The ninth annual GI Film Festival was the largest to date, with more than 60 films playing on two screens. We were honored to be joined by Gary Sinise, Linda Powell, Montel Williams, R. Lee Ermey, the GIs of […]
So far we’ve screened Doolittle’s Raiders: A Final Toast with special guest Air Force Lt. Col. Richard Cole, one of the surviving Doolittle Raiders. At 99 years old, he was ready to party all night. Other guests, included Rep […]
The GI Film festival is honored to be awarding this year’s Veterans in Entertainment Award to talk show host, actor, and former Marine, Montel Williams. Previous recipients include actors Adam Driver (U.S Marine Corps.), Mark Valley (U.S. Army), and Jon […]
Matthew Edwards worked in the VFX Industry for five years at Industrial Light and Magic before returning to school to study directing at USC. Prisoner is his master’s thesis film. He is also an award winning cinematographer. His work has […]
Born in a small Texas town, Trevin graduated USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He is a Film Independent Fellow in Directing and Screenwriting. His feature film scriptThings We’ve Made was a finalist for IFP’s Emerging Narrative Program. His music video The […]
Driven. Passionate. Multifaceted. Relentlessly pushing boundaries. Karen Weza is a force to be reckoned with. As an actress, she is known to take direction very well, which transmutes when she wears her Director’s hat. With all of Karen’s projects […]
Alexis Garcia is a Los Angeles based writer, director and producer. The Miami native is an alumni of Middlebury College and the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s Writing Fellowship. She assisted Emmy nominated director Millicent Shelton on TV shows including […]
Jarrod Flood’s film, Through the Dust, is playing at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I was born in Massachusetts, however I’ve lived in many places that I’ve called home. It […]
Peter Carruthers is an actor and producer, known for Unload (2015), 50 Kisses (2014) and Fallout (2012). (IMDB) His film, Unload, is playing at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I’m from […]
Abigail Sharon has been telling stories her whole life and thinks of herself as fortunate to make a living doing just that. her work over the past fifteen years- including an Emmy Award winning program- includes a national commercial campaign, National […]
The 2015 GI Film Festival includes a brand new category: Narrative Film. The competition will be judged by Naresh Malik, a 15-year veteran of the entertainment industry. Malik is the CEO at Zonzia Media Inc, a new over-the-top ( […]
The GI Film Festival’s mission is to celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the service member through the medium of film, and we want to make sure those celebrated are able to join us. If you are active military, […]
Calvin Steinken’s film, Doug’s Christmas, is playing at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I am from Chicago and my film background began at Purdue University where I studied broadcast and video […]
Thomas Torrey is Vice President/Writer-Director of Original Movies at INSP, a family entertainment television network available to more than 80 million households across the U.S. In this position, Torrey writes and produces feature films for theatrical and television release. […]
Doc King served as a US Army Scout Medic while deployed to Ramadi, Iraq from 2004 to 2005. During his three year enlistment, Doc worked as a Trauma Team Leader in the Madigan Army Medical Center and reached the […]
Elvis Leon is a producer and actor, known for Angels of Anbar (2014), Full Service (2014) and South Platte. His film, Angels of Anbar, is playing at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is […]
John Francis began his career as an editor of broadcast television promos and one man band producer of marketing videos. After his short documentary, “The Creation of Torrit Smoke” garnered awards from festivals, and feeling burnt out by the […]
Thousands voted in our March Military Character Madness competition and R. Lee Ermey was the champion! Help us salute the legendary actor on Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the Angelika Film Center for being this year’s Memorable Military Movie Character winner! As […]
On Saturday, May 23, GI Film Festival attendees will be treated to entertainment from special guests, the GIs of Comedy, a stand up comedy tour featuring US military combat veterans of the United States Army and Air Force. Created […]
Michael Shipman is a former Army combat cameraman and a 2014 graduate of American University’s Master of Fine Arts program in Film and Electronic Media. Michael is currently continuing his federal service producing educational video content for the American […]
David McCrackenis a director, writer, producer, and actor with a long and varied career in filmmaking and writing. He most recently earned his MFA in Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. He also has […]
Jan Selby is an award-winning independent director/producer and owner of Quiet Island Films, a film and video production company located in Saint Paul, Minnesota (USA). Jan’s first film as director/producer was A CIRCLE AND THREE LINES (2009), a short […]
Peter Haig is an aspiring filmmaker based in New York, New York. After spending time in law school Peter decided his passion resides in writing and storytelling. Through the vehicle film, Peter has found an outlet to capture unique […]
James Williams III’s film, Haebangchon, will be at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I am originally from Mt. Rainier, Maryland and have studied film at Howard and National Universities. […]
Director and co-star Step Rowe has been credited as an actor, casting associate, acting coach, writer, and associate producer of projects in and around Central Texas. She has previously directed two music video shorts for non-profit youth organizations. “Tedesky” […]
Born and raised in Hollywood, California, Allan Smith has been in the heart of the film industry for over 30 years. Beginning at age 6 performing in Armor Hot dogs commercials, to appearances in the feature film’s “Chinatown”, “The […]
Nick Jones Jr. served in the United States Marine Corps before leaving to pursue a career in the film industry. He started his career as an actor. Before long he was itching to create the worlds he helped bring […]
Thank you to SAIC for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. SAIC is a leading technology integrator providing full life-cycle services and solutions in the technical, engineering, and enterprise IT markets.
