The GI Film Festival (GIFF), a 501c3 non-profit organization founded by Army veteran Laura Law-Millett and her husband Brandon Millett, is "dedicated to preserving the stories of American veterans past and present through film, television and live special events."
GIFF's flagship festival is held each May during
Armed Forces Month in
Washington, D.C. GIFF also hosts an annual west coast festival each October in
San Diego in partnership with
KPBS. Festival events have included screenings, panels, Q&As, concerts, parties, raffles, game nights and gala awards ceremonies.
GIFF has also produced a live event military base tour, a National Cinematic Salute to the Troops showcased in 400 theaters across the country and a Best of GIFF television series on The
American Heroes Channel and
The Pentagon Channel.
Venues in the DC area have included the
Embassy of Canada
This is a list of diplomatic missions of Canada. Canada has an extensive diplomatic network maintained by Global Affairs Canada.
Overview
As a Commonwealth country, Canada's diplomatic missions in the capitals of other Commonwealth countries are ...
, the
Anjelika Film Center at Mosaic, the
Cannon House Office Building, the
Howard Theater
The Howard Theatre is a historic theater, located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Opened in 1910, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
In its heyday, the theater was known for catering to an African- ...
, the
Carnegie Institution for Science and the
US Navy Memorial Theater among others.
Venues in San Diego have included the
USS Midway Museum
The USS ''Midway'' Museum is a historical naval aircraft carrier museum located in downtown San Diego, California at Navy Pier. The museum consists of the aircraft carrier . The ship houses an extensive collection of aircraft, many of which we ...
,
Balboa Theater
The Balboa Theatre is a historic vaudeville/movie theatre in downtown San Diego, US, built in 1924. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the Balboa was refurbished (beginning in 2005) and reopened as a performing arts venue i ...
, ''Village Theaters'' in
Coronado Coronado may refer to:
People
* Coronado (surname)
* Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (1510–1554), Spanish explorer often referred to simply as "Coronado"
* Coronado Chávez (1807–1881), President of Honduras from 1845 to 1847
Places United ...
,
Ultrastar Cinemas and
DoubleTree hotel in
Mission Valley, as well as the
Museum of Photographic Arts in
Balboa Park.
Military-related films from other countries are also eligible for submission to the festival.'
History
The inaugural flagship event was held in 2007 over
Memorial Day Weekend at the
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, named after former United States President Ronald Reagan, is located in downtown Washington, D.C., and was the first federal building in Washington designed for both governmental and priv ...
.
The inaugural GI Film Festival San Diego event was held in October 2015 with the British film
Kilo Two Bravo
''Kajaki: The True Story'', released in North America as ''Kilo Two Bravo'', is a 2014 British war docu-drama film directed by Paul Katis in his feature debut, written by Tom Williams, and produced by Katis and Andrew de Lotbiniere.
The plot is ...
as the opening night film.
Notable Events
2007
* General (Ret.)
Richard Myers, former Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, hosted a special screening of ''
Forrest Gump
''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson and ...
''.
* Actor
Gary Sinise received the G.I. Spirit Award.
2008
* Film screenings were presented by Hollywood actors and directors
Gary Sinise,
Jon Voight,
Robert Duvall,
James Franco and others.
* A congressional reception honoring members of Congress who served in the military.
*
Vince and
Linda McMahon received the "Corporate Patriot Award" for their philanthropic work on behalf of the American Armed Forces.
* An "Armed Forces Action Fest" featured
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) stars and ''
Buck Rogers'' star
Gil Gerard.
* Panel discussions included "The 100 Greatest War Films of All-Time"; "War Stories", featuring
Medal of Honor recipients; and "The Portrayal of GIs in Film and the Media".
2009
*
Valkyrie - opening night film
* Notable attendees:
US Senator John McCain
John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...
,
Kelsey Grammer,
Fred Thompson
Freddie Dalton Thompson (August 19, 1942 – November 1, 2015) was an American politician, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, actor, and radio personality. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator from Tennessee f ...
and
Robert Duvall.
2010
*Notable appearances:
Glenn Close,
Bob Woodruff
Robert Warren Woodruff (born August 18, 1961) is an American television journalist. Since 1996, he has served as a reporter for ABC News. Woodruff co-anchored ABC World News Tonight in 2006 alongside ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas. He was ...
and the band
Drowning Pool.
