Gloria Steinem joins The Dilemma of Desire advisory board; film heads to IFP Week

Writer, lecturer, political activist, and feminist organizer Gloria Steinem will join the project advisory board for the upcoming feature-length documentary The Dilemma of Desire, the newest film from Peabody and Alfred I. duPont Columbia University Award-winning director/producer Maria Finitzo (Mapping Stem Cell Research: Terra Incognita) and four-time Academy Award-nominated production house Kartemquin Films.

The news comes alongside the Independent Filmmaker’s Project’s (IFP) announcement that The Dilemma of Desire has been selected to participate in IFP’s 2019 Project Forum’s Spotlight on Documentaries. Held during IFP Week, the program connects 60+ work-in-progress non-fiction features and series with financiers, distributors, broadcasters, sales companies, and festival programmers.

"We're thrilled to have the remarkable Gloria Steinem, a fierce advocate for gender equality, join the incredible women and men on our esteemed advisory board. The new additions to our board, our acceptance to IFP Week, and support from the International Documentary Association (IDA) and Film Independent as a DocuClub participant all serve to strengthen our resolve to complete the film for a 2020 release,” said Finitzo.

The Dilemma of Desire is produced by Maria Finitzo, Cynthia Kane (former television and funding executive for Sundance Channel, ITVS, and Al Jazeera America) and Diane Quon (Minding the Gap), and executive produced by Barbara Kopple (Harlan County, USA), Jolene Pinder, Gordon Quinn and Hugh Schulze. Ro*Co Films has signed on for sales.

Also joining the film’s advisory board with Steinem are prominent scholars and activists: Mara Gubuan, Lisa L. Moore, Catherine Park, Junauda Petrus, Dr. Nabeela Rasheed, Yvonne Welbon, and Jenny Yang.

The Dilemma Of Desire explores the clash between gender politics and the powerful imperatives of female sexual desire, by following two scientists and two artists who are using their work to shatter myths women have been taught about their sexual desire and their bodies. Included are portraits of five who share their stories of what it means to be sexual today.

On Monday, August 5th, the film will participate in a work-in-progress screening at Film Independent in Los Angeles as part of the Independent Documentary Association and Film Independent’s DocuClub LA. Director Maria Finitzo, producer Cynthia Kane, and producer Diane Quon, will be present for post-screening discussion and feedback session moderated by independent producer Katie Doering. RSVP here.