WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - April 4, 2011) - The film line up was announced today for the Fifth Annual GI Film Festival (www.gifilmfestival.com), the nation's only film festival dedicated to celebrating the stories of our nation's armed forces. The festival, taking place May 9-15 in Washington, DC, will feature 31 film premieres celebrating our country's servicemen and women.
Emmy award winning actor William Devane (known for "Knot's Landing," "The West Wing" and "Missiles of October") stars in "Flag of My Father" and will attend the screening taking place on Friday, May 13th at the Navy Memorial Theater. "Flag of My Father" is directed by Rodney Ray, who has two films showing in this year's festival. Emmy and Golden Globe winner and Oscar Nominee Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump") will serve as the keynote speaker at a Congressional reception on Wednesday, May 11 at the Capitol Visitor's Center.
Film topics featured during the festival include the 60th Anniversary of the Korean War, the War in Afghanistan, World War II, Vietnam, and issues facing military families and returning GIs. The festival will also host an international block of films from Denmark, Holland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada at the Canadian Embassy and will debut a revolutionary interactive film technology that allows the audience to participate in how the movie plot unfolds.
The week-long festival, held during Armed Forces Appreciation Month, will bring Hollywood and the military together to create a venue for artists to tell the story of the American soldier, both past and present. The festival will also include seminars and nightly events, including a "launch party," Congressional reception, Wounded Warrior Appreciation Night, A Salute to Hollywood Patriots, a Hollywood premier screening, a "Best of the GI Film Festival" awards ceremony, and a Filmmaker Boot Camp hosted by GI Film Festival Chairman and award-winning filmmaker Stephen K. Bannon.
In 2010, the GI Film Festival (GIFF) was the recipient of the 'American Legion's National Commander's Public Relations Award,' previously presented to Tom Brokaw, Tim Russert, Lou Dobbs and Jack Valenti.
About the GI Film Festival
The GI Film Festival, a 501(c)3 non-profit public education foundation, is the first and only film festival in the nation dedicated to the American Armed Forces. Co-founded by Brandon Millett and Laura Law-Millett, the festival's mission is to honor the successes and sacrifices of American GIs through the medium of film.
Visit www.gifilmfestival.com for more information.
Contact Information:
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Kelley Grace
561/702-7471
Elizabeth@thebuzzagency.net
or
Julie Mullen Kaminski
561/779-2516
Julie@thebuzzagency.net