The Gary Sinise Foundation is bringing the award-winning GI Film Festival to Los Angeles on November 5 for one day of great independent military films.  These films highlight current and former veterans in and out of the arena of war.  Beginning at noon at the Raleigh Studio Theater on 5300 Melrose  Ave in  Hollywood, fans from the west coast who missed this year’s DC festival will have an opportunity to view the best of the festival’s films.

vimeo Winner Best Feature Documentary

—–

“We are proud to partner with the Gary Sinise Foundation,” said GI Film Festival’s executive director and co-founder, former Army Major Laura Law-Millett. “They do amazing work.  It’s so important that people understand the important role film and the media play in the minds of every American when it comes to supporting our brave men and women in uniform.”

The one day event will screen 9 films and play host to an evening reception where you can meet and greet the filmmakers.  To see the line-up, view the trailers, and purchase tickets to attend the event, please click here.

(more…)

There is a film in this year’s GI Film Festival line-up for everyone.  Overall the festival schedule will show 31 film premieres with action, romance, comedy, and drama all represented.  Here are five stand-outs that you must see.

1.  They Wereth Eleven

They Wereth Eleven is an amazing film directed by award winning director Robert Child about the untold story of 11 African American soldiers who were slaughtered by the SS in WWII.

2. A Marine’s Guide to Fishing

A Marine’s Guide to Fishing , directed by Nicholas Brennan, stars Matthew Pennington, a former Marine with three combat tours under his belt.  Pennington also received the Purple Heart after loosing his leg in an IED attack.   This film beautifully portrays the struggle with reintegration following a deployment. (more…)

The award-winning GI Film Festival announced today that it has established a ground- breaking new partnership with The Military Channel, the nation’s only cable network dedicated to military programming, which will provide unprecedented exposure for films that honor American warriors. Beginning on November 12th, the Military Channel, which is currently available in more than 57 million homes, will begin featuring weekend blocks of the festival’s award-winning productions. (See opening weekend schedule below.)

Actor Kerri Turner attends the GI Film Festival

“This effort between the GI Film Festival and the Military Channel will be invaluable in putting the heroism and the sacrifice of the nation’s bravest men and women on full display for all of America to witness. This has been the Festival’s core mission from day one,” said GI Film Festival Chairman Stephen K. Bannon.

The G.I. Film Festival is the first and only film festival in the country dedicated to honoring the successes and sacrifices of American GIs. The festival’s documentary and narrative films showcase themes ranging from the courage and ingenuity on battlefields throughout history to the struggles of homelessness and post-traumatic stress on the home front.

The G.I. Film Festival block runs on Military Channel from 9-11 PM ET on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout November starting on Friday, November 12, the day after Veterans Day. (more…)

Fresh and innovative, Patrol Base Jaker  is a captivating retelling of the remarkable history of Afghanistan from the Russian invasion to the current U.S. counterinsurgency operation. Walk in the boots of the Marine combat and civil affairs teams in Helmand Province, Afghanistan as they fight to turn the tide against a resurgent Taliban and Al Qaeda. Travel to the front lines where U.S. Marines stand at a wicked intersection of war, radical Islam, international drug trade, reconstruction, and a counterinsurgency strategy designed to reestablish the rule of law in Afghanistan.

vimeo Patrol Base Jaker

—–

Did you ever hear Jimmy Carter sound like a war hawk? Neither had we. Until we saw Patrol Base Jaker. Seriously, check out the trailer and you won’t believe your ears. And this is no Michael Moore hatchet job either…piecing together sound bytes to create some sort of Franken-statement. It’s all authentic Jimmy.

But aside from the shockingly pro-military statements from Carter (and Obama, by the way) what we really loved about PBJ is the fact that it documents a tremendous US military success story in Afghanistan…the kind you’ll never find in the pages of the New York Times or on any of the so-called “mainstream” news networks. (more…)

From Baghdad to Beijing, Warrior Champions tells the emotional and inspiring story of a group of severely wounded American Soldiers, as they fight to turn nightmares of war into Olympic dreams. Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans Kortney Clemons, Scott Winkler, Melissa Stockwell, and Carlos Leon set out to do what many thought impossible; to compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

vimeo

—–

Though at times heart wrenching, Warrior Champions is not a sad tale of the tragedy of war, but rather an uplifting testament to the human spirit that challenges preconceived notions of what it means to be disabled.

