Skip to main content

GI Film Festival San Diego 2018

GI Film Festival San Diego Comes to North County San Diego with Free Preview Screening of DreamWorks Pictures’ Thank You For Your Service

Thursday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m.: Regal Carlsbad 12; Free admission,
registration required; Film opens across U.S. on October 27

SAN DIEGO, CA – Sept. 21, 2017 – Organizers of the third annual GI Film Festival San Diego (Oct. 18-22) announce a special preview screening of Thank You for Your Service on Thursday, October 19, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12 (2501 El Camino Real). The film is rated R and will be officially released nationwide in theatres on October 27. Although the screening is free, advance registration is required. To register and for more information, please visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

The Thursday night event is the first time the GI Film Festival San Diego will conduct screenings in North County San Diego. Prior to the preview screening of Thank You for Your Service at 7:30 p.m., the festival will present “World War II Remembered – Part 1” at 5 p.m. This film block features a collection of short films that honor the stories and sacrifice of the greatest generation. The block comprises of West Coast premieres and award-winning documentaries, including “All American,” “Happy,” “The Rifleman’s Violin,” and “We Can Do It: Stories of Rosie the Riveter.” Tickets for the 5 p.m. screenings are $8 for active duty personnel and veterans. General admission is $10.

About Thank You for Your Service

DreamWorks Pictures’ 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. 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 produced by Jon Kilik (The Hunger Games series, Babel) is based on the bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author, David Finkel.

Thank You for Your Service is written and directed by Jason Hall, the Academy Award®-nominated writer of American Sniper, whose films seamlessly blend incisive social commentary with emphatically human stories, turning real people and challenging issues into gripping, engrossing cinema. Hall currently has several diverse projects in development, including Rasputin for Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way.

More About the GI Film Festival San Diego

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. Films selected for this year’s GI Film Festival San Diego feature diverse stories with themes ranging from women in the military, resiliency and recovery, transitioning, and the LGBTQ+ community. Selections also highlight military experiences from within the Hispanic, African American, and Asian cultures. Wars covered in the films span from World War II to the present day conflicts. Films come from around the United States as well as here in San Diego and include feature length films to shorts. The 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego features 33 films in all, including two World Premieres and eight West Coast Premieres. There are also filmmaker appearances and panel discussions. Screenings will be presented in themed film blocks so audience members can fully immerse themselves in the festival experience.

Tickets and all access passes for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego are available at GIFilmFestivalSD.org. All festival events will be open to the public with special discounted opportunities for active duty personnel and veterans.

Wednesday, Oct. 18: Opening Night Screening and Reception at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park

The GI Film Festival San Diego’s opening night screening on Wednesday, Oct. 18 features the West Coast premiere of “The 2 Sides Project,” a post-Vietnam War focused documentary. The film follows the unforgettable journey of six U.S. sons and daughters as they discover a country and a people with whom they share a common history. In December 2015, American and Vietnamese sons and daughters—who had all lost fathers fighting on opposite sides during the war—held the first-ever formal meetings. The film captures the entire story, not just the transformative encounters, but the profoundly moving experiences these Americans had while visiting the sites where their fathers died, and the powerful encounters they had with the country itself. Director Anthony Istrico is scheduled to attend opening night, as well as some of the people featured in the film. A dessert reception follows the screening and discussion in the museum’s atrium. There will be an encore screening of this film on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the AMC Mission Valley 20 at 3:15 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 20: Family Movie Night Aboard the USS Midway Museum

The popular Family Movie Night returns to the USS Midway Museum on Friday, Oct. 20. Family Movie Night is the only family-related event for the festival this year and celebrates military families while providing a fun evening out after a busy week. Military connected and civilian families are welcome. Festival organizers will also work with partner organizations to provide complimentary tickets to local military families. See GIFilmFestivalSD.org for film title, time, and festival schedule.

