GI Film Festival San Diego returns for 10 years of military storytelling

This year s film festival lineup features films that showcase stories from WWII the Vietnam War Afghanistan and training in peacetime Themes also include deported veterans post-traumatic stress the impact of utility on families spouses and children as well as mental wellbeing Photo courtesy of Spark Photography and Arash Tebbi The largest military film festival in the U S will come back to San Diego this week to feature films over three days that explore military experiences across generations from WWII and Vietnam to Afghanistan The GI Film Festival festival showcases a diverse selection of films that highlight not only organization members and veterans but also helpers spouses and children The San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park will host the th annual festival May - The festival will also showcase unique works by function members beyond military-focused films including vampires LGBTQ stories and mental strength in the Pacific Islander group I m proud to say that we have built a strong area that celebrates authentic military storytelling and provides a space for utility members and veterans to share their experiences talents and love for filmmaking explained Film Consortium San Diego president Jodi Cilley Filmmakers actors documentary subjects and subject-matter experts host panel discussions after each screening Since the military-themed film festival has presented over films created by international U S and San Diego County filmmakers drawing in diverse audiences totaling more than guests The festival s stated mission is to bridge the military-civilian gap by creating greater awareness of what it means to serve This year s opening night film SHEEPDOG is a narrative feature that follows decorated army combat veteran Calvin Cole on his journey to trauma recovery The festival also includes a film about the Montford Point marines the first African American men to serve in the Marine Corps Of the films three are feature-length are shorts and five have a San Diego connection Seven films were made by or feature system members or veterans three are trainee films and five were directed by women There are also three returning filmmakers including Devin and Jeanne Scott who participated in the GI Film Festival San Diego in six previous years and Daniel Bernardi who participated in the festival The festival s online box office is now open at GIFilmFestivalSD org Tickets start at and for military and veterans with multi-ticket packs available