Soldiers, sailors, flyboys and Marines (my Uncle was a Marine, so I refuse to call them jarheads) have been featured in movies for as long as movies have existed. However, the portrayal of the men and women in the military has evolved from John Wayne-style simplistic jingoistic fervor to realistic, nuanced and complex portrayals of the real challenges they face. All of this is on display at the GI Film Festival May 11 - 16 here in DC.
Hollywood meets The Pentagon as military heroes and movie stars mix and mingle at an event unique to DC, and you have a chance to buy tickets and be part of the spectacle and buzz as Rick Schroeder, Glenn Close, Gary Sinise and more make a stop in the nation's capital. I'll even be hanging around and interviewing those at the festival, so keep watching DC50-TV and DC50TV.com for more!
The G.I. Film Festival kicks off on Tuesday, May 11, with the world premiere of Kiefer Sutherland in To End All Wars - a harrowing story of Allied POWs taken by the Japanese during World War II.
Wednesday, May 12, features the movie PAX - the story of a soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and a severe brain injury who returns home to be helped by a special dog trained to aid him in his recovery. The film is directed by Glenn Close, who will participate in a panel discussion about the movie and post traumatic stress disorder, which will be led by ABC's Bob Woodruff.
Gary Sinise lights up the festival on Thursday, May 13, with the debut of Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good - a documentary that follows Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band as they criss cross the globe entertaining those on the front lines and the families who support them on the homefront.
The evening climaxes with a special reception honoring those wounded in the line of duty.
Friday night, May 14, should also be known as Rick Schroeder Night as the star premieres his new television show, Starting Strong, where a new recruit gets to see what lies ahead of him or her, then makes a decision about joining the Army.
Later in the evening, Schroeder will be awarded the GI Spirit Award at an evening honoring those in Hollywood who have supported and promoted causes important to members of the military and their families.
The weekend is full of more movies and wraps up on Sunday evening, May 16, at the festival's awards ceremony.
If you can't make it to the festival, but want to help pay for hardworking soldier to have a day or more at the movies, you can make a donation here.
The G.I. Film Festival kicks off on Tuesday, May 11, with the world premiere of Kiefer Sutherland in To End All Wars - a harrowing story of Allied POWs taken by the Japanese during World War II.
Wednesday, May 12, features the movie PAX - the story of a soldier suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and a severe brain injury who returns home to be helped by a special dog trained to aid him in his recovery. The film is directed by Glenn Close, who will participate in a panel discussion about the movie and post traumatic stress disorder, which will be led by ABC's Bob Woodruff.
Gary Sinise lights up the festival on Thursday, May 13, with the debut of Lt. Dan Band: For the Common Good - a documentary that follows Sinise and his Lt. Dan Band as they criss cross the globe entertaining those on the front lines and the families who support them on the homefront.
The evening climaxes with a special reception honoring those wounded in the line of duty.
Friday night, May 14, should also be known as Rick Schroeder Night as the star premieres his new television show, Starting Strong, where a new recruit gets to see what lies ahead of him or her, then makes a decision about joining the Army.
Later in the evening, Schroeder will be awarded the GI Spirit Award at an evening honoring those in Hollywood who have supported and promoted causes important to members of the military and their families.
The weekend is full of more movies and wraps up on Sunday evening, May 16, at the festival's awards ceremony.
If you can't make it to the festival, but want to help pay for hardworking soldier to have a day or more at the movies, you can make a donation here.
