Next week’s GI Film Fest depicts realities of military, veteran life

by Drew Sitton

The biggest military film festival in the United States is returning to Balboa Park from May 6-11 for a lineup of 21 films for, by, and about veterans and service members. For San Diego’s large military and veteran population, the film fest is a way to educate the community about their real experiences.

keshia — Keshia Javis-Jones, who works in veteran services, originally got involved in the GI Film Fest after “seeing filmmakers make films just about the military, and not from a Hollywood perspective, but the actual struggles, the actual sacrifices, and then even throwing in the good times.” (Photo courtesy Arash Tebbi)

“It’s really the only time you’ll see films accurately feature veterans and actually hear the stories throughout all ages,” said Marine Corps veteran Keshia Javis-Jones, an advisory committee member of the GI Film Festival.

Veterans are not known for openly sharing about the struggles they face. The films can be a bridge between veterans and civilians, opening up fresh discussions with the 100,000 active duty service members and the 240,000 veterans in the county.

“It’s really about understanding the community that we all live in,” said Javis-Jones, who works for the Foundation for Women Warriors.

Audience members should not expect Hollywood action flicks. Instead, the documentaries and feature films, of varying lengths, deal with the reality of the U.S. military experience throughout history. Even animated movies and comedies are part of the schedule, including “Peanut Butter Shot,” a hilarious short riddled with military jargon about a person asking someone of the same sex out over a penicillin shot. Javis-Jones said it will be a break for laughter amid some of the serious topics other films deal with, such as survivor’s guilt, homelessness, post-traumatic stress, and transitioning back to civilian life.

rugger productions — From World War II to the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, the films are about many eras of the military. (Photo courtesy Arash Tebbi)

“What I enjoy the most about the GI Film Festival is the variety of films that we get to feature and be able to share with the community at large,” she said.

The films are diverse in the experiences and time periods they showcase. One of the most recent events, examined in “Interpreters Wanted,” were efforts to rescue local interpreters from the Taliban after the U.S.’s rushed withdrawal from Afghanistan. Other films stretch back to World War II, including “Black Uniform,” which traces the experiences of Black service members from segregated forces in WWII to new approaches to diversity in the present day through personal interviews with veterans. Four of this year’s films deal with LGBTQ+ topics.

“You must understand the full sacrifice of being in uniform in order to really value the service of those who are in the community,” Javis-Jones said. She is now an out-lesbian married to a fellow veteran she met while serving. “I served during the time of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and that was a hard time for those that at that young age are trying to explore who they are in the uniform when you’re not able to express who you are.”

audience — The GI Film Fest can be a bridge between San Diego’s military and civilian populations by building understanding through film. (Photo courtesy Arash Tebbi)

The festival begins on May 6 with a sold-out showing of the world premiere of documentary “Make Peace or Die” directed by Manny Marquez followed by a reception and post-screening discussion with the filmmaker and film subject. Tickets are still available for the awards celebration on Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. hosted by comedian and Army combat veteran Thom Tran.

All film screenings will be held at the Museum of Photographic Arts by the San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA @ SDMA) inside Balboa Park. General admission for most showings is $10; military and veterans pay $8. For more information, visit gifilmfestivalsd.org.

(Top photo courtesy Spark Photography)