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GI Film Festival San Diego reveals 2023 film lineup, May 15-20

SAN DIEGO – Organizers of the GI Film Festival San Diego announce this year's film lineup to screen at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park from May 15-20. The lineup features 31 films, including narrative shorts, full-length documentaries and student films.

Attendees will enjoy both local and international films, as well as world premieres, first-time filmmakers and female-directed films. GI Film Festival San Diego features a diverse lineup of films to bring together civilians, military allies and veterans to enjoy films for, by and about our service members.

Every year, the GI Film Festival San Diego tackles a range of challenging topics to help bridge the military-civilian divide and give festival goers a look into the lives of service members and veterans. In selecting the film lineup, festival organizers keep diversity and inclusion in mind to showcase an array of stories for a transformative cinema experience for attendees.

Not only are active duty military, veterans and their families invited to attend the festival, but also civilians, military friends and allies to build a community and better understand those who served. To view the list of films, go to https://gifilmfestivalsd.org/2023 /all-films/.

The stories featured in the GI Film Festival San Diego help attendees experience the power of storytelling that brings grandchildren closer to their grandparents, children closer to their parents, and gives anyone that knows or loves a veteran the chance to understand what they went through in and out of service.

This year's themes include military sexual trauma, suicide awareness, post-traumatic stress, invisible wounds and transitioning from military to civilian life. The festival will also bring true stories about San Diego heroes, World War II aviators and service dogs to the big screen.

Unique military experiences from the Ukrainian War, Civil War, as well as a story about a Black Vietnam War veteran's perspective will also be shared. Audiences can also watch fictionalized stories that place veterans, service members and current events at the center of the plotline, including exciting espionage adventures, a romantic western, and an apocalyptic zombie invasion.

Starting Monday, May 15, the five-day military-themed film festival will include screenings with invigorating panel discussions to follow, where attendees will have the opportunity to hear from filmmakers, film subjects, actors and subject-matter experts.

The festival week will conclude on Saturday, May 20 with the anticipated Awards Celebration where winners for Best Actor, Best Documentary Feature, Best First-Time Director and more will be announced. Stand-up comedian and army combat veteran Thom Tran will return as the host of this year's Awards Celebration.

"We look forward to once again bringing together filmmakers, film subjects, veterans and civilians all into one theater to celebrate filmmaking and our military," says Jodi Cilley, founder and president, Film Consortium San Diego. "Creative minds, military supporters, and movie lovers from around the world will make their way to San Diego to watch films that will inspire, excite and make audience members laugh, cry and believe in the power of authentic storytelling."

All are welcome to attend the GI Film Festival San Diego. The online box office opened March 9 where attendees can secure their tickets for individual screenings or multi-ticket packs to attend multiple screenings. Tickets for most screenings start at $10 each or $8 for military, veterans and KPBS members.

Guests will be asked to assess their health before attending and remain home if they are sick or test positive for COVID-19 or other infectious illness. Attendees, regardless of vaccination status, always have the option to wear a facial covering while attending events and screenings.

For up-to-date information on this year's film festival, how to attend and ways to get involved, visit https://gifilmfestivalsd.org/2023/. Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor of the GI Film Festival San Diego can contact [email protected].

 

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