GI Film Festival San Diego Announces 2018 Award Nominees

With less than two weeks until opening night, organizers of the fourth annual GI Film Festival San Diego (Sept. 25-30, 2018) announce the titles nominated for this year's awards program. In addition to local films and filmmakers receiving honors, festival organizers will recognize national and international films and filmmakers, as GI Film Festival San Diego is the home base for the national GI Film Festival in 2018. Each film was selected through a competitive screening process and were eligible for an award nomination. The films are presented in various film blocks during the six-day military film festival. Full film descriptions, schedule and ticket information are below. The public can visit www.GIFilmFestivalSD.org to learn more, view trailers, and purchase ALL ACCESS Passes and screening tickets.

Category winners will be announced at the GI Film Festival San Diego's Awards Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Diego at Hazard Center. Some nominated films qualify for both national and local awards, as content features San Diego events, people, places, and filmmakers.

The following titles have received nominations for National Award recognition in the following categories:

• Best Narrative Short: Best narrative film under 60 minutes
• "American"
• "Brooklyn in July"
• "Popcorn & Chocolate"
• Best Documentary Short: Best documentary film under 60 minutes
• "The Last Signal"
• "The Registry"
• "The Weight of Honor"
• "We Are Not Done Yet"
• Best Documentary Feature: Best documentary film 60 MINUTES or more
• "Kilimanjaro Warriors: A Monumental Goal for Recovery"
• "Surviving Home"
• "When the Smoke Clears: A Story of Brotherhood, Resilience and Hope"
• Best Film Made By or Starring Veterans or Military: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) that features current military and/or veterans in key roles (Producer, Director, Writer, Lead Actor/Actress)
• "Let It Go"
• "Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero"
• "The Dark Resurgence"
• Best Student Film: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) by a student filmmaker
• "Coming Out to Grandma"
• "G.I. José"
• "The Flashback"
• Best First-Time Filmmaker: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) by a filmmaker in their directorial debut
• "From Baghdad to The Bay"
• "Major Capers: The Legend of Team Broadminded"
• "Trauma"
• "Unforgotten"

The following titles are nominees in the Local Film Showcase for GI Film Festival San Diego 2018. These nominees are all connected to San Diego in some way, such as the filmmaker's place of residence/production office, film subject, shooting/editing, historic event, or other meaningful tie in. Areas of residence or neighborhood where film was created are included if filmmakers provided this information by Sept. 4, 2018:

• Best Actor: Best performance by an actor; performer does not have to be a current military service member or veteran
• Paul Zelhart, "Coming Out to Grandma"
• Adam Gilroy, "Hotflakes"
• Ozzy Ramirez, "Let It Go"
• Justin Savage, "Satellite Drop"
• Christopher Szabo, "The Dark Resurgence"
• Best Actress: Best performance by an actress; performer does not have to be a current military service member or veteran
• Leaphy Khim, "Let It Go"
• Beth Gallagher, "Safe with Me"
• Kayla Sweet, "The Dark Resurgence"
• Best Narrative Short: Best narrative film under 60 minutes
• "Let It Go" (Carmel Valley)
• "Safe with Me" (Ocean Beach)
• "Satellite Drop" (San Diego)
• Best Documentary Short: Best documentary film under 60 minutes
• "Aircraft Carrier: Guardian of the Seas" (Balboa Park)
• "Heroes Dive" (Coronado)
• "Never Forget" (The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park)
• Best Film Made by or Starring Veterans or Military: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) that features current military and/or veterans in key roles (Producer, Director, Writer, Lead Actor/Actress)
• "Let It Go" (Carmel Valley)
• "Satellite Drop" (Ocean Beach)
• "Thud Pilots" (Rancho Bernardo)
• Best Student Film: Best film of any length or style (documentary or narrative) by a student filmmaker
• "Code of Honor: One Soldier's Stand for Equality" (Clairemont)
• "Coming Out to Grandma" (El Cajon / Platt College)
• "Hotflakes" (SDSU)
• "My Voice, My American" (Oceanside, Camp Pendleton, Stuart Mesa School)
• "The Dark Resurgence" (Clairemont)
• Local Choice Award: Best film where at least 60 percent of the cast, crew and locations were sourced from San Diego County or Imperial County
• "Major Capers: The Legend of Team Broadminded" (Del Mar / Camp Pendleton)
• "Never Forget" (The Veterans Museum at Balboa Park)
• "Safe with Me" (Ocean Beach)
• "Satellite Drop" (Ocean Beach)
• "The Dark Resurgence" (Clairemont)

About GI Film Festival San Diego

Established in 2015, the GI Film Festival San Diego aims to reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of service members and veterans through compelling and authentic storytelling. Documentaries, shorts, narratives, and family-friendly films are presented, highlighting stories of heroism, resilience, and honor. The festival also includes the Local Film Showcase, which features San Diego's filmmakers, events, people, or places. Panel discussions with filmmakers, actors, and documentary subjects are also part of GIFFSD. The festival also includes a family movie night, bringing military-connected and civilian families together for an evening of movie magic and community spirit.

The festival is organized by KPBS in partnership with the GI Film Group and Film Consortium San Diego. Official sponsors of the 2018 GI Film Festival San Diego include: Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling, The Super Dentists, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, BAE Systems, Lewis University, National City Mile of Cars, the San Diego Opera, Altus Schools, Bob Baker Subaru, and Miramar National Cemetery. Additional support is provided by Scatena Daniels Communications. The GI Film Festival San Diego is a proud member of the San Diego Veterans Coalition.

EVENT CALENDAR INFORMATION

GI Film Festival San Diego 2018

Tuesday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 30

Screening times vary.

Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park (for Sept. 25-28)

UltraStar Cinemas at Hazard Center (for Sept. 29-30)

All Access Passes and tickets available on GIFilmFestivalSD.org.

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