Inaugural GI Film Festival San Diego Announces Event Schedule, Filmmaker Appearances
**KPBS partners with GI Film Group and Film Consortium San Diego; Events include screenings, panels, local film showcase and
a Family Night aboard the USS Midway Museum; Tickets on sale to general public on Sept. 14
KPBS, in collaboration with the GI Film Group and the Film Consortium San Diego, announces the event schedule for the inaugural GI Film Festival San Diego to be held Oct. 13 to Oct. 18, 2015 at various venues throughout San Diego. The GI Film Festival, hosted annually in Washington DC, will make its first trip to San Diego and will feature a variety of films for, about, and by service men and women. The festival aims to reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of the military through compelling and authentic storytelling. All major film genres will be featured including drama, documentary and personal narrative.
“GI Film Festival San Diego events and film selections have been carefully curated to accommodate the interests of San Diegans,” says Tom Karlo, general manager, KPBS. “Our selections include films from the DC festival, but will also take into account what local families and aspiring filmmakers want, such as our Family Night aboard the USS Midway Museum and our Career Fair at NTC Liberty Station, where experts will gather to share their knowledge with attendees about how to break into the entertainment industry.”
Many of the events will be open to the public with special discounted opportunities for active duty military personnel and veterans. General admission tickets will be available online at the GI Film Festival San Diego website, www.GIFilmFestivalSD.org on Monday, Sept. 14.
As of Sept. 11, 2015 the list of festival events and screenings are as follows. Please note that times, titles, and locations are subject to change. Please check www.GIFilmFestivalSD.org for updates.
•Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 at 7 p.m.: Kick-off Screening & Party at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla. Featuring the 2014 British film, “Kilo Two Bravo,” a dramatic retelling of a harrowing rescue in the midst of the Afghanistan conflict. Q&A with Director Paul Katis and reception follows. NOTE: “Kilo Two Bravo” contains scenes with very strong language and strong bloody injury detail that some viewers may find distressing. MPAA Rated R.
•Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 at 7 p.m.: Screening & Filmmaker Talk at USD Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Featuring “Debt of Honor.” Q&A with Director Ric Burns and reception follows. FREE ADMISSION. RSVP REQUIRED through the online box office at www.GIFilmFestivalSD.org.
•Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 beginning at 6 p.m.: Screenings & Filmmaker Talks at The Village Theatres in Coronado. Film titles include “The Millionaires’ Unit” at 6 p.m.; “Searching For Augusta – The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne” with “Germans in the Woods” at 6:30 p.m.; and “The M.I.A.’s on Tiger Mountain” with “Breaking Through the Story of Larry Fivecoats” and other selections at 7 p.m.
•Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at 7 p.m.: Family Movie Night at the USS Midway Museum. Enjoy “Max” on the flight deck under the stars. Each ticket includes popcorn and soda. MPAA Rated PG.
•Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Career Fair, Workshops, and Screenings at Barracks 17 at NTC Liberty Station. Featuring more than 20 businesses and organizations in education, media, technology, and the entertainment industry. Workshops on storytelling and filmmaking. Screening includes “On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam.” FREE ADMISSION, NO RSVP REQUIRED.
•Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 beginning at 5 p.m.: Screenings & Filmmaker Talks at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center.: Triumphs & Tribulations film block includes: “Birthday”; “The Next Part”; “Angels of Anbar”; “Craft in America-Service” and “Climb: The Rob Jones Journey Story” beginning at 5 p.m.; “On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” and “Beyond the Divide” at 5:30 p.m.; “War Pigs” at 8 p.m. MPAA Rated R; and “Project 22” at 7:45 p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 beginning at 12 noon: Multiple screenings featuring Local Film Showcase selections and other films at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center. The Local Film Showcase will include fiction and non-fiction military-themed films produced within San Diego and Imperial Valley. The films were made by veterans, active duty service members and civilians. Many of San Diego’s bases and military-focused organizations are represented.
•Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 4 p.m.: Screenings at UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center. Film titles include: “Nomadic Veterans”; “Thank You For Your Service”; and selections from the Local Film Showcase at 4:30 p.m.
•Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 6 p.m.: Closing Night Celebration at DoubleTree by Hilton San Diego – Mission Valley. Join us for the exciting culmination of our festival! Filmmakers featured in the Local Film Showcase will receive awards in multiple categories. The celebration will feature special guests and entertainment by the GI’s of Comedy.