There are really two types of wounded warrior films that people submit to the GI Film Festival. The first category exploits the experiences of injured veterans to make a political statement about war. (Perhaps the most obvious example of this category is a film we received in our first year- but did not screen – which splashed a running tally of dead and injured veterans from “Bush’s War” at the bottom of the screen. Others are a bit more subtle, but no less cynical.) The second category, while pulling no punches with respect to the brutal consequences of war, takes a different approach. These films focus on the inspirational stories of wounded warriors overcoming their disabilities to accomplish unbelievable feats. Warrior Champions exemplifies the very best in this latter category. (more…)

In the winter of 1950, 15,000 U.S. troops were surrounded and trapped by 120,000 Chinese soldiers in the frozen mountains of North Korea. Refusing surrender, the men fought 78 miles to freedom while saving the lives of 98,000 civilian refugees. Chosin is the first documentary on the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. The survivors take us on an emotional and heart-pounding journey through one of the most savage battles in American history. These accounts, combined with footage never before seen by most Americans, create a visceral, emotionally-charged experience unlike that provided by any other war documentary. The upcoming major motion picture “17 Days of Winter” is based on these real-life heroes.

vimeo

—–

With approximately 600 film submissions over the last four years, we’ve seen a lot of historical war documentaries come across our flat screen. A LOT. But within the first few moments of reviewing Chosin, we knew we had something completely different. And it had nothing to do with the technical aspects of the film, which were impressive by any standard. Or even the incredible story itself, which will soon be seen on the big screen in narrative form.

No, what is extraordinary about this film is the depth emotion expressed by these heroes and the strikingly graphic nature of their descriptions. It’s been over a month since we reviewed the film and I still can’t shake the image expressed by one of the heroes who said when he shot one of the Chinese invaders at close range, the man’s “blood burned my eyes.” In other words, this was not a group of vets swapping war stories around a campfire. This was a great unburdening. A cleansing. (Check out the trailer above and you’ll see what I mean.) (more…)

At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, September 26, 2009

On Saturday, September 26, 2009, award-winning actor Gary Sinise and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation will present the award-winning GI Film Festival at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library to screen the “Best of the Festival.”  The GI Film Festival is the first and only film festival in the nation that honors the successes and sacrifices of the American GI through the medium of film.  (Please visit www.gifilmfestival.com/losangeles for more information and to purchase your tickets.) 

Tickets are $25 per person and include access to all screenings for the day and free admission into the Reagan Library and Air Force One Pavilion.  VIP tickets are $40 per person and include all screenings and admission, as well as a special reception with Gary Sinise following the prime time screening. (more…)

Note: Part 1 of this 4 part interview can be found here and Part 2, here.

J.R. Head: Changing gears, (Executive Producer) Gary Sinise said of this film, “Brothers at War celebrates the courage and integrity of the American Soldier and the American military family.  It is also a film about a man’s love and respect for his two brothers and his dedication to telling their story.  A great film that I am proud to be a part of.”   That’s got to feel good, coming from someone of Gary’s caliber.

“Brothers at War” Director, Jake Rademacher:  Yeah, it was funny.  I was invited to screen “Brothers at War” in Iraq for General Petraeus’ public affairs folks and a number of our warriors stationed over there.  Upon viewing the film, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Loretta Vandenberg, extremely moved by “Brothers at War” said, “You need to get this to Gary Sinise.  He’s a big supporter of the troops, you need to get him to present this film.  Call him when you get back to Los Angeles.”  I was like, “okay… do you have his phone number?” (more…)

Brandon L. Millett has crunched the numbers and come up with a formula Hollywood doesn’t want to compute. Films featuring U.S. soldiers as the enemy don’t sell tickets. Period. So Millett decided to create the G.I. Film Festival, an annual event honoring movies that depict soldiers in a positive light.

The five-day festival, which kicks off its third year Wednesday (May 13) at the Carnegie Institution in Washington, D.C., just keeps growing as a result. This time around, the festival will feature 48 film screenings – up from 30 last year. “Brothers at War,” which won the festival’s prize last year for best documentary, got a theatrical distribution deal thanks to its festival appearance.

