VIRTUAL FESTIVAL May 18-23, 2021 GIFilmFestivalSD.org GIFilmFestivalSanDiego | @GIFilmFestSD | #GIFilmFestSD PRESENTED BY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE TUE May 18 7:00 p.m. The Invisible Project 5:00 p.m. Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation WED May 19 7:15 p.m. The Girl Who Wore Freedom with Lead The Way 11:00 a.m. Filmmaking Panel: From Funding to Distribution Shorts Block | Stories of Healing & Resilience The Long River Home Soldiers’ Stories from Iraq and Afghanistan: The THU May 20 5:00 p.m. THE FARM Artist’s Process The Khe Sanh Peace Garden 7:15 p.m. UNITED WE HEAL with Budding Creativity A Band to Honor with Alene B. Duerk: The First 4:00 p.m. Woman Admiral Shorts Block | Local Dramas 6:15 p.m. From Russia with… Mehh Life After Oblivion Tiger Oak + Echo The 11th Order Shorts Block | Drama Night FRI May 21 Guide On REWIND Beauty for Ashes A WAR ON FRIENDLY GROUNDS 8:30 p.m. The Children’s Crusade Burger Day | A Short Story My War by Audrey di Faye Saved Rounds 11:30 a.m. The Final Stand 2:15 p.m. DREAMS OF THE BLACK ECHO Shorts Block | Afternoon Drama SAT May 22 Fort Irwin Early Light 4:30 p.m. The Sweatshirt Amazing Grace Walking Point 8:00 p.m. AWARDS CELEBRATION Shorts Block | Documentaries 12:00 p.m. Forgotten Heroes Charlotte Mansfield: a Woman Photographer Goes Brothers in Arms to War Liberation Heroes: The Last Eyewitnesses 2:30 p.m. with A Flash of Green Closing Night Duo: 4:45 p.m. SUN May 23 Actions Speak Louder Than Medals with Hun Pilots Women Warriors Block Charlotte Mansfield: a Woman Alene B. Duerk: The First Photographer Goes to War Woman Admiral 5:30 p.m. Soldiers’ Stories from Iraq Budding Creativity and Afghanistan: The Artist’s My War Process Guide On Post-screening discussions with filmmakers, film subjects, actors, and/or experts immediately follow all online screenings and take place in the virtual screening room. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Tuesday, May 18 .............................7 Wednesday, May 19 ......................... 8 Thursday, May 20...........................10 Friday, May 21 ..............................14 Saturday, May 22 .......................... 20 Awards Celebration........................24 Sunday, May 23............................26 Want to see more films? Secure a Video On Demand (VOD) Rental GIFilmFestivalSD.org 3 Dear GI Film Festival San Diego Attendees: Welcome to the 6th Annual GI Film Festival San Diego! We can’t think of a better way to celebrate Military Appreciation Month than by gathering together (albeit virtually, for now) to watch incredible lms, meet some very talented lmmakers, and celebrate our nation’s active-duty military, military veterans, and their families. For those of you joining us for the rst time, the GI Film Festival started back in 2007 in Washington, DC before expanding to San Diego six years ago thanks to great partners at KPBS and SDSU. As the GI Film Festival founders, our goal has always been to bridge the gap between the military and civilian communities through lm, television and special events – and GIFF San Diego is exceeding our expectations. Every year, the lm lineup at the festival gets better and better and it all starts with our lmmakers, who made the choice to dedicate their passion, time and talents to telling these military stories. We want to congratulate all the lmmakers for being selected to screen at this year’s GIFF San Diego. We understand it is a labor of love to tell these stories. We applaud your eorts, and we are so excited that we and many other people get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Well done! One day soon, we will all be together in person again to watch these stories on the big screen. Until then, we encourage everyone to stream what you can and share these stories with everyone you know. As President Calvin Coolidge once said, “a nation that forgets its heroes will itself soon be forgotten.” e hard work of the lmmakers and festival organizers will ensure that our nation never forgets our heroes. Once again, thank you and congratulations! We look forward to seeing you at the movies. Brandon Millett and Laura Law-Millett 4 Dear Festival Attendees: ank you for joining us for the all-virtual 2021 GI Film Festival San Diego. I am excited you are joining us for another year honoring military stories. A lot has happened since the last ocial festival in the fall of 2019. Pandemic aside, eective 2020, KPBS has now become the ocial presenter for the national GIFF. I couldn’t be more proud to see KPBS take the helm of this important celebration of our military. And I am incredibly thankful that founders Laura Law-Millett and Brandon Millett have trusted KPBS to preserve and grow this initiative. is year’s festival features 38 lms. We pulled them into a schedule of 15 online showtimes. e