David Bogard’s film, A Matter of Honor, will be at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I live in Maumelle, Arkansas. I am a retired Circuit Court Judge. I had […]
Scott Thomson has been on a stage since the age of 12, when he wrote and directed his first play. After studying theater at Colorado State, his professional life has consisted of theatrical roles and years of improv and […]
Eric Rippetoe’s film, Snip, will be at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I’ve lived in in Northwest Louisiana (Shreveport/Bossier Area) for the last 10 years after getting stationed at […]
David Good’ film, Run, will be at the 2015 GI Film Festival. Where are you from and what is your film background? I’m from rural NSW, Australia. I work as an animator in film. Previous work includes Ted, After […]
Danny Buday wrote and directed Battle Scars. Previously, Danny wrote and directed 5 Star Day, starring Cam Gigandet and Jena Malone. 5-Star Day won the Jury Award for Best Feature at the Stony Brook Film Festival and was honored […]
Thank you to Capitol File for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. THE TALK OF THE NATION’S CAPITAL CAPITOL FILE magazine shines a light on the complexities of our nation’s capital by delivering compelling, topical features and insightful columns […]
Christian D’Andrea likes to tell American stories that sing the unsung, with a special focus on the inspirational characters that might get left behind or forgotten by the mainstream. In order to find them, D’Andrea practices the lost art […]
Thank you to TriWest Healthcare Alliance for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. Since our founding in 1996, TriWest Healthcare Alliance has been On a Mission to Serve® our nation’s Veterans and military community. For 17 years, we administered the […]
Ron Newcomb has had an interesting road to get to him where he is today. He went from the Marine Corps, to being a Police Officer, to a start-up and then on to filmmaking. None of this would have […]
Thank you to WTOP for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. WTOP is an all-news formatted broadcast radio station serving the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
John Duffy is a veteran Producer / Line Producer of numerous feature films, television and commercials. John recently directed and line produced two short films “The Flag” and “The Flag Documentary”. The narrative short has been accepted by the GI Film […]
Michael Edwards has 18 years’ experience in producing and directing documentaries and corporate media around the world. He has won nine EMMY Awards, four ADDY Awards, and two TELLY Awards. His company has won 15 EMMY awards for their work. […]
Thank you to Geico for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. From the day Geico opened its doors in 1936, the men and women serving our country have filled a special place among our GEICO policyholders. Staffed with veterans from all […]
Born in Watsonville, California, Andrew spent his teen years in Northern Idaho. A devoted fan of director Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon (1950), he auditioned for a stage production at the local community college at age 16, landing the role of the […]
Thank you to Concerned Veterans for America for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. The mission of Concerned Veterans for America is to advocate for policies that will preserve the freedom and liberty that we and our families so proudly […]
Augustus Bernstein was born and raised in Los Angeles. He majored in Cinema Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. He is 22 years old. “The Unstoppable Billy Greenwood” is his directorial debut. Bernstein’s film, The Unstoppable Billy Greenwood, will be […]
A Marine combat-veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, Regan A. Young painstakingly produced ‘Marza’ on an independent budget and expedited timeline to humbly commemorate and forever remember two of many innocent lives lost in the wake of war. Young’s film, […]
Thank you to the Military Times for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. MilitaryTimes.com is a one-stop online source for breaking news; personal finance information; healthcare; recreational resources; exclusive videos and photos; Guard and Reserve information; and an expanded […]
Melissa Flagg is an independent filmmaker and artist, who has written, directed and produced short films, and has collaborated on over a dozen multi-disciplinary performance productions, and installations. Melissa has worked as a director, writer, and cinematographer on a […]
D.C. area press were treated to a sneak preview of the ninth annual GI Film Festival this week at the Motion Picture Association of America. “Ten years ago, we walked into this building with an idea for a film festival […]
Thank you to USAA for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. USAA’s mission is to facilitate the financial security of its members, associates, and their families through provision of a full range of highly competitive financial products and services; […]
Shawn Spitler began making movies at the age of 15. He would later join the Marine Corps at age 22, serving as a combat photographer and videographer for five years. In 2010, after separating from the Marines, he attended […]
Filmmakers Ron King and Darroch Greer met in college at Carnegie-Mellon University in 1977 in the Fine Arts Department. Both were raised in California, lived in Manhattan as young adults, and moved to Los Angeles to work in the film […]
Thank you to WMAL for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. WMAL is Washington’s oldest station to be operating under its original call letters and is the D.C. area’s leading news and talk radio station.
