2013 Chicago International Social Change Film Festival

"Chiraq" (12 minutes)
The first in a series of exclusive commissions for Protein TV, Chi Raq is an intimate video portrait of life in South and West Chicago.

For the past decade, Chicago has been enduring a violence epidemic, with a death toll in the thousands and casualties mirroring the losses experienced by the US army in Iraq war over the same period. Allowing its subjects to take centre stage and tell their stories in their own words, Robson-Scottʼs film is unflinchingly honest in its depiction of life on the streets of one of the most dangerous cities in America. Check out the trailer at http://vimeo.com/71803428.

"Shellshocked" (54 minutes)
Wherever a disagreement is escalating into violence, an execution is being planned, or a victim is taking his last breath, it is more than likely a youth is witnessing or carrying out these actions. New Orleans government, law enforcement, community leaders, and well-intentioned citizens cannot agree on a prognosis or a solution to the violence ravaging their streets. SHELL SHOCKED attempts to bridge the gap of this disconnect by hearing the ideas, opinions, and testimonies from activists, community leaders, police, city officials, youth program directors, family and friends of victims, and the children who live in these violent circumstances. We are looking for positive solutions to an extremely negative situation. See the trailer at http://vimeo.com/ondemand/shellshocked/62160173.

Kristen Zelenka
We are also thrilled to have Kristen Zelenka speak to us. She is the founder of Q Box Studio, a firm that leverages design and media to promote the intersection of the arts, education, and meaningful community engagement. Her interest in creating a multi-media approach to advance social causes began with her formal education in interdisciplinary art at the University 
of Michigan School of Art & Design and carried through to her decision to start her 
own company. Currently, Kristen is working with Kartemquin Films to develop the 
educational outreach strategy and mobile app for Interrupt Violence, a transmedia 
campaign to curtail gun violence in Chicago. She is also researching the use of 
interactive GIS mapping for a political role-playing game simulation for the School 
of Education at the University of Michigan. Kristen has worked with a number 
of organizations to deliver powerful messages utilizing the web, graphic design,
photography, and video.