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THE VENUE

GI Film Festival San Diego banner in front of MOPApicture from inside MOPA's lobby; GI Film Festival San Diego check out table; MOPA sign in foreground MOPA Auditorium, lights down

 

 

 

 

 

 

The GI Film Festival San Diego is proud to present all in-person film screenings and the awards celebration at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA). The museum is centrally located in San Diego’s beautiful Balboa Park and features state-of-the-art theatre complete with high quality projection and sound systems, comfortable seating, and is ADA compliant.

 

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SCHEDULE BY DAY

Dear Sirs film still. Close up of someone holding a photograph. Only the hands holding the photo can be seen. The photo is of a young teen (Mark Pedri, left) and his grandfather (Silvio Pedri, right) seated on a front porch.

May 17, 2022

Opening Night Film: Dear Sirs

May
17

View day
Film still for A Long March. Black and white image of young men enlisting, hands raised as if reciting allegiance.

May 18, 2022

A LONG MARCH, STRANGER AT HOME: The Untold Story Of Military Mental Health

May
18

View day
Walk With Frank film still. Image of film subject Frank standing on a bridge in New York City, holding American Flag.

May 19, 2022

Walk With Frank, HERE. IS. BETTER.

May
19

View day
graphic that reads Drama Block

May 20, 2022

Drama Block, Landing Home, Late Night Drama Block

May
20

View day
Nations Promise film still. Image of headstones at Arlington Memorial. The first headstone is inscribed Alan Lee Boyer, SFC US Army, Vietnam Mar 8 1946 Mar 28 1969 Silver Star Purple Heart KIA Laos 5th SFG MACVSOG

May 21, 2022

Nation's Promise, Documentary Block, Into Flight Once More, Awards Celebration

May
21

View day
See full lineup

Featuring films made by or starring military or veterans

Film Still for 335 to Boston; image of lead character, preparing for a race
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Student Film

3:35 to Boston

Film

3:35 to Boston

Directed by Kay Barnes
A military wife, struggling to balance all the pieces of her life, breaks down when she realizes the…
American Hero Film Still, lead character at press conference. She is seated at the table, microphones in front of her. She has tears in her eyes. The American flag is behind her.
Award Nominee, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Mature Content, MTS, Post 9/11, Women Who Serve

American Hero

Film

American Hero

Directed by Manny McCord
Since the day Lt. Jordan returned home, she’s been trying to get the truth out, only to find…
Blood and Glory film still. Image of central character. Black female, framed left wearing camouflaged backpack and military dog tags.
Award Nominee, DEI, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Post 9/11, Transitioning Home, Women Who Serve

Blood and Glory

Film

Blood and Glory

Directed by Satinder Kaur
Two homeless, female veterans’ friendship is tested when they confront adversity, discrimination, and even mother nature herself in…
Animation, Award Nominee, DEI, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Student Film

BRAKE

Film

BRAKE

Directed by Aja Weary, Amanda Richardson
A man who experiences sensory overload while attempting to travel. He and his service animal are denied entry…
Into Flight Once More film still. Photo from inside the cockpit of a vintage airplane. The pilot's back is center in frame; he is looking over his left shoulder. Five dials and meters are behind his seat; low and center in the photo.
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, World War II

Into Flight Once More

Available to watch
May 22, 2022 12:00 pm - May 30, 2022 11:45 pm

Film

Into Flight Once More

Directed by Adrienne Hall
On an airstrip in Connecticut, a squadron of World War II-era DC3/C47 airplanes is forming… the distinctive, throaty…
Landing Home film still. Image of a small child touching the face of her father as he bends down towards her. Flowers are in the foreground, blurred.
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Post 9/11, Transitioning Home

Landing Home

Available to watch
May 21, 2022 12:00 pm - May 30, 2022 11:45 pm

Film

Landing Home

Directed by Douglas Taurel
“Landing Home” is a film that takes the audience into the mind of a combat soldier and pulls...
Lives on the Line film still. Image of young Black man. He appears to be speaking to someone, though they are not in the picture. American flag is in the background.
Award Nominee, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Mature Content, Post 9/11, Transitioning Home

