Hi everyone!

GI Film Festival San Diego (GIFFSD) is now accepting submissions until January 20 for its rescheduled festival running May 18-23, 2021. Additionally, aspiring and veteran filmmakers can get tips from festival-screened directors at a virtual event hosted by GIFFSD on January 14, 2021 at 1pm. At “Get to Know the GI Film Festival San Diego: Film Screenings, Filmmakers, and How-To's,” attendees will learn how to submit to GIFFSD, gain tips on submitting to a virtual film festival during a pandemic, and discuss why it’s so important for filmmakers to keep submitting to festivals right now.

While GIFFSD is dedicated to showcasing stories about military service members, veterans and their families, filmmakers do not have to be active duty military or veterans—civilians, especially those who have never submitted to GIFFSD, are welcomed and encouraged to do so. Festival organizers are looking for film submissions that reflect and amplify the diverse experiences of U.S. military and veterans, including stories by or about people of different ethnicities, races, genders, economic backgrounds, and those who identify LGBTQIA+. These perspectives play an important role in U.S. military history and culture, and are too often untold.

To be selected for the 2021 GI Film Festival San Diego, films must have been completed after January 1, 2018 and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• A storyline or narrative arc that is about the military experience, past or current day, USA or international, during service or back home after service.
• A film of any genre, military-themed or not, featuring above the line talent who is currently serving or has served in the U.S. military. Above the line talent includes: director, writer, producer and/or principal actor/actress.

Hope to see some of you there! More info about the event here: Get to Know the GI Film Festival San Diego: Film Screenings, Filmmakers, and How-To’s

This is great. Thank you for the info! You can post this as an event: https://studentfilmmakers.network/events

Awesome, will do! 

Hey there Sarah! Thank you for posting about this on our forums! 

I am looking forward to seeing the submissions to the festival, the subject is very  touching!

I am always happy to see projects that feature veterans. The sacrifices they made for us to live peaceful and happy lives are worthy of our deepest respects.

Thanks, everyone. Please spread the word about GIFFSD to your networks, if you can. They really want new voices to submit this year! Remember, you do NOT have to be an active-duty military member or veteran, or even military-affiliated at all to submit. The story just needs to focus on a military member/veteran, or issues relevant to them, or feature a military member/veteran in a primary role. Check out some past submissions for examples: https://gifilmfestivalsd.org/2020/gi-film-festival-san-diego-2019-award-winners/

I hope that you guys get new voices! Your film festival theme is wonderful.