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GI Film Festival San Diego 2019 Award Winners

National Award Winners

The following titles are winners in the GI Film Festival San Diego 2019’s national categories:

Best Actor: Best performance by an actor; performer does not have to be a current military service member or veteran
Frankie Muniz
The Black String

Best Actress: Best performance by an actress; performer does not have to be a current military service member or veteran
Scottie Thompson
“#3 Normandy Lane

Best Narrative Short: Best narrative film under 60 minutes
“#3 Normandy Lane
Directed by Brenda Strong End Stop Star Entertainment

Best Documentary Feature: Best documentary film 60 minutes or more
The Donut Dollies
Directed by Norm Anderson and Jess Hill Paloma Productions

Best Documentary Short: Best documentary film under 60 minutes
Remains
Directed by Joe Day and Jose Rodriguez

Best Student Film: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) by a student filmmaker
A Rodeo Film
Directed by Ryan Binse

Best First-Time Filmmaker: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) by a filmmaker in their directorial debut
Brenda Strong
“#3 Normandy Lane

Best International Film: Best International Film Award goes to the highest scoring film out of our top internationally produced submissions
Entrenched
Directed by Joseph Chebatte

Best Film Made By or Starring Veterans or Military: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) that features current military and/or veterans in key roles (Producer, Director, Writer, Lead Actor/Actress)
WAR PAINT
Directed by J.C. Doler and Taylor Bracewell

Founders Choice Award: The Founder’s Choice Award, selected by the GI Film Festival founders, goes to the best told story of their top festival picks
Homemade
Directed by Jason Maris and Danielle Bernstein Clear Films

Local Film Showcase 2019 Award Winners 

The following titles are winners in the Local Film Showcase for the GI Film Festival San Diego 2019. These winners are all connected to San Diego in some way, such as the filmmaker’s place of residence/production office, film subject, shooting/editing, historic event, or other meaningful tie in. San Diego County areas of residence or neighborhood where the film was created are included if filmmakers provided this information:

Local Film Showcase – Best Narrative Short: Best narrative film under 60 minutes 

The Man I Want to Be
Directed by Devin Scott American Dream Cinema

Local Film Showcase – Best Film Made By or Starring Veterans or Military: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) that features current military and/or veterans in key roles (Producer, Director, Writer, Lead Actor/Actress) 

This One Step
Directed by Austin & Westin Ray

Local Film Showcase – Local Choice Award: Best film where at least 60 percent of the cast, crew and locations were sourced from San Diego County or Imperial County 

 Polka.
By Andrew Brame Phillip Elgie Media