2013 GI Film Festival winner to go Hollywood

The award-winning GI Film Festival (GIFF), the nation’s only military-themed film festival, has announced that one of the filmmakers submitting an entry at the 7th annual festival in Washington in May 2013 will be awarded an associate producer role in an upcoming project by American Way Productions, about a U.S. veteran returning home from the war in Afghanistan. Based in Connecticut and California, American Way is one of the nation’s leading military, armed forces and family lifestyle film, television and digital entertainment-content providers for audiences worldwide.

"One very talented and lucky filmmaker will be selected, based upon his or her entry in the narrative feature category, to serve as an associate producer in a major motion picture production that will be filmed in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Connecticut and North Carolina," said Brandon Millett, co-founder of GIFF. "This is a great career opportunity for an upcoming entertainment industry professional to jump-start their career. We appreciate the opportunity that American Way Productions has provided to our film festival."

GIFF is open to filmmakers with all levels of experience, from first-timers to veteran directors and producers. Each submission must include at least one major armed forces character (real or fictitious) who is portrayed in a respectful manner. Prizes are awarded to winners in each of the main categories, which include feature and short narrative films, feature and short documentary films, and student films.

"The GI Film Festival has evolved into one of the most filmmaker-friendly events in the industry," said Laura Law-Millett, GIFF co-founder. "GI Film Festival filmmakers can connect with top industry professionals while also enjoying a week of unforgettable events in the nation’s capital, including our congressional reception, awards ceremonies, red carpet parties, celebrity meet-and-greets and our filmmaker boot camp."

The regular film submission deadline for the 2013 festival is Jan. 22, the extended deadline is Feb. 15, and the late deadline is March 1. There are submission discounts available for students and military veterans. There is no charge for active-duty military to submit a film. Details for submitting films can be found online by visiting www.gifilmfestival.com.

GIFF is a 501c(3) nonprofit educational organization and the only film festival in the nation to focus on preserving the stories of American veterans; it also holds a film festival during Veterans Day weekend each November in Hollywood, Calif. The American Legion supports the festival via resolution, and presented Millett and Law-Millett with the National Commander’s Public Relations Award at the Washington Conference in 2010.