Fort Irwin

Cristian arrives for his first day of work as an amputee actor at Fort Irwin, a military base in the California desert. For his new job, Cristian will act as if his legs have been destroyed by a bomb while wearing gory prosthetics as a part of soldiers’ training exercises. Cristian, an injured veteran himself, enters the artificial military simulation to confront his real combat trauma. Haunted by the past, he fights to transform his fear into a source of strength.

Award Winner: Best Actor – Cristian Valle; Best Student Film; Best Film Starring Military or Veterans

About the Filmmaker

Quinn Else is a writer and director from California. His narrative and documentary films have screened at internationally renowned film festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Hot Docs, AFI Fest, Fantastic Fest and Palm Springs Shortfest. He’s won a Young Director Award, Student Emmy and was shortlisted for a Student BAFTA. Online, he’s received a Vimeo Staff Pick and been featured on Hulu, Short of the Week, NoBudge and BOOOOOOOM TV. With a keen eye for the strange, Quinn tells odd yet human stories inspired by real people and places.

The lead actor of this film, Cristian Valle, is a veteran and a Purple Heart recipient. Cristian served with the Army in the 3rd Infantry Division and with the Army Reserve 100th Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team. He was injured in Balad, Iraq in 2005.

Plays in

Shorts Block | Afternoon Drama

This collection of narrative shorts features four dramas and one comedy.