2011
*
Ironclad
An ironclad is a steam engine, steam-propelled warship protected by Wrought iron, iron or steel iron armor, armor plates, constructed from 1859 to the early 1890s. The ironclad was developed as a result of the vulnerability of wooden warships ...
- opening night film (Q&A with producer Rick Benattar, and director
Jonathan English).
*Notable attendees:
Gary Sinise,
Lou Diamond Phillips (GI Spirit Award), and
William Devane (GI Choice Awards),
2012
*Notable appearances:
Ross Perot
Henry Ross Perot (; June 27, 1930 – July 9, 2019) was an American business magnate, billionaire, politician and philanthropist. He was the founder and chief executive officer of Electronic Data Systems and Perot Systems. He ran an inde ...
,
Pat Sajak,
Joe Mantegna (GI Spirit Award),
Sally Pressman and
Brian McNamara (GI Family Award).
2016
*Official Selections:
The Finest Hours, ''Return to Dak To'', ''The Last Man Club''
*Featured guests:
Gary Sinise,
Stephen Lang, J.W. Cortes,
Dominic Fumusa
Dominic Fumusa (; born September 13, 1969) is an American stage and screen actor known for starring in the Showtime comedy-drama series ''Nurse Jackie''.
Early life
Fumusa was born and raised in Dane County, Wisconsin to a large family as one ...
.
*Special Screenings:
Top Gun
''Top Gun'' is a 1986 American action drama film directed by Tony Scott, produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, with distribution by Paramount Pictures. The screenplay was written by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr., and was inspired by an a ...
,
X-Men: Apocalypse.
2017
* Notable attendees in DC:
Judd Nelson
* On May 17, filmmakers
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren Burns (born July 29, 1953) is an American filmmaker known for his documentary film, documentary films and television series, many of which chronicle United States, American History of the United States, history and Culture of the ...
and
Lynn Novick presented over an hour of preview footage from his latest PBS series
The Vietnam War at San Diego's
Balboa Theatre
The Balboa Theatre is a historic vaudeville/movie theatre in downtown San Diego, US, built in 1924. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, the Balboa was refurbished (beginning in 2005) and reopened as a performing arts venue i ...
. In attendance were several guests who were interview subjects in the film.
* On October 18, the west coast opening night film was ''The 2 Sides Project.''
2018
* Notable attendees in SD:
George Takei,
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Belize in the Broadway production of ''Angels in America'', for which he would win a Tony Award, and its HBO miniseries adaptation, for which he would ...
2019
* Family Movie Night on the
USS Midway
Award winners
2007
* Feature Narrative: ''Divergence'' – (dir. Patrick Donnelly).
* Documentary Short: ''Shakey's Hill'' (dir.
Norman Lloyd
Norman Nathan Lloyd (' Perlmutter; November 8, 1914 – May 11, 2021) was an American actor, producer, director, and centenarian with a career in entertainment spanning nearly a century. He worked in every major facet of the industry, including ...
).
* Best Short Feature: ''Old Glory'' – (dir.
James McEachin).
* Feature Documentary: ''Speed & Angels'' – (dir. Peyton Wilson)
* Founder's Choice: ''Patriot Act'' – (dir.
Jeff Ross).
* GI Spirit Award:
Gary Sinise
2008
* Feature Narrative: ''Soldier's Heart'' – Anthony Lover (Executive Producer).
* Documentary Short: ''
Spitfire 944
''Spitfire 944'' is a short documentary in which the 83-year-old World War II pilot John S. Blyth views 16mm footage of his 1944 Spitfire crash-landing for the first time, 61 years after the event.
__TOC__
Behind the scenes
In October 2005, t ...
'' – (dir. William Lorton).
* Narrative Short: ''God and Country'' – (dir. Daniel Piatt).
* Feature Documentary Winner: ''
Brothers at War
''Brothers at War'' is a 2009 documentary film directed by Jake Rademacher and produced by Rademacher and Norman S. Powell. The film follows several US soldiers in the Iraq War. The film's executive producers are actor, director, and Presidential ...
'' – (dir. Jake Rademacher)
* Family Film: ''The Flyboys'' – (dir. Rocco DeVilliers)
* Founder's Choice: ''The Last 600 Meters'' – (dir.
Michael Pack).
* American Pride Film: ''SWIM'' – by Chantz Hoover.
