
This content has been archived. It may no longer be relevant
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, in partnership with FRONTLINE PBS and Armando.info (a Venezuelan news platform) proudly presents a groundbreaking event featuring the documentary “A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela“. This eye-opening film exposes the intricate web of corruption within Nicolas Maduro’s regime, focusing on the controversial figure of Alex Saab and the brave journalists who risked everything to bring the truth to light.
THIS IS A FREE-ADMISSION EVENT
This event is free and open to the public. Due to limited capacity at the venue we ask that you kindly RSVP your attendance at:
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, November 2nd
- Venue: Facets Multimedia (1517 W. Fullerton Ave, Chicago)
- Schedule:
- 1:30 PM: Doors
- 2:00 PM: Screening
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Panel Discussion
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Reception
Featuring:
- A powerful documentary by Frontline PBS and Armando.info
- An insightful panel discussion moderated by Joanna Hernández, veteran WTTW reporter and Anchor for “Latino Voices”
Distinguished Panelists:
- Gerardo Perozo: Sociologist and consultant to the production
- Luisela Alvaray: Associate Professor at DePaul University
- Luciano Pedota: Nonprofit leader
- Jeff Arak: FRONTLINE PBS producer (joining virtually)
Post-Screening Reception:
Enjoy a delightful blend of culture and cuisine with:
- Wine and appetizers
- Live performance by Harpist Luis Correa, featuring Joropo music from the Colombian and Venezuelan Plains
Don’t miss this unique free opportunity to delve into one of the most pressing issues in Latin American politics, engage with experts, and experience the power of investigative journalism in action.
Join us for an afternoon of enlightenment, discussion, and cultural celebration!
Sinopsis
With the Venezuelan news outlet Armando.info and FRONTLINE PBS investigates the figure at the heart of a corruption scandal spanning from Venezuela to the U.S.
“A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela” tells the inside story of Alex Saab, his capture and then release by the U.S. in a controversial prisoner swap, and what has happened to the journalists who helped uncover the corruption scandal.



MEET THE PANELISTS
Jeff Arak (FRONTLINE PBS Producer)
BIO: Jeff Arak is a journalist and filmmaker based in New York City. Over the past decade he has produced non-fiction TV and documentaries for HBO and PBS. His first film with Frontline, Life on Parole (2017), earned a Media for a Just Society Award and helped Frontline win the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards’ highest honor: the Gold Baton; awarded for the first time in ten years. His latest film with FRONTLINE PBS traces an investigation by the Venezuelan media outlet Armando.info over seven years and four continents as they pursue the corrupt contractor, Alex Saab.
Luisela Alvaray (Associate Professor at DePaul University)
Luisela Alvaray is an Associate Professor at DePaul University. She specializes in Latin American cinema, transnational cinemas, cultural studies, documentary studies, and film historiography. Alvaray’s research has been published in journals such as Cinema Journal, Cultural Dynamics, Communication Teacher, Transnational Cinemas, Studies in Hispanic Cinemas, Transnational Screens, and Film & History. She is also a contributor to The Routledge Companion to Latin-American Cinemas, as well as Global Cinema Networks, Latin American Melodrama, and The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World, among other compilations.
Gerardo Perozo (Democracy Consultant)

Sociologist from the Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas with a master’s degree in public and international affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. University professor in the chairs of International Relations and Public Policies, he has also served as Director of Social Policy of the Venezuelan Ministry of Planning – CORDIPLAN, Director of the European Investment Program for Venezuela of the European Union, and Executive Director of the Liberty Mutual Foundation in Caracas. With extensive experience in consulting in democracy promotion and electoral systems, he is currently responsible for international cooperation projects for the Comando Venezuela.
Luciano Pedota (Arts Non-profit leader)

Luciano Pedota is a Venezuelan nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in arts administration and education, focusing on social impact. Born in Caracas to Italian migrants during a time of economic growth, he began his career in 1986 at Teatro Teresa Carreño, later working with Centro Mozarteum de Venezuela.
Following the 1992 coup attempts by Hugo Chavez, Luciano moved to Chicago to pursue advanced studies in Arts Management and Cultural Policy. In Chicago, he has promoted arts access in under-resourced communities. Most recently, he collaborated with organizations like the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance and The Resurrection Project to support Venezuelan refugees.
Joanna Hernandez (Journalist and Panel Moderator)

Joanna Hernandez is a multimedia Journalist. She started her career in New York City covering local and breaking news for News 12. She currently works for WTTW PBS covering community news from the impacts of gun violence to covering the migrant crisis in Chicago.