Saturday, Oct. 21 & Sunday, Oct. 22: Additional AMC Mission Valley 20 Screenings

Weekend screenings at AMC Mission Valley 20 feature 27 films, many that make up the festival’s Local Film Showcase. Screenings on Saturday, Oct. 21 begin with a collection of short films remembering World War II at 10:50 a.m. Award-winning feature length selections and West Coast premieres are on the midday schedule with the documentary following the life of an Army veteran who was paralyzed while serving in Afghanistan “American Veteran,” at 11 a.m.; “After Fire,” a documentary that follows the lives of three female veterans at 1 p.m.; and “High Low Forty,” a dramatic feature about two estranged brothers who reconnect on a road trip home at 1:15 p.m. The festival’s Local Film Showcase screenings begin at 3:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. respectively. Award winners in the Local Film Showcase will be announced later that evening at the GI Film Festival San Diego’s Awards Celebration to be held at KPBS on the campus of San Diego State University. The Awards Celebration honors the festival’s best from the Local Film Showcase. Award Categories include Best Documentary Short, Best Narrative Short, Local Choice Award, Best Film Made by a Veteran or Service Member, Best Actor, Best Actress, and the Spirit of San Diego Award. In addition, there is an Audience Choice Award where festival attendees can vote for their favorite film featured in the festival. The Audience Choice Award will be announced after the festival concludes.

The 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego concludes Sunday, Oct. 22 at the same venue with the “Remembering the Vietnam War” film block at 12:30 p.m., an encore screening of “The 2 Sides Project” at 3:15 p.m., the “Tour the Festival” film block at 3:30 p.m., and the “How We Heal” film block at 5:45 p.m.

For the latest film schedule with titles and additional festival event information, visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

GI Film Festival San Diego is one of the few military film festivals in the U.S.

Originated in Washington D.C. in 2007, festival organizers found it only fitting to bring the military-themed film festival to San Diego. Not only does San Diego host seven major bases between the Navy, Marines, and the Coast Guard, but the city was ranked the eighth best city for military veterans to live. The San Diego festival features some of the best, award-winning films of the GI Film Festival held last May in Washington D.C. and Virginia.

The 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego is organized by KPBS in partnership with the GI Film Group and Film Consortium San Diego. Official sponsors of the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego include Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling, City National Bank, Lewis University, National City Mile of Cars, Altus Schools, Bob Baker Subaru, and GEICO Military with additional support from Scatena Daniels Communications and the Maritime Museum. Alaska Airlines is the official travel sponsor.

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, D.C. 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 hosts and organizes the San Diego Film Awards, San Diego Film Week, Summer at the Drive-in and various screening and networking events.

About KPBS

KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University, serving over one million audience members weekly across TV (15.1, 15.2, 15.3, and 15.4), radio (89.5 FM and 97.7 FM Calexico), and the web with content that is educational as well as entertaining—and free of commercial interruption.

Film Selections for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego as of Sept. 21, 2017:

The following films are confirmed for the GI Film Festival San Diego this year at various venues around San Diego County (in alphabetical order). Titles are subject to change. If filmmaker plans to attend, it is noted in the description. For latest film schedule with titles, visit GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

  • “The 2 Sides Project” – Follow the unforgettable journey of six U.S. sons and daughters as they discover a country and a people with whom they share a common history. In December 2015, American and Vietnamese sons and daughters—who had all lost fathers fighting on opposite sides during the war—held the first-ever formal meetings. The film captures the entire story, not just the transformative encounters, but the profoundly moving experiences these Americans had while visiting the sites where their fathers died, and the powerful encounters they had with the country itself. Documentary / Dir. Anthony Istrico / 2017 / One hour and 40 minutes / Founders’ Choice Award – GI Film Festival / West Coast Premiere / Filmmaker and subjects scheduled to attend / Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park

 

