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.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
GIFF also hosts an annual west coast festival each October in
San Diego
San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United State ...
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
American Heroes Channel (formerly Military Channel and originally Discovery Wings Channel) is an American multinational pay television channel owned by the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks unit of Warner Bros. Discovery. The network carries pr ...
and
The Pentagon Channel
DoD News Channel was a television channel broadcasting military news and information for the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was widely available in the United States as a standalone television channel, or as part of programming o ...
Cannon House Office Building
The Cannon House Office Building, often called the "Old House Office Building," completed in 1908, is the oldest congressional office building as well as a significant example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture. It occupies a site south of t ...
Carnegie Institution for Science
The Carnegie Institution of Washington (the organization's legal name), known also for public purposes as the Carnegie Institution for Science (CIS), is an organization in the United States established to fund and perform scientific research. Th ...
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 ...
Ultrastar Cinemas
UltraStar Cinemas is a movie chain with theaters in California and Arizona. It was founded in 2004.
UltraStar Cinemas is headquartered in San Diego County and operates 147 screens at 15 sites throughout Southern California and Arizona. Recogniz ...
and
DoubleTree
DoubleTree by Hilton is an American hotel chain managed by Hilton Worldwide. DoubleTree has been the fastest growing Hilton brand by number of properties since 2007, and by number of rooms from 2007 to 2015. As of December 31, 2019, it has 587 p ...
hotel in
Mission Valley
Mission Valley is a wide river valley trending east–west in San Diego, California, United States, through which the San Diego River flows to the Pacific Ocean. For planning purposes the city of San Diego divides it into two neighborhoods: Miss ...
, as well as the
Museum of Photographic Arts
The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) is a museum in San Diego's Balboa Park. First founded in 1974, MOPA opened in 1983.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
Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...
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 as the opening night film.
Notable Events
2007
* General (Ret.)
Richard Myers
Richard Bowman Myers (born March 1, 1942) is a retired four-star general in the United States Air Force who served as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As chairman, Myers was the highest ranking uniformed officer of the United Stat ...
, former Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
, hosted a special screening of '' Forrest Gump''.
* Actor
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, humanitarian, and musician. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received a sta ...
received the G.I. Spirit Award.
2008
* Film screenings were presented by Hollywood actors and directors
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, humanitarian, and musician. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received a sta ...
,
Jon Voight
Jonathan Vincent Voight (; born December 29, 1938) is an American actor. He came to prominence in the late 1960s with his Academy Award–nominated performance as Joe Buck, a would-be gigolo, in ''Midnight Cowboy'' (1969). During the 1970s, h ...
,
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...
,
James Franco
James Edward Franco (born April 19, 1978) is an American actor and filmmaker. For his role in '' 127 Hours'' (2010), he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Franco is known for his roles in films, such as Sam Raimi's ''Spider-M ...
and others.
* A congressional reception honoring members of Congress who served in the military.
*
Vince
Vince is a given name, it is the anglicisation and shortened form of the name Vincent, as well as a surname.
It may refer to:
Given name People
* Vince Agnew (born 1987), American football player
* Vince Cable (born 1943), British politician ...
and
Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon (née Edwards; October 4, 1948) is an American political executive, retired professional wrestler, executive, and performer. She served as the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
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
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and va ...
(WWE) stars and ''
Buck Rogers
Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...
'' star
Gil Gerard
Gil Gerard (born January 23, 1943) is an American actor, whose roles include Captain William "Buck" Rogers in the 1979–81 television series '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century''.
Early life
Gerard was born January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkan ...
.
* Panel discussions included "The 100 Greatest War Films of All-Time"; "War Stories", featuring
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valo ...
recipients; and "The Portrayal of GIs in Film and the Media".
2009
*
Valkyrie
In Norse mythology, a valkyrie ("chooser of the slain") is one of a host of female figures who guide souls of the dead to the god Odin's hall Valhalla. There, the deceased warriors become (Old Norse "single (or once) fighters"Orchard (1997: ...
- opening night film
* Notable attendees:
US Senator
The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States.
The composition and powe ...
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor and producer. He gained notoriety and acclaim for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1984-1993) and its spin-off ''Frasier'' (1993-2004), ...
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall (; born January 5, 1931) is an American actor and filmmaker. His career spans more than seven decades and he is considered one of the greatest American actors of all time. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, four Gold ...
.
2010
*Notable appearances:
Glenn Close
Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress. Throughout her career spanning over four decades, Close has garnered numerous accolades, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards ...
,
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
Drowning Pool is an American rock band formed in Dallas, Texas, in 1996. The band was named after the 1975 film '' The Drowning Pool''. Since its formation, the band has consisted of guitarist C.J. Pierce, bassist Stevie Benton, and drummer M ...
.
2011
* Ironclad - opening night film (Q&A with producer Rick Benattar, and director
Jonathan English
Jonathan English is a British filmmaker who has written, directed, and produced several films.
He is known for '' Minotaur'' (2006), '' Ironclad'' (2011) and '' Ironclad: Battle for Blood'' (2014).
Career
English co-founded Mythic International ...
).
*Notable attendees:
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, humanitarian, and musician. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received a sta ...
,
Lou Diamond Phillips
Louis Diamond Phillips ( born Upchurch; February 17, 1962) is a Filipino-American actor and film director. His breakthrough came when he starred as Ritchie Valens in the biographical drama film '' La Bamba'' (1987). For ''Stand and Deliver'' (19 ...
(GI Spirit Award), and
William Devane
William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'' (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas '' 24'' (2001–2010) and '' ...
Pat Sajak
Pat Sajak ( , born Patrick Leonard ; born October 26, 1946) is an American television personality and game show host. He is best known as the host of the American television game show ''Wheel of Fortune'', a position he has held since 1981. Fo ...