2009
* Feature Documentary - ''Perfect Valor''
* Feature Documentary Runner-Up - ''
Bedford: The Town They Left Behind''
* Best Narrative Feature - ''
Everyman's War
''Everyman's War'' is an independent narrative feature war film directed by Thad Smith. It was released on DVD in the U.S. on May 18, 2010, by Virgil Films & Entertainment and in 43 countries internationally by Koan Entertainment. Additionally it w ...
''
* Founder's Choice Award - ''
The Triangle of Death''
* Best Documentary Short - ''A Touch of Home''
* Best Narrative Short - ''Witt's Daughter''
* Best Student Film - ''Kapisa''
* Best First Time Filmmaker - ''The Inheritance of War''
* Best Military Family Film - ''Lioness''
* Best Short Film - ''Looking Back''
2011
* Military Channel Award - ''
Shepherds of Helmand'', directed by Gary Mortensen
* Best International Film - ''The Telegram Man'' (Australia), by James Francis Khehtie
* Best Student Film - ''Thule'', by Robert Scott Wildes
* Best Narrative Short - ''A Marine’s Guide to Fishing'', by Nicholas Brennan
* Best Documentary Short - ''Last to Leave'', by Pat Clark
* Best Narrative Feature - ''Flag of My Father'', by Rodney Ray
* Best Documentary Feature - ''Patrol Base Jaker'', by David Scantling
* Founder's Choice Award - ''The Wereth Eleven,'' by Robert Child
2012
* Best Documentary Feature - ''Lost Airmen of Buchenwald'' (dir. Mike Dorsey)
* Best Documentary Short - ''Survive. Recover. Live'' (dir. Ivan Kander)
* Best International Film - ''Bridges: A Living Graphic Nove''l (dir. Miguel Pate)
* Best Narrative Feature - ''Memorial Day'' (dir. Sam Fischer)
* Best Narrative Short - ''8:46'' (dir. Jennifer Gargano)
* Best Short Short - ''
The Jockstrap Raiders'' (dir. Mark Nelson)
* Best Student Film - ''Stateside'' (dir. Jacob J. Tanenbaum)
* Founder's Choice Award - (dir. Stephanie Argy and Alec Boehm)
* The Military Channel Award - ''The Borinqueneers'' (dir. Noemi Figueroa Soulet)
2013
* Best Short Short - ''Fallout'', (dir. Peter Carruthers)
* Best Student Film - ''Choice'', (dir. Michael Chan)
* Best International Film - ''Gefallen'', (dir. Christoph Schuler)
* Best Narrative Short - ''The Fifth Horseman'', (dir. Kari Barber (VFX Reel)
* Best Documentary Short - ''The Real Inglorious Bastards'', (dir.
Min Sook Lee
Min Sook Lee ( ko, 이민숙; born 1969) is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, screenwriter, academic, and political activist. She was the New Democratic Party candidate for Toronto—Danforth during the 2019 federal election. She ran primarily on ...
)
* Best Documentary Feature - ''Honor Flight'', (dir. Dan Hayes)
* Founder's Choice - ''16 Photographs at Ohrdruf'', (dir. Matthew Nash)
2014
* Best Short Short - ''The Knee Deep Sailor'' (dir. Tyler Elliot)
* Best Student Film - ''Kingdom Coming'' (dir. Alex Fofonoff)
* Best International Film - ''Last Call'' (dir.
Camille Delamarre)
* Best Dramatic Feature - ''Field of Lost Shoes'' (dir. Sean McNamara)
* Best Narrative Feature - ''Fort Bliss'' (dir. Claudia Myers)
* Best Narrative Short - ''Present Trauma'' (dir. Mark D. Manalo)
* Best Documentary Short - ''Travis: A Soldier’s Story'' (dir. Jonathon Link)
* Best Documentary Feature - ''Rickover'' (dir. Michael Pack)
* Founder's Choice - ''Riding My Way Back'' (dir. Robin Fryday and Peter Rosenbaum)
* American Heroes Channel Award - ''Forgotten Flag Raisers'' (dir. Dustin Spence)
* Best Original Screenplay - ''Christmas Leave'' written by
David Brock
* Best Music Video - ''Nothing Real'' (dir. Reed Simonsen)
2015
* Veteran Filmmaker Award (Short) - ''Day One'' (dir. Henry Hughes)
* Veteran Filmmaker Award (Feature) - ''Haebangchon'' (dir. James William III)
* Best Student Film - ''Drone'' (dir. Justin S. Lee)
* Best International Film - ''Who’s Afraid of the Big Black Wolf'' (dir. Janez Lapajne)
* Best Short-Short - ''Beautiful Sunse''t (dir. Karen Weza)
* Best Documentary Short - ''The Next Part'' and ''Climb'' (dir. Erin Sanger and Ivan Kander)
* Best Narrative Short - ''Birthday'' (dir. Chris King)
* Best Documentary Feature -
''The Millionaire’s Unit'' (dir. Darroch Greer and Ron King)
* Best Action Feature - ''War Pigs'' (dir.