 
Stephen Baldwin, James McEachin, Brandon Millett, Gary Sinise – 2008 Festival

Oscar winner Robert Duvall will lend his star presence to the proceedings, along with Sen. Fred Thompson and Kelsey Grammer.

“We didn’t know how big it would get and how quickly it would grow. It took on a life of its own,” says Millett, Festival President. Millett pins the blame squarely on Gary Sinise, Hollywood’s hardest working actor on behalf of U.S. soldiers. (more…)

In 2004, coalition forces in Iraq launched Operation Phantom Fury, the battle for control of Fallujah. American troops battled through a city of enemy insurgents, fighting house to house and street to street to seize control of the most dangerous city in the world.

Narrated by Senator Fred D. Thompson, “Perfect Valor” is the story of the high price paid by US forces and the legacy of that campaign as seen through the eyes of the men and women who were there, risking their lives in service to their country.
 
We meet a Navy Cross recipient, recognized for extraordinary gallantry under fire during the assault on Fallujah. A true American hero still haunted by his experience in Iraq. We listen to the family of a fallen Marine as they tell the story of their sacrifice. We hear the harrowing tale of a battalion surgeon who risked his own life to move an aid station forward, into the middle of the fight – a decision that saved thirty lives. (more…)

We’ve all noticed that coverage of the war in Iraq has dropped off over the last year or so.  Ever since it became an incontrovertible truth that the Bush Surge worked, The New York Times and MSNBC seem to have decided that there wasn’t much worth covering anymore.   Clearly, editors sitting in glass towers in New York City believe that “stories” like Korans being flushed down a toilet sell far more magazines than non-fiction accounts of hope and change in Iraq stemming from the hard work of our armed forces.  Now that things are going better in Iraq and controversies are more difficult to create, it doesn’t merit the “coverage” it once did. 

This phenomenon, while unfortunate, is not the most egregious failure of the mainstream media in covering the war in Iraq.  Focused as they were for the last five years on finding (or inventing from whole cloth) reasons to blast President Bush for anything that happened in Iraq, the reporters tasked with covering the conflict missed some of the most incredible acts of courage and sacrifice that have ever been performed.  Four soldiers, sailors, and marines have posthumously been awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of courage performed in Iraq, but few of us could name one of them.  (more…)

“Seven Days in May” to Highlight 48 Films Honoring American GIs

 May 11-17, Washington, DC

Arlington, Virginia – GI Film Festival co-founders Brandon Millett and Major Laura Law-Millett announced today the line-up for the Third Annual festival showcasing the world’s best military films.  The festival will run from May 11-17, 2009 at the prestigious Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC and other DC area venues, including the Canadian Embassy and the Russell Senate Caucus Room.  The award-winning GI Film Festival is the first and only film festival in the nation dedicated to honoring American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines through the medium of film.  (See www.gifilmfestival.com for more information.) 

The GI Film Festival is not only the premiere film festival honoring America’s troops but also the most significant film festival in the greater Washington, DC metropolitan area.  Major corporate sponsors for 2009 festival include among others:  Target Corporation; TriWest Healthcare Alliance; America’s Huey 091 Foundation; Pence-Friedel Developers, Inc; USO International; MGM/UA; HBO, Inc.; American Military University, and Discovery Communications’ “The Military Channel.”  (more…)

Imagine being sent to the front lines in World War II.  Not to destroy the enemy, but to record the war with your pen and paint brush.  In Art in the Face of War, eight WWII veterans recount the experience of their lives as war recorders in a documentary directed by David Baugnon.   Ignoring their fear and shaking hands, these brave men embraced their skills and found the creativity needed to record an accurate portrayal of what was occurring overseas.

–

These war artists served in all theaters of operation and in all branches of the U.S. Military, including the once-secret Army division known as The Deception Corps. Their powerful imagery – some done on the spot, some done years later from haunting memories – will enlighten, challenge, even amuse, showing that war is hell but also that creativity can still exist, even in the face of utter destruction.  (more…)

When I was a kid, it was considered a huge insult to say “your mother wears combat boots!”  They even made a TV movie with the same title.  And who can forget the bumbling 1980’s Private Benjamin where Goldie Hawn’s character was initially more interested in shopping and make-up than conducting proper drill and ceremony.  These were my first images of women in the military. (Naively, I entered West Point thinking it was going to be more like summer camp and less like Full Metal Jacket). 

