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Veterans Turned Filmmakers To Bring Their War Stories To Film

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans To Premiere Documentaries Films They Produced and Directed for Film Fellowship, “Operation In Their Boots”

Los Angeles – In light of Veterans Day, five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans will premiere documentary films they produced and directed on the silver screen. This premiere is a unique opportunity for these Veterans to show the public how the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have impacted a new generation of young Veterans as they struggle to integrate to civilian life. These documentaries are a part of the film fellowship, “Operation In Their Boots.”

With the support of a team of professional filmmakers, a stipend and a production budget, these Veterans have produced individual projects driven by their wartime experiences and from perspectives rarely seen in cinema.

WHO:       Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

WHAT:     Five Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans will premiere documentary films they produced and directed.

WHERE: The Downtown Independent Theatre located at 251 S Main St. Los Angeles, CA 90012.

WHEN:     Tuesday, November 9^th

6 – 7pm Red Carpet Reception and Press Call

7pm Screenings

Screenings to be by a panel discussion with filmmakers

VISUALS: Red carpet entrance, interview with filmmakers will be made available between 6-7pm.

Background on films:

Kyle Hartnett (Afghanistan Veteran) examines what it’s like for Islamic-Americans to serve in the U.S. Military in an era where Islam is sometimes synonymous with terrorism.

Tristan Dyer (Iraq Veteran) through the use of stop-motion animation narrated by returning Veterans whose “self-medication” with drugs and alcohol spiraled out of control, and delves into the psyche of abuse and recovery.

Clint Van Winkle (Iraq Veteran) delves into a fellow Marine’s survivor’s guilt, and the toll it takes, as a result of a comrade’s death in Haidtha.

Chris Mandia (Iraq Veteran) explores the isolation that Veterans encounter when transitioning from the battlefield to college among peers who have not experienced war first hand.

Victor Manzano (Iraq an Afghanistan Veteran) chronicles the harrowing life of fellow Marine Rudy Reyes who survived child abuse and poverty to become a highly skilled Recognizant Marine and is now struggling with PTSD.

 IN THEIR BOOTS, now in its third year of production, is a documentary series about the impact the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are having on people here at home. These are told from a non-ideological, non-partisan perspective. In Their Boots is a production of Brave New Foundation. Each episode is available for free viewing online at www.intheirboots.com.

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