The GI Film Festival San Diego is part of an expanding KPBS initiative to better serve local military with meaningful content. Such content includes a four-part radio series called Incoming, which aired in May and featured stories written and narrated by local veterans. KPBS also contributes to the NPR series Back at Base, a multi-station collaborative chronicling the lives of U.S. troops in their local communities. By presenting the GI Film Festival San Diego, KPBS will continue to build on its military-related content and engagement programs.
Now in its tenth year, the GI Film Group produces and curates the annual GI Film Festival, which takes place each May in Washington, DC and Virginia. The San Diego festival allows the GI Film Group to extend their mission of preserving and sharing the stories of America’s GI to a new audience in San Diego.
The GI Film Festival San Diego is sponsored by Pearl Dental Group, Qualcomm Inc., National City Mile of Cars, and Lewis University with additional support provided by Scatena Daniels Communications. The festival is presented by KPBS in partnership with the GI Film Group and the Film Consortium San Diego.
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 each May 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 LLC 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 holds the Fall Film Festival, San Diego Film Awards, Winter Film Showcase, Summer at the Drive-in and various other screening and networking events.
About KPBS
KPBS serves the San Diego community with news and entertainment programming that respects our audience with inspiring, intelligent and enlightening content. KPBS delivers this content via multiple outlets, including television, radio, and digital media and will adapt and remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.
GI Film Festival San Diego Film Descriptions Arranged in Chronological Order
as of Sept. 11, 2015. Film showing dates, times, and locations subject to change.
“Kilo Two Bravo” – UK – 108 minutes – Dir. Paul Katis – 2014 – Narrative Feature
Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015 at 7 p.m. – Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla
Young British soldiers find themselves courageously fighting for each other’s lives in a minefield where the next step could be their last. From the Academy Award winning producer of “The King’s Speech” this British Academy of Film and Television Art (BAFTA) nominated thriller tells the true story of the bravery and brotherhood that took place on the Kajaki Dam at the height of the Afghan War. Rated R. NOTE: “Kilo Two Bravo” contains scenes with very strong language and strong bloody injury detail that some viewers may find distressing.
“Debt of Honor” – USA – 60 minutes – Dir. Ric Burns – 2015 – Documentary Feature
Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015 at 7 p.m. – USD Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
From acclaimed filmmaker Ric Burns, “Debt of Honor” examines the way in which the American government and society as a whole have regarded disabled veterans throughout history, beginning in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War and continuing through today’s conflicts in the Middle East. The film combines personal stories, told by distinguished disabled veterans, with deep history narrated by leading scholars in the fields of disability studies, history, and psychology to illustrate the human cost of war and the enormous sacrifices of military service. Unrated.
“The Millionaires’ Unit” – USA – 120 minutes – Dir. Ron King and Darroch Greer – 2015 – Documentary Feature
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 at 6 p.m. – The Village Theatres in Coronado “The Millionaires’ Unit” is the story of a privileged group of college students from Yale who formed a private air militia in preparation for America’s entry into World War I. Known as the First Yale Unit and dubbed “the millionaires’ unit” by the New York press, they became the founding squadron of the U.S. Naval Air Reserve and were the first to fly for the United States in the Great War. Using the words of these pioneer aviators from their letters and diaries, the documentary tells the story of young men coming of age as America was coming of age as a world power. Their service and sacrifice is the great untold story of American aviation in World War I. Unrated.
“Germans in the Woods” – USA – 2.5 minutes – Animated by The Rauch Brothers – 2010 – Narrative Short
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. – The Village Theatres in Coronado
Joseph Robertson was an infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II, and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The stark black and white images in this film haunt the viewer — just as Robertson is haunted still by his memories of that battle. “Germans in the Woods” is an animated short film featuring audio from StoryCorps. Unrated.
“Searching For Augusta – The Forgotten Angel of Bastogne” – USA/Belgium – 75 minutes – Dir. Mike Edwards – 2014 – Documentary Feature
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. – The Village Theatres in Coronado
How one black nurse overcomes racism and the Nazi’s in 1944 Belgium to become one of the Second World War’s unlikeliest of heroes. Unrated.
