American Veteran

Julie Cohen / Afghanistan, Healing / USA / 2017 / Documentary / 75 mins

Army Sergeant Nick Mendes was paralyzed while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. Presented in an unflinching, close-up style, the film brings us into Nick’s world as he studies for a real estate license, falls in love, and learns to do everything from posting on Facebook and playing video games to casting a fishing reel with his mouth. The film weaves together Nick’s past and present to show a nuanced portrait of a quadriplegic soldier’s sometimes harrowing, sometimes romantic and often surprisingly funny life. Filmmaker scheduled to attend.

Comedy Bootcamp: The Documentary

Kendrick Hopkins / Afghanistan, Healing / USA / 2017 / Documentary / 57 mins

This film follows a class of veteran comedians as they learn to use humor as a way to share their journeys and stories with others. Through the Comedy Bootcamp program, the participants attended weekly classes led by professional stand-up comedians designed to help the individuals of the military community develop their performing and writing skills. With a concluding White House performance, the participants share their stories of resilience, hope, and humor.

Preceded by: Places Like This

Deported Veterans of America: Daniel Torres

Nuno Pinto / Iraq, Local Film Showcase, Afghanistan / MEX / 2017 / Documentary / 6 mins

When he was 21, Daniel Torres was recruited to the Marines. In order to enlist he had to lie: he said that he was American when he wasn't. After a seven months deployment in Afghanistan he volunteered for another tour in Iraq. But when the truth about his legal status came to light, he was discharged and became undocumented again. This is his personal story of he was able to get his U.S. citizenship on the basis of his military record.

Precedes: Exiled

Exiled

Mike Seely / Iraq, Local Film Showcase, Afghanistan / USA / 2017 / Documentary / 30 mins

Two military veterans, both green card immigrants willing to die for their country, find themselves deported and are now fighting to be heard. A persuasive and intimate look at the human consequences of current U.S. immigration policy.

Preceded by: Deported Veterans of America: Daniel Torres

Thank You for Your Service

Jason Hall / Veterans, Iraq, Events, Army, Afghanistan, Healing / USA / 2017 / Narrative / 108 mins

"Thank You for Your Service" follows a group of U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq who struggle to integrate back into family and civilian life, while living with the memory of a war that threatens to destroy them long after they’ve left the battlefield. From DreamWorks Pictures’, this film stars an ensemble cast led by Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer, Beulah Koale, Scott Haze, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Brad Beyer, Omar J. Dorsey and Jayson Warner Smith, the drama is based on the bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author David Finkel. This film is rated R (Restricted – Under 17 Requires Accompanying Parent or Adult Guardian) for strong violent content, language throughout, some sexuality, drug material and brief nudity.