Silver Screen Salute
GI Film Festival celebrates the heroism of America’s warriors.
by Warren Duffie

Army Reserve Maj. Laura Law-Millett seethed with outrage.

The 18-year veteran had recently read a Los Angeles Times column criticizing American troops. In her opinion, it was just another way that U.S. men and women in uniform were being disrespected by some of the media and entertainment communities.

Take Hollywood, for example. Soldiers were often portrayed on-screen as thieves, cowards, murderers or drug addicts. Military leadership was derided as dishonorable, unscrupulous and cold-hearted. To Law-Millett, it seemed like an eternity since heroic films such as “The Longest Day,” “Patton,” and “Tora, Tora, Tora.” Sure, recent years had produced “Saving Private Ryan” and “Top Gun” – perhaps the greatest recruitment tool the military has seen – but such positive movies seemed few and far between.

Hoping to shatter the negative perceptions of the Armed Forces, Law-Millett and her husband, Brandon, began to search for film festivals honoring military personnel, hoping to promote and popularize such venues. But they soon realized no such festivals existed. So they started the GI Film Festival in 2007.

“We’re living in a time of war,” said Brandon Millett. “It’s vitally important that we lift up the heroes who are entrusted with our protection. There are 2,000 film festivals willing to screen movies that denigrate American warriors. Why not have one that’s specifically dedicated to honoring American warriors?”

In just three short years, the GI Film Festival has emerged as the nation’s most significant stage for the screening of military films. Its mission is to showcase the life of the American warrior from a variety of perspectives – from those in the chaotic arena of war to wounded veterans struggling to overcome their disabilities to spouses waiting for their loved ones to return. This year’s event was held May 13-17 – Armed Forces Week – at Washington, D.C.’s Carnegie Institute for Science.

A Star-Studded Affair
Like any film festival, there were glittering parties and screenings featuring celebrities and power brokers. There was the red carpet premiere of “Perfect Valor,” narrated by former senator and actor Fred Thompson (“Law & Order”). Another night featured the launch party of the new USO magazine On Patrol, followed by a screening of the HBO hit movie “Taking Chance,” starring Kevin Bacon.

A reception honoring military veterans in Congress held in the elegant Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Building had the buzz and energy of a Hollywood meet-and-greet. However, instead of the latest designer suits, many of the attendees wore the uniforms of the Armed Forces and law enforcement.

Kelsey Grammer, star of “Cheers” and “Frasier,” was in attendance.

“I was approached about getting involved with this festival a couple of years ago,” Grammer told G.I. Jobs. “I wanted to do what I could to support the men and women in uniform. During my meetings with our troops, I’m always struck by their courage, willingness to sacrifice, optimism, and sense of duty. It’s an honor for me to pay tribute to them.”

Former presidential candidate Sen. John McCain also spoke. He joked that Grammer was the only person who voted for him in Hollywood – and that his experience as a POW was nothing special because “no talent was required to get your airplane shot down.”

The former Navy pilot also reflected on his own homecoming from Vietnam. “In the war I fought, it’s unfortunate that our warriors were not welcomed back with open arms. It took a lot of time for some Vietnam veterans to ‘come home’ completely. Today, it’s gratifying to see so many Americans steadfast in their support for our military heroes.”

Red Carpet Goes Camo
While the mission of the film festival is serious, it is, after all, a celebration of movies. Few things can unite Americans across the political and cultural divides like the silver screen. And this year’s festival featured some gems.

“The great thing about our festival is the diversity of films we present,” Brandon Millett said. “If you sit through our entire slate of films, you’ll experience every conceivable human emotion. We’ve got the shocking combat films, the patriotic tearjerkers, the popcorn action films, the historical films.”

The diversity and quality of the movies shown at the GI Film Festival aren’t just appreciated by military veterans and enthusiasts. Hollywood has noticed as well. The 2007 GI Film Festival premiere, “Operation Homecoming,” was a finalist for an Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary. Last year’s Best Feature Documentary, “Brothers at War,” earned a theatrical distribution deal from the prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Films. Another award-winning offering from 2008, “The Last 600 Meters,” will release in theaters and air on PBS in 2010.

The Future
The Milletts never expected their idea to break so big. When they first started, they had to rely on contacts and their own professional expertise. Laura Law-Millett is a West Point graduate and served on active duty and with the Army Reserve. Brandon Millett had more than a decade of experience in media relations, public relations, fundraising and business development. The couple worked their networks, called in favors and pitched their hearts out.

In 2007, the festival received 85 film submissions, screening 22. Most of the sponsors were military organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. This year, the festival received more than 200 films and screened 48. Sponsors now include Target, HBO, 20th Century Fox, American Airlines, Coors Light, and Miller.

This year’s GI Film Festival saw 4,500 attendees. Now that it’s the most significant venue for screening military films, the co-founding couple is thinking bigger. They want to hold year-round screenings in addition to their main festival week.

But perhaps the greatest reward is the response from the most important audience: the military.

“They are thanking us for telling the stories that the media has yet to tell,” said Laura Law-Millett. “Vietnam veterans seem to be the most touched by the festival, and some of them use the event as a reunion and a time to reconcile their emotions. One Vietnam veteran cried after seeing a film. He said it was the first time he cried in 30 years, because he felt that he was finally seeing a movie that

understood what he went through. We never expected that the GI Film Festival would become the healing grounds for so many people.”

The 2009 festival award winners included:

Best Short Short: “Looking Back” – Directed by Emile Bokaer. A veteran struggles with addiction and the memories of war, using photography to help himself survive within a supportive community of homeless veterans.

Best First Time Filmmaker: “The Inheritance of War” – Directed by Ashley Karras. A little-known tale of thousands of World War II POWs held in the Philippines and forced to work as slave laborers for Japanese companies.

Best Narrative Short: “Witt’s Daughter” – Directed by Carole Holliday. The story of a young man driven by expectations and love for his family as he returns from the Korean War, only to find himself coldly rejected by his 3-year-old daughter.

Best Narrative Feature: “Everyman’s War” – Directed by Thad Smith. The true story of a Soldier’s heroic efforts to save his comrades during the Battle of the Bulge.

Best Documentary Short: “A Touch of Home” – Directed by Cheryl Fries. A tribute to the courage of the Red Cross girls during the Vietnam War.

Documentary Feature Runner-up Award: “Bedford: The Town They Left Behind” – Directed by Joe Fab and Elliott Berlin. The town of Bedford, Va., lost more Soldiers on D-Day per capita than any other American town. Now, for the first time since World War II, that same National Guard unit has been called into action.

Best Military Family Film Award: “Lioness” – Directed by Daria Sommers and Meg McLagan. The story of the first group of women Soldiers in U.S. history to be sent into direct ground combat.

Best Feature Documentary: “Perfect Valor” – Directed by David Taylor, produced by David Bossie and Citizens United. Narrated by Fred Thompson. The story of Operation Phantom Fury, the battle for control of Fallujah in Iraq, as seen through the eyes of the men and women who were there.

Best Student Film: “Kapisa” – Directed by Kyle Hausman-Stokes and Paul Sage. In Afghanistan, members of a small team of Army Soldiers are forced to choose between promises made to one another and pledges made to loved ones back home.

Founder’s Choice Award: “Triangle of Death” – Directed by Marine Cpl. Folleh Tamba. An active duty Marine rifleman leads viewers on a film journey through one of Iraq’s deadliest regions, known as the “Triangle of Death.”