“Breaking Through: The Story of Larry Fivecoats” – USA – 17 minutes – Dir. Scott Thompson – 2015 – Documentary Short
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. – The Village Theatres in Coronado
Larry Fivecoats served with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 where he was involved in over 150 firefights and witnessed very heavy casualties. When he returned from war, Larry found himself struggling with the lasting symptoms of PTSD and depression, and began to contemplate suicide. Then Larry was introduced to Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing. Unrated.
“The M.I.A.’s on Tiger Mountain” – USA – 52 minutes – Dir. Norman Lloyd – 2015 – Documentary Short
Thursday, Oct. 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. – The Village Theatres in Coronado
In April 1968, then-Lieutenant Mike Sprayberry of Delta Company, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, United States Army, led a small group on a harrowing nighttime rescue in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley. Their mission: to save a platoon of infantrymen encircled, ambushed, and pinned down by superior North Vietnamese forces on the flank of Tiger Mountain. The rescue was successful; all of the survivors of the ambush were extracted but the bodies of three fallen soldiers could not be recovered. Unrated.
“Max” – USA – 111 minutes – Dir. Boaz Yakin – 2015 – Narrative Feature
Friday, Oct. 16, 2015 at 7 p.m. – USS Midway Museum
A precision-trained military dog, Max serves on the frontlines in Afghanistan alongside his handler, U.S. Marine Kyle Wincott. But when things go terribly wrong on maneuvers, Kyle is mortally wounded and Max, traumatized by the loss of his best friend, is unable to remain in service. “Max” stars Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank and Lauren Graham. Rated PG.
“On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” (featurette) – 26 mins – USA – Dir. Mylène Moreno – 2015 – Documentary Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 12:30 p.m. – Barracks 17 at NTC Liberty Station
“On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” examines the Latino experience during a war that placed its heaviest burden on working class youth. Framing the documentary are memoirs of two siblings, Everett and Delia Alvarez, who stood on opposite sides of the Vietnam War, one as a POW and the other protesting at home. Unrated. NOTE: “On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” airs in its entirety on KPBS TV on Sept. 22, 2015 at 10 p.m.
“Birthday” – USA – 12 minutes – Dir. Chris King – 2015 – Narrative Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
A severely wounded Marine and his wife come home for the first time following months of surgeries and rehabilitation. This fictional short is a powerful and dignified depiction of what it is like for severely wounded soldiers and their spouses as they face enormously difficult times ahead. While the film is an oftentimes heart-wrenching and difficult reality to watch, it is ultimately a celebration of marital solidarity and the human spirit. Unrated.
“The Next Part” – USA – 17 minutes – Dir. Erin Sanger – 2014 – Documentary Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
On Sept. 7, 2011 in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, a homemade bomb detonated beside Sergeant First Class Aaron Causey, costing him both legs, several fingers, and portions of his reproductive organs. “The Next Part,” uniquely told from his wife, Kathleen’s point of view, details the couple’s remarkable journey through recovery, as well as their struggle to conceive before Aaron’s medical treatments will eventually sterilize him. Unrated.
“Angels of Anbar” – USA – 6 minutes – Dir. Elvis Leon – 2014 – Narrative Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
Using only personal pictures, videos, and narration, “Angels of Anbar” is a personal experience of Elvis Leon’s 15-month deployment to Ramadi, Iraq. Unrated.
“Craft in America-Service” – USA – 55 minutes – Dir. Carol Sauvion – 2014 – Documentary Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
This film explores the power of handmade crafts to inspire, motivate and heal. “Craft in America-Service” features ceramic artists Ehren Tool, Judas Recendez and Peter Voulkos as well as paper artist Pam DeLuco and saddler Eugene Burks, Jr. Unrated.
“Climb: The Rob Jones Journey Story” – USA – 12 minutes – Dir. Ivan Kander – 2015 – Documentary Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
“Climb: The Rob Jones Journey Story” is the impossible true story of how Sgt. Rob Jones, a bilateral above the knee amputee, biked across the country in one of the coldest winters on record in order to raise money for veteran charities. Unrated.
“On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” (selections from) – 13 mins – USA – Dir. Mylène Moreno – 2015 – Documentary Short
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
“On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” examines the Latino experience during a war that placed its heaviest burden on working class youth. Framing the documentary are memoirs of two siblings, Everett and Delia Alvarez, who stood on opposite sides of the Vietnam War, one as a POW and the other protesting at home. Unrated. NOTE: “On Two Fronts: Latinos & Vietnam” airs in its entirety on KPBS TV on Sept. 22, 2015 at 10 p.m.