Ryan Little
Ryan Little (born 28 March 1971) is a Canadian film director, cinematographer and producer. He is perhaps best known for his 2003 film '' Saints and Soldiers.'' His work has a broad range of genres including war films and children's subjects. ...
)
* Best Narrative Feature - ''Kajaki'' (dir. Paul Katis)
* American Heroes Channel Award Winner - ''The MIAs on Tiger Mountain'' (dir.
Norman Lloyd
Norman Nathan Lloyd (' Perlmutter; November 8, 1914 – May 11, 2021) was an American actor, producer, director, and centenarian with a career in entertainment spanning nearly a century. He worked in every major facet of the industry, including ...
)
* Best Screenplay - ''Text Messages to God'' written by David Bryant Perkins)
* Founder's Choice Award - ''Nomadic Veterans'' and ''Battle Scars'' (dir. Matthew R Sanders and
Danny Buday)
2018
2019
San Diego:
* Best Actor:
Frankie Muniz (''
The Black String'')
* Best Actress: Scottie Thompson ''(#3 Normandy Lane'')
*Best Narrative Short: ''#3 Normandy Lane'' (dir.
Brenda Strong)
*Best Documentary Feature: ''The Donut Dollies'' (dir. Norm Anderson)
*Best Documentary Short: ''Remains'' (dir. Joe Day and Jose Rodriguez)
*Best Student Film: ''
A Rodeo Film'' (dir. Darius Dawson)
*Best First Time Filmmaker: Brenda Strong (''#3 Normandy Lane'')
*Best International Film: ''Entrenched'' (dir. Joseph Chebatte)
*Best Film Made By or Starring Veterans or Military: ''War Paint'' (dir. J.C. Doler and Taylor Bracewell)
*Founder's Choice Award: ''Homemade'' (dir. Jason Maris and Danielle Bernstein)
2022
San Diego:
* Best Documentary Short: ''Veterans Journey Home: On Black Mountain'' (dir. Frederick Marx)
* Best Narrative Short: ''American Hero'' (dir. Manny McCord)
* Best Local Narrative Short: ''My Happy Place'' (dir. Devin Scott)
* Best Student Film: ''BRAKE'' (dir. Aja Weary and Amanda Richardson)
* Best Actor: Evan Hall, ''Shell Shocked'' (dir. Paula Cajiao)
* Best Actress: Jomarla Melancon, ''Blood and Glory'' (dir. Satinder Kaur)
* Best Narrative Directed by Military or Veterans: ''THAT NIGHT'' (dir. Samuel Gonzalez Jr.)
* Best Narrative Starring Military or Veterans: ''Landing Home'' (dir. Douglas Taurel)
* Best Documentary Made by Military or Veterans: Walk With Frank
* Best Documentary Feature: ''Dear Sirs'' - (dir. by Mark Pedri)
* Local Choice Award: ''
We All Die Alone
''We All Die Alone'' is a 2021 American dark comedy short film directed by Jonathan Hammond and written by Hammond and Ryan Roach. It stars Brian Patrick Butler, Frank DiPalermo, Joshua Alan Jones and Patrick Mayuyu. The film premiered in 2021 ...
'' (dir.
Jonathan Hammond)
* Founders’ Choice Award: ''HERE. IS. BETTER.'' (dir. Jack Youngelson)
* Best First-Time Director: Ryan Mayers and Matt Mayers, ''Walk With Frank''
References
{{Reflist
External links
GI Film Festival Official WebsiteGI Film Festival San DiegoGI Film Group
*
Film festivals in Washington, D.C.
Film festivals in San Diego
Film festivals established in 2007