Ivan Kander is an award winning writer, director, and editor of several short films that have screened at festivals across the country. His short documentary, Survive. Recover. Live., was the 2012 recipient of the Sgt. William Genaust Award for documentary excellence from the […]
Thank you to the Pentagon Federal Credit Union for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. Pentagon Federal Credit Union is one of the strongest and safest financial institutions with more than $16 Billion in assets. We offer mortgages, credit cards, […]
Mr. Weingrod has been a working screenwriter and producer for over twenty years. His credits include Trading Places, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Brewster’s Millions, Falling Down, Space Jam, Pure Luck and The Final Season. To date feature film projects bearing […]
Henry Hughes grew up as an army brat who spent his childhood both in the US and Europe. He studied film at and received his BS in Communications from Boston University. He spent the following five years as a paratrooper […]
Thank you to the Gary Sinise Foundation for sponsoring this year’s GI Film Festival. The Gary Sinise Foundation serves our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. They do this by creating and […]
The Military Movie Character Madness contest is down to four! Lt Dan is up against Gunny in round one, and Rambo takes on Nathan Jessup in round two. Who will go onto the championship matchup on Monday, April 6? That’s for you to […]
Thank you to the American Heroes Channel for sponsoring the 2015 GI Film Festival. American Heroes Channel is the only network dedicated to the timeless stories in which a challenge appears – be it a situation or a villain […]
Chris King is a multiple award winning filmmaker and three-time NorCal Emmy nominated television writer/producer. After receiving his B.A. in film from California State University Long Beach, he worked at Sony Pictures Entertainment as a promotions and game show […]
The best part of my year is notifying filmmakers that their film was accepted into the GI Film Festival. The worst part of my year is notifying filmmakers that their film was not accepted into the film festival. How […]
We have secured a special rate at the Hyatt House in Falls Church for attendees of the 2015 GI Film Festival. The hotel is conveniently located a short walk from Angelika Film Center, where this year’s film festival will take place, […]
SSG Robert A. Ham was the 2009, 2012 and 2013 DOD Military Videographer of the Year and has won two Emmys and nominated for two more for his work. Robert is attending the University of Southern California, School of Cinematic […]
The nominations are in! Now it’s your turn to decide who wins the Military Movie Character March Madness showdown. Will it be Independence Day’s Steve Hiler, Full Metal Jacket’s Gny. Sgt. Hartman or Alien’s Ellen Ripley? Join the GI Film […]
After nine years of running a festival, we have heard almost every excuse in the book as to why a film missed a deadline to submit to the festival. Each year, the submission window is open for at least […]
Festival season is in full swing and that means a new round of interns. Find out more about the newest additions to our communications team. Quintina Barnett Gallion Quintina or “Q” is the newest intern member of the Communications […]
The GI Film Festival is making it’s 9th year debut at the beautiful Mosaic in Fairfax, VA. The updated area located near 495 and route 50 intersection is managed by EDENS and has been updated from its dreary past of an […]
By Carizza Rosales The most awaited, start studded night, filled with celebrities from entertainment industry is the Academy Awards. Not only is it a time to celebrate a year of high-quality entertainment, but it also recognizes the efforts of actors […]
by Carizza Gutierrez Have you ever fallen in love? Imagine loving someone who’s a thousand of miles away from you with no assurance of coming back, or someone whose life is placed on the front lines of battle. Would you […]
What an exciting way to start the day! DC Modern Luxury Magazine, a publication known for highlighting, art, food, philanthropy and the best social scenes within Washington DC just named the GI Film Festival a top five film festival […]
It is only by the soldiers holding on tightly to the warmest pieces of humanity that when they experience the worst of human nature, they may still wish to return it.
