GI Film Festival Opens Tonight and Runs Through May 24th at Angelika Film Center

GI Film Festival Opens Tonight through May 24th at Angelika Film Center

Giff15-Banner-Pinup

The GI Film Festival (GIFF) is back in town for the ninth year in a row.  It runs from May 18-May 24, 2015 with its primary location at the luxurious Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, Virginia.

What is the GI Film Festival? According to its website, “GIFF is a 501 c(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to sharing the military experience in and out of the arena of war. The festival is the first in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the service member through the medium of film.”

During the festival, there are panels with the filmmakers and actors, there is a filmmaking boot camp, receptions after the movie showings, a wounded warrior movie night, and a Casablanca themed party.

The GI Film Festival was co-founded by Laura Law-Millett and Brandon Millett to showcase the military authentically in films.  Laura is a West Point graduate and an Army veteran. Laura’s husband Brandon is a skilled public relations executive. Together they used their talents and background to create the GI Film Festival.

______

https://vimeo.com/125184186

Schedule:

On Tuesday, May 19, 2015, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

 Location: Embassy of Canada

International Film Block

Land of the Sun (CANADA) | Who’s Afraid of the Big Black Wolf (SLOVENIA) | Run (AUSTRALIA) | Unload (UK) | Remembering the Fallen (FRANCE)

 8:15 – 10:00 PM

Location: Embassy of Canada

EVENT: RECEPTION

______

On Wednesday, May 20, 7:00 – 12:00 AM

 Location: Angelika Film Center

SPECIAL EVENT: ONE NIGHT IN CASABLANCA

One-Night-in-Casablanca-Logo-and-Header-1200x525

Journey to Casablanca for a magical evening of French-Moroccan food, libations and film presented as part of the 9th Annual GI Film Festival and Co-hosted by Sips with Socialites. Help preserve the story of veterans to raise money for the GIFF and have a night of fun. Come dressed in your 1940s best.

9:30 – 11:30 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: VETERAN FILMMAKERS

It Happened on Exposition BLVD | They Came from the Ether

______

 On Thursday, May 21, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

Wounded Warrior Appreciation Night

Special Advance Screening of the film ‘Spy’ with Actress Linda Powell

Spy-web-250x350

_____

On Friday, May 22d at 7:00 pm:  Salute to Hollywood Patriots Event at Angelika Film Center at Mosaic.

10:00 – 11:30 AM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

Forgotten Angel of Bastogne

The-Forgotten-Angel-of-Bastogne-web

12:00 – 1:40 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

Beyond the Divide

 2:10 – 5:10 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILMMAKER BOOTCAMP

Finance and distribution workshop, featuring development and production executives from Discovery Communications, the parent company of Discovery Channel, American Heroes Channel, Velocity, and others. Also featuring guests from SAG-AFTRA, the Virginia Film Office and Jon Gann from DC Shorts.

 7:00 – 10:00 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

A SALUTE TO HOLLYWOOD PATRIOTS EVENT & SCREENING

A special Salute to Hollywood Patriots Event and the North American premiere of the BAFTA nominated film ‘Kajaki.”

Kajaki The True Story

42639

 10:30 – 12:30 AM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

Battle Scars

Battle-Scars-Web

______

 On Saturday, May 23 :

 10:00 – 12:00 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

______

SATURDAY MORNING SHORT BLOCK

Drone | Angels of Anbar | Breaking Through | Just Another Dance with My Father | Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Lifesavers

10:30 – 12:30 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: TRUE GRIT

Refusing to Quit and Embracing Adventure

C.O.B.A.L.T. | Snip | Tedesky | Apalachico | Nomadic Veterans

  12:30 – 2:30 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: RESOLUTIONS

Healing the emotional wounds of love and loss.

Home Range | Ostrichland | The Flag | Beautiful Sunset | Until it Hurts 

1:00 – 3:00 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

* details subject to change *

FILM BLOCK: GREATEST GENERATION

WW2 Films and Heroes

Frank Comes Home | Red Ball Express | Resurrecting War Birds |Cowboys

 3:10 – 5:20 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: SURVIVE AND THRIVE

Confronting Veteran Suicide

Sam | Project 22

3:30 – 5:00 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: NOT FORGOTTEN

Vietnam Veterans and MIAs

Never Forgotten | The Haircut |  Thank You for Your Service | The MIAs on Tiger Mountain 

5:30 – 7:15 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

War Pigs

War-Pigs-webFINAL2

8:00 – 10:00 PM
Location: Angelika Film Center
SPECIAL EVENT: ‘BEST OF FEST’ AWARDS SHOW AND FILM SCREENINGS

Join GIFF, the GIs of Comedy and other special Guests as we salute R. Lee Ermey, award winning films and screen some short films.

Climb | Last Viewing | Deeds Not Words | Birthday

10:00 – 12:30 AM

Location: Angelika Film Center

PARTY: ‘BEST OF FEST’ AFTER PARTY

Ready to party and celebrate with the filmmakers of the GI Film Festival? There will be dancing to the cool beats of DJ Rene, cocktails, wine, and beer. Enjoy a variety of beer and wine offerings from Budweiser and Barefoot Wine, and cocktails from Brown-Forman the makers of Jack Daniels and Finlandia Vodka. End the night with a cool swag bag. Don’t miss your chance to get discounted tickets early and attend one of the best parties in town- food, drinks and fun! Prices increase at the door. Space is limited so get your tickets today. 21 and over.

  10:30 – 12:30 AM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

Haebangchon

Haebangchon-web

______

On Sunday, May 24, 2015

10:30 – 12:30 AM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: DOSE OF REALITY

Confronting Perspective-Shattering Reality Of War

Cold Choices Soul Stealer Hollow Victory As You Were A Matter of Honor Soldiers Stories (3D)

10:30 – 12:30 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

Berga: Soldiers of Another War

12:30 – 2:30 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: AGAINST ALL ODDS

Displaying True Courage While Facing Long Odds

The Unstoppable Billy Greenwood Last Wishes Wars BetrayalFate’s Call

12:50 – 2:50 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: TRANSFORMATION

How the Experiences of War are Invariably Transformative

Marza Prisoner The Next Part Through the Dust Day One

3:00 – 5:15 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FEATURE FILM SCREENING

The Millionaire’s Unit

Millionaires_Unit_documentary_poster

3:30 – 5:20 PM

Location: Angelika Film Center

FILM BLOCK: ALTERNATIVE HEALING

Novel Approaches to Helping Veterans Transition Home

Rudy +Neal Go Fishing Doug’s Christmas Craft in America

Previous article‘Last of the Boys’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre
Next article‘Jumpers for Goalposts’ at The Studio Theatre
Marlene Hall
Marlene Hall grew up an army brat and has lived all over the world and in Washington, DC where she was constantly exposed to theater and music. Marlene graduated from the University of Virginia where she wrote for the Cavalier Daily interviewing musicians. Commissioned as an Air Force officer, she served 8 years. She now works as a realtor with eXp Realty. In addition, Marlene dabbles in improvisational comedy and has taken classes at the famed iO Theater in Chicago and the DC Improv. She is very active in the DC charity and social scene and contributes her time to veterans’ organizations Team Rubicon and Team Red, White, and Blue. She also was a supernumerary in the Washington National Opera’s Carmen with opera singer Denyce Graves. She loves the music and theater scene in DC and goes to as many concerts and shows as possible.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here