“Beyond the Divide” – USA – 85 minutes – Dir. Jan Selby – 2014 – Documentary Feature
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
Fifty years have passed since the beginning of the Vietnam War. The politics and casualties are history, yet deep scars remain between those who served and those who fought a different war at home. In Missoula, Montana, a mysterious graffiti peace symbol inflamed the enduring animosity, dividing a community for decades.
Through the courageous acts of a Vietnam veteran and a peace advocate, “Beyond the Divide” illuminates a path to healing old wounds and demonstrates authentic peace building. The story inspires audiences to take courageous first steps to reach beyond polarization in search of what unites us instead of what divides us. Unrated.
“Project 22” – USA – 102 minutes – Dir. Daniel J. Egbert and Doc King – 2015 – Documentary Feature
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 7:45 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
In the United States alone, twenty-two Veterans commit suicide per day. “Project 22” follows two combat-wounded Veterans on a mission to find hope. Riding motorcycles from San Francisco to New York, Daniel and Doc speak with Veterans about post-war challenges that lead to suicide and the healing Veterans are finding in alternative forms of therapy such as sailing, pottery, education, service dogs and more. During the 6,500 mile journey, our riders interview leading researchers, mental health clinicians and educators who specialize in Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress, as well as, a leading expert in Warrior Culture and Combat Stress. Asking hard hitting questions and opening up about their own struggles, Daniel and Doc will stop at nothing to reach tomorrow’s twenty-two. Unrated.
“War Pigs” – USA – 92 minutes – Dir. Ryan Little – 2015 – Narrative Feature
Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at 8 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
At the peak of the World War II as the allies advance against Nazi Germany, a disgraced US Army Captain, Jack Wosick (Luke Goss) is volunteered by Major A.J. Redding (Mickey Rourke) to train a rag tag unit of misfit soldiers known as the “War Pigs.” Also stars Dolph Lundgren. Rated R.
“The Haircut” – USA – 14 minutes – Dir. Alexis O. Korycinski – 2014 – Narrative Short
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 12 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
As a result of Public Law 94-106 signed by President Ford in 1975, female cadets were admitted into service academies after a 174-year ban. Part of the inaugural class, Amy is hardly a typical recruit — petite and underweight — and she becomes a target in this hard-shelled brotherhood. Unrated.
“The Last Viewing” – USA – 3 minutes – Animated by The Rauch Brothers – 2014 – Narrative Short
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 12 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
Allen Hoe served as a combat medic during the Vietnam War, and his two sons continued his legacy of service. His oldest son, Nainoa, eventually became a first lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion of the 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. In January 2005, while leading his men through Mosul, Iraq, Nainoa was killed by sniper fire. He was 27. On Memorial Day that same year, Allen traveled to Washington to honor Nainoa’s memory, and it was there that he had a chance encounter a stranger that brought them both unforeseen comfort. “The Last Viewing” is an animated short featuring audio from StoryCorps. Unrated.
“Soul Stealer” – USA – 9 minutes – Dir. Shawn Spitler – 2014 – Narrative Short
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 12 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
A marine combat photographer embedded with a Female Engagement Team believes her imagery can change the tides of war. Her beliefs are put to the test when a Taliban Sniper ambushes her unit. Unrated.
“Cold Choices” – USA – 15 minutes – Dir. Nick Jones, Jr. – 2015 – Narrative Short
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
The CIA has pinpointed the location of a high priority target. Major John Polanco, a black ops command officer for Pacific Command, is ordered to send in a team to retrieve the package after warnings of high risk. Unrated.
“As You Were” – USA – 22 minutes – Dir. Trevin Matcek – 2014 – Narrative Short
Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. – UltraStar Cinemas Mission Valley at Hazard Center
“As You Were” is the story of Johnner Radley, an injured soldier who returns home with advanced prosthetics to replace limbs lost in combat. With these new parts, he finds it difficult transitioning back with his family and securing a job in a society leery of robotics. Unrated.
Contact: Scatena Daniels Communications 619-232-0222
Denise Scatena / [email protected]
Ann Marie Price / [email protected]
(Contact details not for public distribution)
FOR MEDIA ONLY: To register for screenings and to download artwork for each film, please visit the online media kit here: http://www.scatenadaniels.com/media-kit-gi-film-festival-san-diego-2015-kpbs/