virtual platform has made it possible for a record turnout among our participating lmmakers — joining us from as far away as Russia and as close as San Diego. We are poised to have an even greater impact in bridging the civilian-military divide, amplifying the voices and stories of our military-connected communities, and ultimately, fostering a more connected community. Women veteran stories open and close the festival. In between them, you’ll see seven local lms, four international lms, and 27 national lms. ere are 11 lms made by women, 18 made by military or veterans, and six lms feature military or veterans in acting roles. Following our scheduled showtimes, you’ll have the opportunity to hear from lmmakers, experts, stars, and heroes and ask your questions through our virtual screening rooms. We are grateful for the partnerships with Jodi Cilley, founder of the Film Consortium San Diego; our generous and enthusiastic Advisory Committee; and the lmmakers who have provided exceptional content for you. To our valued sponsors, we oer our deepest appreciation: Scatena Daniels Communications, Task & Purpose, National University, and the California Arts Council. To our veterans, service members, and their families all over the world: thank you for your commitment to our country. You inspire this special community of lm creators, lovers, and organizers. Special thanks to our all access passholders and returning fans. Your dedicated support has buoyed us to new heights. I do look forward to festival events when we can all be together again, in person. Nothing beats sitting in a theatre and sharing these stories together. Regardless of how you watch, if you see one lm or all 38, I know GIFFSD will leave you hopeful, enlightened, and truly inspired. Nancy Worlie Interim General Manager, KPBS 5 6 OPENING NIGHT ONLINE SHOWTIME AT Tuesday, May 18 7:00 p.m. The Invisible Project “ e Invisible Project” is a documentary-style info-drama that follows the lives of four women as they work to change the public perception of women Veterans in America. In the lm, they demonstrate that service matters and the service continues when they come home, as women and as Veterans. Documentary Feature / Directed by Paci ca J. Sauer / 81 minutes / 2019 / USA / Made By or Starring Military or Veterans / World Premiere / Nomination: Best Film Made By Veterans or Military start sooner. finish faster. Veteran-founded nonprofit National University provides accessible higher education to adult learners with: • Four-week classes • 75+ degree programs • Online and on-campus options • WSCUC accredidation Crystal G., Class of 2020 Learn more: NU.edu Military Servicemember The National Endowment for the Humanities and National University Together: Exploring the Human Endeavor 7 ONLINE SHOWTIME AT Wednesday, May 19 5:00 p.m. Sky Blossom: Diaries of the Next Greatest Generation “Sky Blossom” is a lmed salute to 2020. It is a raw, upliing window into 24.5 million children and millennials stepping forward as frontline heroes. Caring for families with tough medical conditions, they stay at home doing things oen seen only in hospitals. ey are cheerleaders, work part-time, and go to col- lege — but also live double lives — quietly growing up as America’s next greatest generation. e lmmaker, veteran journalist, and award-winning CNN/MSN- BC news anchor Richard Lui says the interviews were so honest they genuinely surprised him, as they revealed insights into the lives of young people across America. Troops used to look up and say, “Here comes the Sky Blossoms”—para- troopers rushing to their aid. Today, there is a new generation answering that call. ese are their stories. Documentary Feature / Directed by Richard Lui / 87 minutes / 2020 / USA / Nomination: Best Documentary Feature 8 ONLINE SHOWTIME AT Wednesday, May 19 7:15 p.m. Lead The Way As a retired United States Army Ranger, Special Forces Green Beret, and Tier 1 Assault Sergeant Major, John “Shrek” McPhee has seen the world and war like few have. In this documentary short, John travels through Ireland and France to learn about the sacrices of the Allied Forces during World War II and the history of the United States Army Rangers and Paratroopers. e lm takes place during the 75th Anniversary of D-day, in Normandy, France. Documentary Short / Directed by Josh Carrasquillo / Nine minutes / 2020 / USA / West Coast Premiere The Girl Who Wore Freedom Normandy, France. Once an idyllic landscape, Normandy had succumbed to German invaders who overran its farms, its manors, its countryside. Here we meet Dany, Maurice, Henri-Jean, and others, who share their relationships with Allied forces who liberated Normandy. e journey from occupation to liberation, to acceptance and forgiveness, to gratitude and pride, is explored through interviews with French survivors and American veterans.