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Photo by Duane Mercier |
WASHINGTON-- The realities of serving in Iraq were a common theme in many of the films featured at the second annual GI Film Festival here last week.
The American Legion is a sponsor of the festival, which presented both classic and premier films from international and domestic filmmakers celebrating the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty.
“Every day, we Americans live our lives and pursue our dreams under the umbrella of protection provided by the men and women in the American Armed Forces,” said GI Film Festival President Brandon Millett. “The GI Film Festival is our opportunity to give something back to our soldiers who sacrifice everything they have so we may continue to live in freedom.”
The film “Brothers at War”, which premiered at the festival, won the award for best feature documentary. The director of the film, Jake Rademacher, is the brother of two U.S. Army soldiers. He documented his trips to the war zone, where he spent time with Capt. Joseph Rademacher.
“This is the film festival where I wanted to have the world premiere,” Jake said. “The award is quite an honor. The military is the audience I most intended it for.”
Actor Gary Sinise, a recipient of last year’s GI Film Festival Spirit Award, is a supporter of the festival and Rademacher’s film. “Regardless of the political atmosphere of any war, we should remember that our servicemembers are serving their country in harm’s way,” he said.
Military technical advisor and retired Marine Capt. Dale Dye, was also on hand. With credits that include “Saving Private Ryan,” “Band of Brothers,” and “Platoon,” Dye explained the difficulties of obtaining success in Tinseltown.
“Hollywood is a closed shop. You have to be in the ‘in-crowd,’” Dye said. “And it takes 20 or 30 years to get in the ‘in-crowd’ and by then you’re old. I was really upset about how our military was being treated in Hollywood. I wanted to fix it.”
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey, actor Robert Duvall, “Gods and Generals” director Ron Maxwell and actor Stephen Baldwin also attended the festival.
