'Landing Home'

Making its return to the big screen is the GI Film Festival San Diego, a multi-day military-themed event dedicated to presenting films and events for, by and about military and veterans.

San Diego Premiere:
“Landing Home” is a film that takes the audience into the mind of a combat soldier and pulls back the curtain of the lasting damage war has to our veterans and their families. Returning home for men and women in uniform can represent only the beginning of a different kind of war. Luke, an army combat veteran who served in Afghanistan, decides to leave the military and come home to be with his family. He soon realizes that this is much harder than he ever imagined. Something as simple as a birthday party for his five-year-old daughter can quickly become overwhelming and trigger his post-traumatic stress.

“Landing Home” is inspired by the award-nominated off-Broadway play, “The American Soldier.” The play has been performed in over 28 cities and gives voice to veterans and military families. It is based on actual letters soldiers have sent to their loved ones from the Revolution to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The script of “Landing Home” is created from a combination of exhaustive research and verbatim language lifted from countless interviews the director and producer have conducted with veterans and their family members.Directed by Douglas Taurel. Drama, Narrative. 2019. 73 mins

Get tickets for "Landing Home" screening on May 20, 2022 at 7 p.m.

More about GI Film Fest:

This year’s film festival is scheduled for May 17-21, 2022 with all screenings happening in-person at the Museum of Photographic Arts (MOPA) in Balboa Park. The 2022 festival features 27 films for, by, and about military and veterans. Virtual options are available.

View the lineup of films and events
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A project of KPBS, the GI Film Festival San Diego is a multi-day showcase of films for, by, and about military and veteran experiences. Films featured in the festival reveal the struggles, triumphs, and experiences of service members and veterans. The festival also provides veterans and service members with an opportunity to further their creative skills.

Documentaries, shorts, narratives, and feature-length films are presented. Post-screening discussions with filmmakers, actors and documentary subjects are also part of the festival. This event takes place annually in May and is open to veterans, service members, military families, and civilians. All are welcome to catch a film, be inspired, and build community.

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