,
Joe Mantegna
Joseph Anthony Mantegna (, ; born November 13, 1947) is an American actor.
Mantegna began his career on stage in 1969 in the Chicago production of the musical ''Hair''. He earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play and a Joseph Jeff ...
(GI Spirit Award),
Sally Pressman
Sally Pressman Bernstein is an American actress and dancer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Roxy LeBlanc on the Lifetime television series ''Army Wives'' (2007–2013).
Early life
Pressman was born Sally Pressman Bernstein in New Yor ...
and
Brian McNamara
Brian McNamara is an American actor. His first major role was in the film '' The Flamingo Kid'' (1984). He then went on to appear in a few films, such as ''Short Circuit'' (1986), ''Caddyshack II'' (1988), ''Arachnophobia'' (1990) and ''Mystery ...
(GI Family Award).
2016
*Official Selections: The Finest Hours, ''Return to Dak To'', ''The Last Man Club''
*Featured guests:
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, humanitarian, and musician. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received a sta ...
,
Stephen Lang
Stephen Lang (born July 11, 1952) is an American actor. He is known for roles in films including '' Manhunter'' (1986), '' Gettysburg'', '' Tombstone'' (both 1993), '' Gods and Generals'' (2003), '' Public Enemies'' (2009), ''Conan the Barbaria ...
, 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 ...
Judd Nelson
Judd Asher Nelson (born November 28, 1959) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as John Bender in ''The Breakfast Club'', Alec Newbury in ''St. Elmo's Fire'', Joe Hunt in '' Billionaire Boys Club'', Nick Peretti in ''New Jack Cit ...
Lynn Novick
Lynn Novick is an American director and producer of documentary films, widely known for her work with Ken Burns.
Early life
Novick was born in 1962, raised in New York City, and graduated from Horace Mann School in 1979. She graduated magna cum la ...
presented over an hour of preview footage from his latest PBS series
The Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam and ...
at San Diego's Balboa Theatre. 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
George Takei (; ja, ジョージ・タケイ; born Hosato Takei (武井 穂郷), April 20, 1937) is an American actor, author and activist known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the fictional starship USS ''Enterprise'' in the televi ...
,
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 woul ...
* Feature Narrative: ''Divergence'' – (dir. Patrick Donnelly).
* Documentary Short: ''Shakey's Hill'' (dir. Norman Lloyd).
* Best Short Feature: ''Old Glory'' – (dir.
James McEachin
James McEachin (born May 20, 1930) is an American author and retired actor.
Military career
McEachin served in the United States Army before, and then during, the Korean War. Serving in King Company, 9th Infantry Regiment (United States), 2nd I ...
Jeff Ross
Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known as the "Roastmaster General" for his insult comedy, his multiple appearances at celebrity roasts held by the New York Friars Club, the ...
).
* GI Spirit Award:
Gary Sinise
Gary Alan Sinise (; born March 17, 1955) is an American actor, humanitarian, and musician. Among other awards, he has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He has also received a sta ...
2008
* Feature Narrative: ''Soldier's Heart'' – Anthony Lover (Executive Producer).
* Documentary Short: '' Spitfire 944'' – (dir. William Lorton).
* Narrative Short: ''God and Country'' – (dir. Daniel Piatt).
* Feature Documentary Winner: '' Brothers at War'' – (dir. Jake Rademacher)
* Family Film: ''The Flyboys'' – (dir. Rocco DeVilliers)
* Founder's Choice: ''The Last 600 Meters'' – (dir.
Michael Pack
Michael Pack is an American documentary filmmaker who was CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) from June 2020 to January 2021. Pack was nominated by President Donald Trump and took office at USAGM in June 2020 after Senate confirmation. ...
).
* 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''
* 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
Camille Delamarre is a French film editor and director, best known for directing '' The Transporter Refueled'' and ''Brick Mansions''. He edited films including '' Transporter 3'' and '' Taken 2'', among others.
Career
In 2014, Delamarre made ...
)
* 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
David Brock (born July 23, 1962) is an American liberal political consultant, author, and commentator who founded the media watchdog group Media Matters for America. He has been described by ''Time'' as "one of the most influential operatives ...
* 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)
* Best Narrative Feature - ''Kajaki'' (dir. Paul Katis)
* American Heroes Channel Award Winner - ''The MIAs on Tiger Mountain'' (dir. Norman Lloyd)
* 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
Danny Buday (born February 8, 1977) is filmmaker who wrote, directed, and produced the feature fil''Five Star Day'' starring Cam Gigandet and Jena Malone. ''Five Star Day'' won the Jury Award fo'Best Feature'at the 2010 Stony Brook Film Festival an ...
)
2018
2019
San Diego:
* Best Actor:
Frankie Muniz
Francisco Muniz IV (; born December 5, 1985) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the title character in the Fox sitcom ''Malcolm in the Middle'' (2000–2006), which earned him an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Award ...
('' The Black String'')
* Best Actress: Scottie Thompson ''(#3 Normandy Lane'')
*Best Narrative Short: ''#3 Normandy Lane'' (dir.
Brenda Strong
Brenda Lee Strong (born March 25, 1960) is an American actress. She began her career in television, including guest starring appearances in ''Twin Peaks'', '' Party of Five'', ''Seinfeld'', '' Scandal'', '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'', '' ...
)
*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:
Museum of Photographic Arts
The Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) is a museum in San Diego's Balboa Park. First founded in 1974, MOPA opened in 1983.We All Die Alone'' (dir. Jonathan Hammond)
* Founders’ Choice Award: ''HERE. IS. BETTER.'' (dir. Jack Youngelson)
* Best First-Time Director: Ryan Mayers and Matt Mayers, ''Walk With Frank''