  • “After Fire” – With intimate access to the lives of three women veterans, “After Fire” is an observational documentary that throws a spotlight on the human toll of military service – including military sexual trauma, combat injuries and bureaucratic dysfunction – telling a universal story about strength in the aftermath of trauma. Documentary / Dir. Brittany Huckabee / 2016 / 90 minutes / Best Film with Strong Female Lead Award – GI Film Festival / West Coast Premiere / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Aircraft Warning Service Volunteer” – Betty Tenney, 97, was a 21-year-old housewife in San Diego working as a volunteer in the Army Air Corps, Volunteer Aircraft Warning Service, 4th Interceptor Command, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Documentary / Dirs. Howard Lipin and Luis Cruz / 2017 / Three minutes / Local Film Showcase / Filmmakers scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “All American” – 72 years later after D-Day, WWII hero Les Cruise flies again on the same plane – this time his family boarded with him. While he is one of the last surviving D-Day paratroopers, Cruise’s story is not only about his historic jump. It’s also about his familial journey from orphan to great-grandfather. Documentary / Dirs. Michael Ayjian and Stephen Skeel / 2016 / Nine minutes / Best Short Short – GI Film Festival / West Coast Premiere / Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12

 

  • “American Veteran” – 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. Documentary / Dir. Julie Cohen / 2017 / 75 minutes / Founders’ Choice Award – GI Film Festival / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Black Christmas” – When a man goes to the store and returns to his car, a woman accuses him of attacking her. An angry mob forms and he must try to convince them that he is innocent. Narrative / Dir. Susan Davis / 2016 / Six minutes / Local Film Showcase / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Bud’s Odyssey” – On a mission over the Mediterranean, B-17 Pilot Robert “Bud” Kingsbury and his crew are shot down. Kingsbury becomes the sole survivor by swimming 32 hours to the Italian shore, and then spends 20 months in Stalag Luft III. After years of suffering with sole survivor’s guilt and severe PTSD, he finds a road to healing and reconciliation. Documentary / Dir. Mark Kirkland / 2016 / 26 minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Call Me Ma’am” – Based on a true story, “Call Me Ma’am” is a visual expression of what it was like to be a new Navy officer from a woman’s point of view. When she first shows up, she’s lost and not welcomed by her subordinates or superiors. Through hard work and dedication, she gains the respect of her crew but must still go to head to head with the tyrant that runs the department. She succeeds at taking over the department and wins his respect as well. Documentary / Dir. Adrienne Camille / 2016 / Four minutes / West Coast Premiere / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Charlie & Sam” – In 2016, fewer than 5% of American World War II veterans remain alive. Follow 97-year-old Word War II Naval Aviator Charlie Edwards as he travels to meet his old squadronmate Sam Takis for the first time since the end of the war. Documentary / Dir. Ben Powell / 2016 / 15 minutes / West Coast Premiere / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Child’s Play” – “Child’s Play” takes a fun jab at the Naval Academy and the Navy at large by claiming that ‘kids play soldier, not sailor,’ making its point by encapsulating the imagination and thrill children experience while playing soldier. Narrative Short / Dir. Austin Lachance / 2016 / Two minutes / West Coast Premiere / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “The Colonel” – Set in 1969, Marine Colonel Hap Tasker, on the brink of promotion to Brigadier, is told he has a deficient heart that prevents him from future military service. Crestfallen, he turns his disappointment into determination to serve his country by instructing youth in his “time honored values.” Meanwhile, Glen Meadows, a prep school in Fort Worth, battles rebellion, entitlement and bankruptcy. Chuck Holtz, the school’s headmaster, hires the Colonel as athletic director and middle school football coach to unify the school by whipping the kids into shape. Narrative / Dir. Tim Williams / 2016 / 21 minutes / Trailer Wars Award, Best Narrative Short Award – GI Film Festival / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Comedy Boot Camp: The Documentary” – WHRO Public Media’s original production follows a class of veteran comedians as they learn to use humor as a way to share their journeys and connect their stories to 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. Documentary / Dir. Kendrick Hopkins / 2017 / 57 minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 5:45 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Deported Veterans of America: Daniel Torres” – When he was 21 Daniel Torres was recruited to the Marines – but in order to enlist he had to lie: he said that he was American when he wasn’t. After a seven-month 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 US citizenship on the basis of his military record. Documentary / Dir. Nuno Pinto / 2017 / Six minutes / Local Film Showcase / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:45 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Distinguished Wings Over Vietnam” – “Distinguished Wings over Vietnam” tells the honest, personal accounts of four combat pilots during the Vietnam War. From helicopters to jets, these men reveal how they felt risking their lives in a war that was confusing and unpopular, to say the least. They talk about their missions, the close calls, and how they were treated when they came home. Saving lives by taking lives changed them forever. Documentary / Dir. Devin Scott / 2017 / 57 minutes / Filmmaker and subjects scheduled to attend / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Exiled” – 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. Documentary / Dir. Mike Seely / 30 minutes / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following category for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Documentary Short / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:45 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Fletcher & Jenks” – When a long time detective is partnered up with a rookie, they begin to piece together clues to a serial murderer. However, the culprit they are chasing turn out to be someone close to the case. Narrative / Dir. Tony Olmos / 2016 / Seven minutes / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following categories for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Narrative Short, Local Choice Award, Best Film Made by a Veteran or Service