The San Diego International Film Festival (Oct 4-8, 2017) produced each year by the San Diego Film Foundation is proud to announce the continued focus of the importance of San Diego as a Military town with their Military Film Track in the 2017 San Diego International Film Festival. The San Diego International Film Festival features topic specific tracks that present groundbreaking, independent films telling stories that resonate with San Diego patrons in a variety of areas. Other returning unique film tracks include American Indian, Environmental, and Social Justice with an additional new Equestrian Film Track.

Military Track film submissions are curated by the SDiFF staff and the Military Track Advisory Board. Some of the founding members of the Military Advisory Board include Wendy Anderson, former Deputy Chief of Staff to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chief of Staff to Ashton
B. Carter now Partner in Strong Eagle Media, David Salzberg, Managing Partner, Strong Eagle Media, Matthew Shillingburg, United States Army Retired, 2nd Vice Commander American Legion Post 416 and Erik Sabiston, Veteran Rescue Pilot and author of Dustoff 7-3: Saving Lives Under Fire in Afghanistan.

Executive and Artistic Director of the Festival, Tonya Mantooth shared, “Military plays a vital part in the San Diego Community and we are aware that there is a widening Military-Civilian Gap.
Telling the stories of these brave men and women will help create empathy and understanding of the challenges they face in reintegrating back into civilian life. Film brings brings people together for a much needed dialogue to help bridge this gap.”

David Salzberg, Director, Producer, and a Partner at Strong Eagle Media shared “Serving on the Military Advisory Board for the San Diego International Film Festival is very important to me. I immediately connected with leadership of the Festival after learning of the senior leadership’s Military service and passion for sharing those personal, often untold stories. Our company, Strong Eagle Media focuses on producing inspirational Military films – and I welcome the opportunity to help shepherd these stories into the San Diego community and beyond with the SDiFF.”

Erik Sabiston, veteran rescue pilot, author of the bestseller Dustoff 7-3: Saving Lives Under Fire in Afghanistan and member of the SDiFF’s Military Advisory Board shared “having witnessed the effect that military service has on the life of so many people I care about, I recognize the importance of sharing military stories on a platform that is accessible to everyone. Film provides a medium that gives the larger community the opportunity to see military service in a very personal way. I look forward to working with the San Diego International Film Festival to provide a filter that creates empathy and understanding in our community.”

The Films that have been chosen to be screened for the Military Track of the 2017 San Diego International Film Festival are as follows:

APACHE WARRIOR – WORLD PREMIERE
Sat, Oct 7 | 2:00pm | Regal UA Horton
APACHE WARRIOR is an eye-opening, feature-length documentary that puts the viewer in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter during some of the most intense moments in aviation history. Telling the story of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Calvary, this film highlights the evolution of Apache strategy in the Army through missions that span three decades.

HEART OF A SOLDIER SHORTS TRACK
Sun, Oct 8 | 11:00am | Regal UA Horton
Trauma of war doesn’t end when the guns stop firing. WORLD PREMIERE – CORPSMAN
ONE HALLOWEEN ORION
TANGO ON THE BALCONY WANDERING SOUL

LEGION OF BROTHERS
Sat, Oct 7 | 6:30pm | ArcLight UTC
Immediately after the 9/11 attacks, less than 100 US Troops were sent on a secret mission to overthrow the Taliban. What happens next is equal parts war origin story & cautionary tale, illuminating the impact of 15 years of constant combat.

A complete list of the 2017 Films to be screened at the San Diego International Film Festival can be found on the website www.sdfilmfest.com