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Documentary filmmaker and Highland Park Native, Brett A. Schwartz, will screen his award-winning documentary, Raised Up West Side.

Chicago’s West Side epitomizes the violent, struggling city we see daily in the media. RAISED UP WEST SIDE peels back the layers, exposing the deep-seated segregation, food insecurity, and mass incarceration that continue to shape these predominantly Black neighborhoods. Following the harrowing, yet frequently inspiring plight of ex-offenders, social activists, and entrepreneurs working on the West Side, we witness the fierce tenacity required to change the narrative — and change lives.

Immediately after the screening, filmmaker Brett A. Schwartz will host a question-and-answer session with the audience. Joining Schwartz will be two musicians from the movie’s soundtrack, Shamartier “Bigg Baby” Rose and Emone “EQ” Quadeem, who will answer questions about the film soundtrack and discuss the upcoming release of the official film soundtrack on streaming services. Both the feature film and the soundtrack will be released and available on numerous streaming services in mid-March.

Brett A. Schwartz is an Emmy®-nominated director/producer based in the Chicago area. Schwartz’s feature documentary, INSATIABLE: THE HOMARO CANTU STORY premiered at SXSW in 2016 and screened in dozens of film festivals, both nationally and internationally, including The Seattle Int’l Film Festival, Napa Valley Film Festival, The Chicago Int’l Film Festival, Palm Springs Int’l Film Festival, and several others. The film is distributed by Virgil Films and has been streamed on Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV, and additional services. Prior to working as an independent filmmaker, Schwartz produced documentaries that aired on several networks, including Bravo, MSNBC, HGTV, Court TV, CBS, and PBS. Schwartz teaches film and TV production at Deerfield High School and lives in Highland Park with his wife and two children.

NOTE: NEW VENUE AS OF JANUARY 24, 2023.

This event is underwritten by Steve Sarowitz and the Wayfarer Theaters.