Member, Best Actor and Best Actress / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Forgotten Hero” – As the Korean War raged, Russia was not only supporting, but secretly fighting against the U.S. during this armed conflict with two superpowers at the brink of a nuclear World War III. One Navy pilot, despite being outnumbered, took on seven superior Russian fighters. He not only won, but was ordered to keep it secret for over 60 years. Narrative / Dir. Mark Vizcarra / 2017 / 19 minutes / World Premiere / Local Film Showcase / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Gary Sinise: Always Do A Little More” – Long before his role as Lieutenant Dan in “Forrest Gump,” Gary Sinise had developed a passion for the men and women who step into harm’s way to secure the freedom we enjoy as Americans. This film takes a look at the origins of Sinise’s commitment to the U.S. military, veterans, first responders, and their families, and his unwavering dedication to serve and support them at every opportunity. Documentary / Dir. Kip Perry / 2017 / 55 minutes / Best Documentary Short – GI Film Festival / West Coast Premiere / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Happy” – WWII fighter ace Larry ‘Happy’ Powell flew 68 missions over Europe. After crashing and spending time as a POW in Germany, Larry returned to his home city of Los Angeles for a dual career in the Air National Guard and as an assistant director in Hollywood. After surviving another plane crash that left over 60% of his body badly burned, he went on to work on numerous Hollywood classics that included “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “The Right Stuff.” In this portrait, Larry shares some gripping stories from WWII and Hollywood sets, and leaves us with his unique outlook on life. Documentary / Dir. Mike Dorsey / 2017 / 40 minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12
  • “High Low Forty” – Long estranged brothers reconnect during a road-trip home to say goodbye to their hardened father on his deathbed. Narrative / Dir. Paddy Quinn / 2017 / 80 minutes / Best Narrative Feature – GI Film Festival / West Coast Premiere / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 1:15 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “The Last Ring Home” – This WWII documentary traces the incredible story of the Annapolis ring of a U.S. Navy officer and hero, Lieutenant Minter Dial. After 2 1/2 years of horrific imprisonment by the Japanese in the Philippines, his last wish was to have his ring returned to his loving wife; but the ring never made it. It was found 18 years later in Korea under the most improbable of circumstances. With 25 years of research and 130 interviews of his grandparents’ peers, grandson Minter embarked on a journey to discover his grandparents and bring healing to his father. “The Last Ring Home” uncovers the mystery of how the ring was lost and found and, importantly, the lasting legacy it had on all those it touched. Documentary / Dir. Josh Shelov / 2016 / 27 minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Once Guilty, Now Innocent, Still Dead” – When a fourteen-year old boy is shot in the back in Wyoming in 1902, the community is outraged and demands the perpetrator of this detestable atrocity be hanged. As two men await execution and reflect on what has transpired, the execution clock in their holding cell continues to tick away. In an unexpected twist, both men are merely pawns to the power and corruption of those who seek to control others. Narrative / Dir. Mark Vizcarra / 2017 / 15 minutes / World Premiere / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following categories for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Narrative Short, Local Choice Award, Best Film Made by a Veteran or Service Member and Best Actor / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Pearl Harbor Survivors Relive the Infamous Day” – Pearl Harbor survivors speak out about their experiences on December 7, 1941, when the United States was attacked by Japan and consequently thrust into World War II. Documentary / Dirs. Howard Lipin and Luis Cruz / 2017 / Six minutes / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following categories for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Documentary Short, Local Choice Award and Spirit of San Diego Award / Filmmakers scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Places Like This” – A group of veterans embark on a six-day winter expedition into the Colorado wilderness. Through the Outward Bound program for veterans, eleven strangers come from all over the country seeking peace, answers, and direction by using the wilderness as a vessel to carry them both spiritually and physically to reach a peak of more than 13,000 feet. Each veteran will take the same path to a different destination in this visually stunning and emotionally charged film. Documentary / Dir. Nicholas McNaughton / 2016 / Nine minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 5:45 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Refuge” – This short tells the story of four women trying to escape a horrible future world. In the year 2049, male babies are not being born. The government has instituted a breeding program that forces all able women to become breeders in hopes of increasing the number of male babies. Taking a gamble with experimental science is their only hope of escaping this fate. Narrative / Dir. Ryan Kelly / 2016 / Eight minutes / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following categories for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Narrative Short, Local Choice Award, Best Film Made by a Veteran or Service Member, Best Actor and Best Actress / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “Remembering Pearl Harbor: Mary Lou Mawhiney” – Pearl Harbor survivor, Mary Lou Mawhiney, 94, remembers December 7, 1941. Documentary / Dirs. Howard Lipin and Luis Cruz / 2017 / Three minutes / Local Film Showcase / Filmmakers scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “The Rifleman’s Violin” – With wit and verve, 90-year-old virtuoso violinist Stuart Canin recounts how, as a 19-year-old GI, he deployed to the German front with his rifle and violin on his back during World War II. After Germany capitulated, Canin was once again pressed into service, this time as a musician in the Army’s 6817th Soldiers Show Company. After a few weeks entertaining wounded troops, Canin was dispatched to Potsdam on the outskirts of Berlin to perform privately for the Big Three – Harry Truman, Winston Churchill and Josef Stalin – in an effort to break the ice during the negotiations over the division of Europe and the prosecution of the war against Japan. Documentary / Dir. Sam Ball / 2015 / 13 minutes / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12

