film Center and will feature exclusive previews of four upcoming films. Find more information here: http://kartemquin.com/node/5756

Forty-six years ago on April 28th, Muhammad Ali refused to be...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:33:00 -0500

Forty-six years ago on April 28th, Muhammad Ali refused to be inducted into the army.

The Trials of Muhammad Ali by Bill Siegel explores the consequences this refusal had on the boxer’s career.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/28/today-in-history-muhammad-ali-army_n_3172239.html

Democracy Now! Has published exclusive clips from The Trials of...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:57:31 -0500

Democracy Now! Has published exclusive clips from The Trials of Muhammad Ali, directed by Bill Siegel and produced by Gordon Quinn, here.

http://www.democracynow.org/2013/4/26/the_trials_of_muhammad_ali_boxing

Siegel and Quinn also share their challenges while making the film.

The Trials of Muhammad Ali will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival today.

What to know more about the gene patent debate? The Economist...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 10:44:31 -0500

What to know more about the gene patent debate? The Economist explores the arguments against gene patenting.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/04/economist-explains-why-gene-patents-controversial

The Supreme Court began hearing arguments about the legality of gene patenting on April 15th. To coincide with this, Joanna Rudnick’s documentary, In the Family, has been re-released here.

Slate summarizes the Supreme Court hearings of Association for...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:09:00 -0500

Slate summarizes the Supreme Court hearings of Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics case while also providing anecdotes from women who have tried to get the BRCA test.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/supreme_court_dispatches/2013/04/human_gene_patents_at_the_supreme_court_slate_readers_tell_their_stories.html

“One concern about Myriad’s monopoly is cost. Helen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last February in California, says her genetic counselor suggested she should be tested, “to help with my decision making and to inform my sister, who if I tested positive would need to be watched carefully.” She says, “I spoke to my insurance company (Blue Cross/ Anthem) and they stated that the test would not be covered and the cost would be between $3,000 and $4,000.”

The issue of gene patenting is at the heart of Joanna Rudnick’s documentary, In the Family.

In the Family can be found online for free at http://www.pbs.org/pov/inthefamily, now through May 15th.

The Supreme Court judges resorted to unique metaphors when...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:19:56 -0500

The Supreme Court judges resorted to unique metaphors when discussing the legality of gene patents. From baseball bats to cookies, the judges tried to determine what can and cannot be patented.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/health/court-genes/index.html

The judges are expected to decide on the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics in June.

Forbes contributor Steven Salzberg addresses Myriad Genetics...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:48:07 -0500

Forbes contributor Steven Salzberg addresses Myriad Genetics president and ceo Peter D. Meldrum’s Washington Post letter.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2013/04/13/myriad-genetics-ceo-owns-your-genes/

“The bottom line is that no one invented your genes, and no private company should be able to tell you that you can’t even read your own DNA. Today, you can get all of your DNA sequenced for less than the cost of the Myriad test,” Salzberg writes.

Today, the Supreme Court is hearing arguments for the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics, which will determine the legality of human gene patents.

Myriad Genetics president and CEO Peter D. Meldrum defends...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:53:00 -0500

Myriad Genetics president and CEO Peter D. Meldrum defends Myriad and the use of gene patents.

“There are several misconceptions about this case. We did not patent the genes in anyone’s body. That is not possible under U.S. patent law. Instead, we patented our own discoveries — the synthetic molecules we isolated and created in the lab to provide life-saving tests,” he writes.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/04/14/myriad-genetics-supreme-court-editorials-debates/2082553/

The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments for the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics today.

Who owns your genes? The Supreme Court will start to hear...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:42:00 -0500

Who owns your genes? The Supreme Court will start to hear arguments for the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics case, which will determine if gene patents are legal.

Joanna Rudnick discussed the issue of gene patenting in her Emmy-nominated documentary, In the Family.

In the Family can be found online on the PBS website: http://www.pbs.org/pov/inthefamily/full.php#.UWwe7LWTjKA

New poster for The Trials of Muhammad Ali!

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:50:00 -0500

New poster for The Trials of Muhammad Ali!

Mother and Daughter spread the word about genetic testing

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:56:17 -0500

A mother and daughter are working together to encourage people to receive genetic testing after...

Most Inspiring

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:41:41 -0500

Muhammad Ali and his family were named one of the 50 most influential families in America by Town...

Rally to Fight Gene Patenting

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 12:00:56 -0500

Brave Bosom writer Andrea Downing is participating in a rally in DC on April 15th as the Supreme...

Want to learn more about the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 15:22:41 -0500

Want to learn more about the Association for Molecular Pathology, et al v. Myriad Genetics...

They Said, She Said

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 11:52:28 -0500

With the upcoming Supreme Court case that will determine the legality of gene patents coming up,...