By Gina Yarbrough
San Diego, CA–The GI Film Festival San Diego has selected 21 films that will be screened at the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park from May 6 to 11.
After reviewing nearly 100 submissions, festival organizers, with the assistance of a community advisory committee, selected this year’s film lineup which includes full-length documentaries, student films, comedies, and more that are for, by, and about the military.
According to organizers, attendees at the festival won’t see action-packed Hollywood blockbusters, but independent films that highlight personal accomplishments, the transition home from war, post-traumatic stress, military homelessness, resilience, and healing invisible wounds that occur after service. Also included are creative and experimental films that celebrate humor, wit, and romance.
“We’re back and ready to once again gather together for six days of honoring our military veterans, their families, and their stories,” says Keshia Javis-Jones, GI Film Festival San Diego advisory committee member and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “As a veteran, I have seen first-hand how transformative and inspirational this festival is for everyone that attends regardless of if they served. This is a week of military storytelling to showcase films about the real military experience and to give veteran filmmakers a chance to share their love of cinema with other cinephiles.”
The GI Film Festival San Diego tickets are available online. Attendees can secure individual tickets or multi-ticket packs to attend multiple screenings. Tickets for most screenings start at $10 each or $8 for military and veterans.
For information on this year’s film festival, visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.
Throughout its history in D.C. and San Diego, the GI Film Festival has welcomed notable personalities, including documentarians Ken Burns and Ric Burns, General (Ret.) Richard Myers, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the late US Senator John McCain; actors Gary Sinise, Glenn Close, Matthew Marsden, Lou Diamond Phillips, Joe Mantegna, George Takei, and Jeffrey Wright.
The lineup of films include:
“Black Uniform” – 12 Black veterans, serving within the ranges of WWII to the present day, share their heartfelt perspectives on what it felt like to be on the proverbial front lines as a Black man or woman in the U.S. military. Produced and Directed by Robert Darwell.
“Cheddar” – Scott’s night is thrown into chaos when an alien spaceship crash lands into his proposed picnic. Written and Directed by Ryan Murtha.
“Cinemeta” – Two military veterans turned amateur filmmakers embark upon a mission to produce the perfect, festival-worthy, 10-minute comedy short film. Written, Produced, and Directed by James Arterberry.
“The Echoes of War” – In early 1943, U.S. Army Sergeant Harrison Wright was drafted into World War II. When the war ended, he was stationed in a small village in Belgium near the border with Germany. Directed by Richard O’Connor.
“Final Fight: When the Trauma of War Comes Home” – Largely unknown to most Americans, over the last 20 years, the United States has lost almost five times as many active service members and veterans to suicide than have been lost in all of the Global War on Terrorism operations. Directed by Frances Causey.
“Interpreters Wanted” – Saifullah and Ismail Haqmal are two brother interpreters who served alongside U.S. Forces in Afghanistan for over a decade. The film follows the brothers from their childhood growing up during the Russian/Afghan war, through the Taliban era, and then the invasion by NATO forces after 9/11. Produced, Edited, and Directed by Robert Ham
“Jimmy in Saigon” – The film is a personal exploration into the mysterious death and radical life of Jimmy McDowell, an American 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died as a civilian in Saigon in 1972 when filmmaker (and Jimmy’s brother) Peter McDowell was only five. Produced and Directed by Peter McDowell.
“Julian: a Jiu Jitsu Story” – A double amputee Marine, struggling to come to terms with the loss of his legs from an IED in Afghanistan, discovers the healing power of jiu-jitsu. He fights to not only regain his physical strength but also overcome the mental trauma and reclaim his sense of identity and purpose. Directed by Max Bloom.
“A Life of Honor” – When Joseph Patton joined the Navy in 1955, he had to serve in silence. At the time, the LGBTQ community could not be open while in the military. Despite being the “perfect sailor,” Patton was kicked out of the Navy under the assumption that he was homosexual. Directed by Richard O’Connor.
“Long Live Xander the Great” – Jordan looks back on his childhood and comes to the realization, as we all do, that his parents were not the heroes he imagined them to be, but just people with hopes, dreams, and flaws like the rest of us. Written and Directed by Devin Scott.
“The Magic Ticket” – A homeless female veteran, Penny, is camping outside of a fancy restaurant on Christmas Eve when a kind stranger donates a gift card to go inside and get a hot meal. After struggling to get a seat, she is finally able to order dinner when an angry patron calls the police. When the cops try to escort Penny out, it triggers her trauma. Directed by Yelena Krivosheyeva.
“Make Peace or Die” – U.S. Marine Corps veteran Anthony Marquez returned from Afghanistan deeply wounded and riddled with survivor’s guilt. His unit, 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, lost 17 men on their 2011 deployment to Sangin. Upon returning home, Marquez made it his mission to help the Gold Star families find healing, and in doing so, attempt to heal himself. Directed by Manny Marquez
“More Than Brothers” – Since the precipitous retreat of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, and the subsequent power takeover by the Taliban, the Afghans who helped the Allies are being hunted down and killed. The film portrays the personal sacrifices and political engagement of two Green Berets in a race against time to save the Afghans who kept them safe during their deployments. Directed by Andrea von.
“Peanut Butter Shot” – Set in the structured, bland environment of a federal government building, a young Army sergeant daydreams about a magical love. After realizing her crush is working today, she does her best to muster up the courage to ask her out. She has a plan — or so she thought. Directed by Paige Compton.
“Pueblo, A Year of Crises in America” – The true story of an ill-conceived, badly planned espionage mission with crewmen who had no knowledge or training for what they were being asked to perform. The North Koreans attacked and took the crewmen hostage where they endured 11 months of torture and brainwashing, only to face prison time for treason in their own country upon their return. Directed by Bill Lowe.
“The Sprayer” – In the land occupied by the sprayer army, no one has the right to grow any kind of plants either in public or private. Many of the people and soldiers do not know how a plant grows or what it looks like. Directed by Farnoosh Abedi.
“Stamp Our Story” – Every stamp has a story. The resilience and determination of Japanese-American World War II soldiers, who were asked to fight for their country despite having their freedom unjustly taken away, embody the best of the American spirit. Produced and Directed by Robert Horsting and Kaia Rose
“The Steak” – A birthday ceremony preparation gets upside down as something horrible takes place. Produced and Directed by Kiarash Dadgar.
“The Volunteer” – During the Vietnam War, American soldier Bruce Nakashima formed a close but unlikely friendship with L.V. Hendking. Nakashima was a Japanese American from California; Hendking was an African American from Alabama. From U.S. Army Ranger training through their deployment in Vietnam, the two were inseparable, confiding in each other, protecting each other, and providing a sense of home amidst the horror of war. Produced and Directed by David Brodie.
“We Carry On” – In July 2022, Wounded Warrior Project and Community Building Art Works brought together 12 caregivers of severely wounded veterans through a six-week virtual poetry workshop that culminated in an on-stage performance in Washington, D.C. Directed by Sareen Hairabedian
“Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea” – A 3D documentary film about the life and work of artist, Marine, and acrobat H.C. (Cliff) Westermann. As a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Westermann’s dramatic personal history can be traced through the beguiling, surreal artworks he made to process the horrors he witnessed on the front lines. Written and Directed by Leslie Buchbinder.