–

Fast forward 30 years post-Judy Benjamin.  Enter the age of Lioness.  In this gripping documentary, a female solider on foot patrol with the Marines in Iraq is caught up in a deadly firefight against enemy insurgents.  In another scene, a female soldier in full combat gear is searching house-to-house in enemy territory; patting down the Iraqi women looking for hidden weapons. (more…)

Far away from the war, in Portland, Maine there are people who think about the war every day. They get up every morning, not with the thought of having to pay their mortgages or the thought of far away adventures, but theirs is the thought of continued service to their country – to give back in some small measure.  Whether it is 3 am in the morning or 3 pm in the afternoon, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, these volunteers get up and go out to make a difference in the lives of our departing and returning soldiers.

They see the faces of those deploying to war and the faces of those returning from war every day. They count their numbers and pay their respects in smiles, handshakes and hugs. Who are these dedicated men and women? They are the volunteer troop greeters in Portland, Maine and the subject of an emotionally revealing documentary, The Way We Get By.

 
The Way We Get By follows three senior citizens, Bill Knight, Joan Gaudet, and Jerry Mundy as they battle with the critical issues common to the nation’s ever-growing aging population. Through their candid and moving stories, viewers are provided with a truthful look at what millions of Americans face each day: loss, heartache, and joy. We learn that you are never too old to serve and that it is never too late to give back to this country. (more…)

Whatever happened to military films where American GI’s are the good guys?  You know…the movies where our guys are actually wearing the white hats? 

You can find them at the GI Film Festival, which is held each May in Washington DC. The GI Film Festival is the first and only film festival in the country dedicated to the American military; for five days we bring Hollywood and the military together to screen movies that portray American GIs in a positive light.

The latest film to be announced in the GI Film Festival 2009 lineup, The Divided comes from Director Bennett Stein in his first feature debut.  Bennett was born in Paris to a CIA agent mom and an anti-Soviet, nuke-counting spy father.  When his parents returned stateside and began a publishing and production company, Bennett’s life changed forever and he knew he wanted to be in the entertainment industry.  Bennett began his career as a personal assistant to celebrated actor William Hurt.  After acting in over 25 plays and films, Bennett turned his sights to writing and directing. (more…)

Have you ever watched an Indiana Jones movie and said to yourself, “There is no way anyone could survive that!?”  Well guess what…you’re wrong.  Watch the movie “Injury Slight…Please Advise,” and you’ll see exactly what I mean.  

COL Charles Sullivan “Sully” had no movie magic to help him navigate when his plane crashed into the New Guinea jungle behind Japanese lines in September of 1943 during WWII.   Sully managed to survive the crash and survive the harsh jungle conditions for 30 days before finding an Allied Australian troop encampment. During his thirty-day jungle adventure, he encountered hostile natives whose initial welcome quickly turned into frustration and suspicion, causing Sully to flee for his life.  Searching for Allied help and scrounging for food and shelter; Sully’s fortitude and grit and pure determination to return to his young bride kept him alive during those harsh, grueling thirty days.  Being rescued should have been the end of Sully’s adventures however, even more calamities occur, from which Col Sullivan emerges with humor, dignity and with the spirit of a true American hero. (more…)

There are many Iraq War documentaries on the market, but few are as exciting and honest as “Triangle of Death,” directed by first time filmmaker Marine CPL Folleh Tamba.  Triangle of Death shares the story of the marines of Echo Company 3rd Platoon as they endured life changing experiences, fought a war, trained a nation’s army, endured daily mortar and sniper fire, and managed to survive a year in Iraq’s deadliest zone, the triangle of death. The marines of 2/24 worked together through these hardships to create the only outcome they could imagine in their world: Mission Accomplishment. (more…)

The buzz is getting out regarding Jake Rademacher’s “Brothers at War.”  It’s a great film with a good heart that shows the patriotic values of a true American family.  Brothers held it’s world premiere screening in May of last year at the 2008 GI Film Festival where it won Best Feature Documentary, and this month it hits theaters nationwide.  Brothers is one of many great pro-soldier, patriotic films that screen at the GI Film Festival — the first and only film festival in the nation which honors men and women in uniform.

The 2009 GI Film Festival, to held in Washington, DC 13-17 May 2009, has a fantastic line-up. (more…)