Lives On the Line

Film

Lives On the Line

Directed by Steve Stein
Kyle is an Afghanistan war veteran, suffering from chronic pain, who falls victim to a broken system while…
Nations Promise film still. Image of headstones at Arlington Memorial. The first headstone is inscribed Alan Lee Boyer, SFC US Army, Vietnam Mar 8 1946 Mar 28 1969 Silver Star Purple Heart KIA Laos 5th SFG MACVSOG
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Vietnam

Nation’s Promise

Available to watch
May 22, 2022 12:00 pm - May 30, 2022 11:45 pm

Film

Nation’s Promise

Directed by Justin Dailey
The true story of First Lieutenant Loren Hagen and Sergeant Al Boyers, lifelong friends, divided at time of…
My Happy Place film still. Vintage photograph of a woman, smiling and waving at the camera. She is holding a child in her free arm.
Award Nominee, Local Film, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans

My Happy Place

Film

My Happy Place

Directed by Devin Scott
A visual recollection of life in the 1960s filled with empathy and compassion for the characters. Inspired by…
RAW film still. Extreme close up of lead character's face. Only eyes and nose are visible. Tears are in her eyes.
Award Nominee, DEI, Local Film, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Mature Content, MTS, Post 9/11, PTS, Women Who Serve

RAW

Film

RAW

Directed by Drake Shannon
Past and present are blurred by a horrifying transgression as a female soldier faces the aftermath of a…
Shell Shocked film still. Close up image of man in a store. He is gazing ahead, mouth ajar.
Award Nominee, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Post 9/11, Transitioning Home, Women Who Serve

Shell Shocked

Film

Shell Shocked

Directed by Paula A Cajiao
After two years of unsuccessful treatment, a combat veteran suffering from “battle induced stuttering” discovers a controversial drug…
From Stem to Stone film still. Image of a man standing in a cemetery, looking at a headstone. His back is to the camera. The back of his jacket reads "In Memory of My Son, LCPL. Jeffrey D. Walker 6/12/1985 - 5/14/2007" and features the United States Marine Corps seal
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans

Stem to Stone: A Wreath’s Journey

Film

Stem to Stone: A Wreath’s Journey

Directed by Brian Burdett
Each December, volunteers lay 250,000 wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery, one on every veteran’s grave. Witness this remarkable…
THAT NIGHT film still. Image of a young man, sitting on a floor against a tiled wall. He is looking upward and has recent stitches on his nose and under his left eye.
Award Nominee, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, Mature Content, PTS, Transitioning Home, Vietnam

THAT NIGHT

Film

THAT NIGHT

Directed by Samuel Gonzalez Jr.
A haunted veteran plagued by guilt and hallucinations struggles with the murder of an innocent civilian girl.
We All Die Alone film still. Image of male, standing in a parking garage and holding a gun with both hands, pointed off center as in a standoff.
Award Nominee, Local Film, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans

We All Die Alone

Film

We All Die Alone

Directed by Jonathan Hammond
The hubris of an inept conflict negotiator leads two warring gangs into an eight-way standoff. The consequences are…
Walk With Frank film still. Image of film subject Frank standing on a bridge in New York City, holding American Flag.
Award Nominee, Families Who Serve, Healing, Made By or Starring Military or Veterans, PTS, Vietnam

Walk With Frank

Available to watch
May 20, 2022 12:00 pm - May 30, 2022 11:45 pm

Film

Walk With Frank

Directed by Matt Mayers, Ryan Mayers
A former Vietnam infantry soldier decides to celebrate his 70th birthday by walking across New York to help…

See you on the red carpet.

 

The festival is organized by KPBS in partnership with the Film Consortium San Diego to present the Local Film Showcase. The festival is a proud member of the San Diego Veterans Coalition and the San Diego Military Family Collaborative. The festival takes place May 17-21, 2022 and is sponsored in part by Military Times, Scatena Daniels Communications, New York Film Academy, SAG-AFTRA, Union Bank and Veterans United Home Loans of San Diego. Additional support is provided by a grant from the California Health Care Foundation.

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