San Diego Welcomes National Military Film Festival

The fourth annual GI Film Festival San Diego is rolls into town beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018. Organizers have once again curated a film lineup to feature the untold and underrepresented stories of America’s military through film. The six-day San Diego military film festival features 34 films, including nine world premieres and five West Coast premieres, as well as several screenings, filmmaker appearances, and panel discussions. GI Film Festival San Diego attendees have opportunities to watch the films, meet filmmakers and film subjects, and have conversations to tackle topics that are usually unspoken.

The GI Film Festival San Diego is one of only a few film festivals in the entire United States to exclusively feature stories for, by, and about military service members and veterans. Film selections focus on several different topics, and attendees see a glimpse of what military service members, and their families, have done and sacrificed for the United States. This year, films feature diverse stories including LGBTQ+ military members, women service members, the themes of resiliency and recovery, and caregiving post-deployment. Selections also highlight multicultural military experiences from the Hispanic, African-American, Asian and Israeli point-of-views.

Opening Night is Tuesday, Sept. 25
The six-day San Diego military film festival begins with the ever-popular Opening Night Screening and Reception on Tuesday, Sept. 25 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Museum of Photographic Arts in iconic Balboa Park. The evening includes screenings of the narrative short “American,” followed by the documentary short, “The Registry.” Special guest George Takei, who is the lead actor in “American,” is anticipated to attend the Opening Night Screening and Reception. Both films focus on World War II events and emphasize the important roles and services that Japanese-American military members provided throughout the war. In addition to Takei, the directors of each film are expected to attend the Opening Night celebration and will participate in a panel discussion after the screenings. Screenings then continue through Friday, Sept. 28 at the Museum of Photographic Arts. The festival moves to UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center for the Saturday, Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30 screenings.

• “From Baghdad to The Bay,” a documentary feature focusing on an Iraqi refugee and former translator for the U.S. military who struggled to rebuild his life in the United States while coming out as an openly gay man.
• “When the Smoke Clears,” a documentary feature that tells the true stories of young Israeli soldiers whose injuries, both mental and physical, leave them fighting for the strength to live.
• “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero,” an animated family-friendly feature about young Army Pvt. Robert Conroy and his stump-tailed terrier who embark on an adventure during World War I that would define a century.
• “The Hello Girls: The Story of America's First Female Soldiers,” making its West Coast Premiere at the GI Film Festival San Diego, this documentary short reveals the relatively unknown story of 223 American women who served overseas during WWI as telephone operators.
• “The Dark Resurgence,” a narrative short created by a local veteran and festival newcomer, Michael “Mike the Marine” McCumber, this "Star Wars" fan film tells tale of an old Sith Empire emerged from the shadows to seize control of the galaxy.
• “I Am That Man,” making its World Premiere at the GI Film Festival San Diego, this 87-minute narrative feature follows John Beckett as he struggles to adjust to civilian life and the breakdown of his marriage. As he considers returning to his life as a Navy SEAL, he is faced with the decision to avenge a murdered friend and mentor.
• “Kilimanjaro Warriors: A Monumental Goal for Recovery,” follows a group of amputee military veterans who set forth on a monumental goal for physical and spiritual recovery, training and climbing the world's tallest free-standing mountain, Mt. Kilimanjaro (19341 ft) in Tanzania, Africa.
• “We Are Not Done Yet,” a documentary short about 10 U.S. veterans of varied backgrounds who come together at a poetry workshop to combat their traumatic military pasts through the art of written word.
• “Black Jack Pershing: Love and War,” an award-winning documentary that tells the story of General John J. Pershing’s military career and his personal life, including tragedies seldom examined. Twenty months after America entered WWI in April of 1917, General Pershing and two million troops helped turn the battle tide.

All Access Passes, general admission tickets for the Opening Night Screening and Reception, as well as the rest of the festival screenings are available now at GIFilmFestivalSD.org. All of the events will be open to the public with discounted opportunities for active duty personnel and veterans.

San Diego is now ‘home base’ for national GI Film Festival
Founders of the GI Film Festival announced in May 2018 that San Diego will now be the home of the national film festival for 2018. According to actor and renowned military philanthropist Gary Sinise, the festival is “the go-to place for military-themed movies.” The shift to the West Coast is a natural one for the national GI Film Festival, which launched in Washington, DC in 2007. San Diego boasts one of the largest military populations in the U.S., with seven major military bases between the Navy, Marines and the Coast Guard. San Diego County has the third largest veteran population in the U.S. with more than 240,000 veterans and more than 100,000 active duty members. San Diego is also the home to a thriving film and media production industry and dozens of film festivals year-round.

About GI Film Festival San Diego
Established in 2015, the GI Film Festival San Diego aims to reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of service members and veterans through compelling and authentic storytelling. Documentaries, shorts, narratives, and family-friendly films are presented, highlighting stories of heroism, resilience, and honor. The festival also includes Local Film Showcase, which features San Diego’s filmmakers, events, people, or places. Panel discussions with filmmakers, actors, and documentary subjects are also part of GIFFSD. The festival also includes a family movie night, bringing military-connected and civilian families together for an evening of movie magic and community spirit.

The festival is organized by KPBS in partnership with the GI Film Group and Film Consortium San Diego. Official sponsors of the 2018 GI Film Festival San Diego include: Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling, The Super Dentists, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, BAE Systems, Lewis University, National City Mile of Cars, the San Diego Opera, Altus Schools, Bob Baker Subaru, and Miramar National Cemetery. Additional support is provided by Scatena Daniels Communications. The GI Film Festival San Diego is a proud member of the San Diego Veterans Coalition.

About GI Film Group
The GI Film Group is a full service media company dedicated to preserving the stories of military veterans. GIFG is the production entity behind the award-winning GI Film Festival (GIFF), a 501c(3), also known as “Sundance for the Troops,” which is held annually in Washington, DC. The festival is the first in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the service member through the medium of film.

About Film Consortium San Diego
The Film Consortium San Diego is a social venture that stimulates film and television production in the region and increases networking, employment, education, funding and distribution opportunities in film, television and new media. The Film Consortium hosts and organizes the San Diego Film Awards, San Diego Film Week, and various screening and networking events.

About KPBS
KPBS serves San Diego and Imperial counties with trusted news and programs that inspire, respect and educate. KPBS delivers this content to more than one million audience members weekly via multiple outlets, including television, radio, and digital media. As a public service of San Diego State University, education is a core value – from our children’s programming to our local news coverage. KPBS is committed to being a reliable source for in-depth, thoughtful, and high-quality content. For more information, visit kpbs.org.