 

  • “Thank You for Your Service” – DreamWorks Pictures’ 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. Starring Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, Joe Cole, Amy Schumer, Beulah Koale, Scott Haze, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Brad Beyer, Omar J. Dorsey and Jayson Warner Smith. Based on the bestselling book by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author David Finkel. Free Preview Screening / Registration required / Dir. Jason Hall / 2017 / 108 minutes / Rated R / Thurs., Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12

 

  • “USO San Diego 75 Year Anniversary” – USO San Diego has two main locations that help military personnel feel at home when they are away. Countless volunteers have helped serve the military community for many of the USO’s 76-year history. The San Diego Airport location has been awarded top honors in the nation and has been widely recognized as the model station for our service people. Documentary / Dir. David Romero / 2016 / Six minutes / Local Film Showcase / Nominated in the following categories for the 2017 GI Film Festival San Diego: Best Documentary Short, Local Choice Award and Spirit of San Diego Award / Filmmaker scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “USS Pearl Harbor” – Commander Ted Essenfeld shares his thoughts about the USS Pearl Harbor and its historical artifacts. Documentary / Dirs. Howard Lipin and Luis Cruz / 2017 / Three minutes / Local Film Showcase / Filmmakers scheduled to attend / Saturday, Oct. 21 at 10:50 a.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “The Vietnam War” – In an immersive 360-degree narrative, Burns and Novick tell the epic story of the Vietnam War as it has never before been told. Featuring excerpts from the entire 18-hour documentary series, this screening explores the origins of the conflict, military strategies, and the personal stories from all sides. The series features testimony from nearly 100 witnesses, including many Americans who fought in the war and others who opposed it, as well as Vietnamese combatants and civilians from both the winning and losing sides. Documentary / Dirs. Ken Burns and Lynn Novick / 2017 / 47 minutes / Sunday, Oct. 22 at 12:30 p.m. at AMC Mission Valley 20

 

  • “We Can Do It: Stories of Rosie the Riveter” – During World War II millions of courageous women, most of them teenagers, joined the labor force and coined the term “Rosie the Riveter.” They didn’t realize they were changing the world forever. Documentary / Dir. Scott Bethel / 2016 / 35 minutes / Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. at Regal Carlsbad 12