Film Nominations

The films below have been nominated in 11 different categories, including Best Documentary Feature, Best Narrative Film,  Founders' Choice and more.  Click each image to learn more about the film and see the specific award categories. Winners will be announced at the Awards Celebration on Saturday, May 11.   

DEIB, LGTBQIA+, Navy, Resilience

A Life of Honor

Film A Life of Honor Directed by Richard O'Connor When Joseph Patton joined the Navy in 1955, at a time when LGBTQ community members could not be…

Black Voices, DEIB, LGTBQIA+, Resilience

Black Uniform

Film Black Uniform Directed by Robert Darwell 12 Black veterans, serving between WWII to present day, share their heartfelt perspectives on what it felt like…

Friendship, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, New Director

Cinemeta

Film Cinemeta Directed by James Arterberry Two military veterans turned amateur filmmakers embark upon a mission to produce the perfect, festival-worthy, short film.

Afghanistan Perspectives, Afghanistan War, Army, DEIB, Friendship, Global War on Terrorism, Student Film

MORE THAN BROTHERS

Film MORE THAN BROTHERS Directed by Andrea von Siebenthal Two Green Berets race against time to save the Afghans who kept them safe during their deployments.

Afghanistan War, DEIB, Global War on Terrorism, Healing, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Resilience, USMC, Veteran Art

Opening Night featuring Make Peace or Die

Film Opening Night featuring Make Peace or Die Directed by Manny Marquez Upon returning home, a USMC veteran makes it his mission to help Gold Star families find healing, and…

Army, LGTBQIA+, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans

Peanut Butter Shot

Film Peanut Butter Shot Directed by Paige Compton A young Army sergeant daydreams about a magical love. Hesitation, bad timing, and an over-zealous doctor leave the…

DEIB, Homelessness, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Resilience

The Magic Ticket

Film The Magic Ticket Directed by Yelena Krivosheyeva A homeless female veteran orders dinner at an upscale restaurant when an angry patron calls the police. When…

Army, Healing, WWII

The Echoes of War

Film The Echoes of War Directed by Richard O'Connor At StoryCorps, U.S. Army Sergent Harrison Wright talks to his grandson, Sean Guess, about the honorable way he…

DEIB, International, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Resilience

THE SPRAYER

Film THE SPRAYER Directed by Farnoosh Abedi In the land occupied by the sprayer's army, no one has the right to grow any kind of…

Asian American Stories, DEIB, WWII

Stamp Our Story

Film Stamp Our Story Directed by Kaia Rose, Robert Horsting Three Japanese American women of the Nisei generation share how they led a successful 15-year campaign to issue…

Army, Asian American Stories, DEIB, Friendship, New Director, Resilience, Vietnam War

The Volunteer

Film The Volunteer Directed by David Brodie A Vietnam War veteran in search of a fellow comrade reflects on the power of friendship and the…

Caregiver, Friendship, Healing

We Carry On

Film We Carry On Directed by Sareen Hairabedian 12 caregivers of wounded veterans participate in a six-week virtual poetry workshop that culminates in an on-stage performance…

Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Student Film

Cheddar

Film Cheddar Directed by Ryan Murtha Scott’s night is thrown into chaos when an alien spaceship crash lands into his proposal picnic.

DEIB, International, Student Film

The Steak

Film The Steak Directed by Kiarash Dadgar A birthday ceremony preparation gets upside down as something horrible takes place.

Afghanistan War, DEIB, Global War on Terrorism, Healing, Local, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Navy, Resilience, USMC

JULIAN: a Jiu Jitsu Story

Film JULIAN: a Jiu Jitsu Story Directed by Max Bloom A double amputee Marine fights to not only regain his physical strength but also overcome the mental trauma…

Army, Local, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans

Long Live Xander the Great

Film Long Live Xander the Great Directed by Devin Scott Jordan looks back on his childhood and comes to the realization, as we all do, that his parents…

Local, Navy, Resilience

Pueblo, A Year of Crises In America

Film Pueblo, A Year of Crises In America Directed by Bill Lowe This is the true story of an ill-conceived, badly planned espionage mission with crewmen who had no knowledge…

Afghanistan Perspectives, Afghanistan War, Army, DEIB, Friendship, Global War on Terrorism, Made by or Starring Military or Veterans, Resilience

Interpreters Wanted

Film Interpreters Wanted Directed by Robert Ham “Interpreters Wanted” follows Afghani brothers from their childhood growing up during the Russian/Afghan war, through the Taliban era,…

Army, Asian American Stories, Friendship, LGTBQIA+, New Director, Vietnam War

Jimmy in Saigon

Film Jimmy in Saigon Directed by Peter McDowell One filmmaker's journey to get to know his brother - a veteran of the Vietnam War - and…

Global War on Terrorism, Healing, PTS, Resilience

Final Fight: When the Trauma of War Comes Home

Film Final Fight: When the Trauma of War Comes Home Directed by Frances Causey Final Fight: When the Trauma of War Comes Home” goes deeper than any documentary to date in revealing…

Korean War, Resilience, USMC, Veteran Art, WWII

Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea

Film Westermann: Memorial to the Idea of Man If He Was an Idea Directed by Leslie Buchbinder A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, mid-century sculptor and artist H.C. (Cliff) Westermann’s became…