Showcase
Video Message Updated
May 2, 2025
The below NOMINEES are being showcased as part of our mission to elevate Veterans and Non-Veterans in media. No decisions have been made at this time.
Our Trespasses
Best Short or Feature
Director: Rick Cerda
A rebellious young Erica has an egocentric attitude, breaking boundaries without regard. “Um, Erica” (America) experiences a rude awakening and must learn empathy and forgiveness before her attitude alienates her in this melting pot story of assimilating characters and their all too common struggles.
Look Back Don't Stare
Documentary by Non-Veteran
Director: Marie Waxel
Marie Waxel is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist and a passionate advocate for veterans and the military community. Currently the Assistant News Director and evening anchor at WAAY 31 in Huntsville, Alabama, she has built a career spotlighting military organizations and national defense stories, especially those connected to Redstone Arsenal and North Alabama's defense industry.
Apache Warrior
Best Documentary by Veteran
Director: David Salzburg
“Apache Warrior” is a feature-length documentary that puts the viewer in the cockpit of an Apache helicopter during one of the most intense missions in aviation history. Telling the story of an elite U.S. Army Aviation Squadron, this film highlights the adaptability, courage and selflessness of Apache pilots and their crews as they launch an attack during the initial surge into Iraq in March, 2003. The mission unfolds in near real time as these heroic soldiers fight to stay alive. The film is a Strong Eagle Media production, in association with A. Smith & Co. Dox and Mechanical Dragons.
High Tide
Best Vietnam Doc/Feature
Director: Calvin Grimm
"High Tide at Wunder Beach" tells the story of Vietnam War veteran John Richardson. His story spans from the mid-1960s before he was drafted, through his momentous & heroic tour in the Vietnam War with the armored cavalry, and his battles after the war with Agent Orange, PTSD, and other physical injuries incurred during the war.
Send Me
Best Director
Director: Nick Palmisciano
Nick Palmisciano is a NYT Bestselling author, director, and producer. Nick is a Founding Board Member of international rescue non-profit Save Our Allies, and is the CEO of the full service marketing agency Diesel Jack Media. He is a Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and received his MBA from Duke University. He received the prestigious “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Entrepreneur Organization in 2015, the U.S. Army Ranger Tab, and the Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos badges in Cub Scouts. The Wolf Badge was his favorite.
Forgiving Retribution
Best Short - Veteran
Director: Curt Samlaska
From the Director: I am an internist and practicing dermatologist. I have had some amazing experiences with many unusual entities while stationed in the military at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and at Tripler Army Medical Center...I have had a very rich career. Along the way I have developed a passion for story telling, published two novels and currently marketing three feature film scripts. To see my more complete bio please go here:
Rena
Best Veteran Actor
Director: Dael McCoyle
Dael is a Western North Carolina native who got into filmmaking after suffering from two traumatic head injuries, one from the military and the second from a motorcycle wreck. After he returned from South Africa in 2016 he started taking classes and programs from the local VA to help with cognitive skills and memory loss. in 2017 he started watching videos about filmmaking and got hooked immediately. Dael has cowritten and or directed several other short films that was entered into local film festivals and winning the Micropolitan Film Festival Storytelling Award for "Unique Artistry" for "PILL BOTTLE WARS" in 2019 and "Best Use Of Humor" for "THE CRUSH!" in 2022. Besides Directing, Dael has also worn the hats of, Producer, Co-Producer, Writer, Camera Operator, Actor, Editor and more. Filmmaking has became one of his favorite go to therapy sessions for cognitive and neuroplasticity in repairing and healing of the brain.
Developing The Leader Within Podcast
Director Biography - Enrique Acosta Gonzalez
Enrique is the CEO of Triad Leadership Solutions LLC, and served 26 years in the United States Navy. Enrique was named on the power list of the Top 200 (#76) thought leaders to follow by PeopleHum, a nominee of the top 30 Global Guru’s list by Global Gurus, Top 200 Biggest Voices in Leadership by LeadersHum, Top 10 Inspiring Leaders, Global 100 Executive Coach of the Year, and Best CEO Mentorship & Leadership Development Firm for his work in the leadership development arena. He is a best-selling and International best-selling author of six books and an award-winning podcaster of Developing The Leader Within podcast.
Drive On: Heal Military Trauma & Thrive as a Vet
Best YouTuber - Scott DeLuzio
Dr. Josh McConkey, a colonel, author, and emergency physician, shares insights from his military and medical careers in this impactful discussion. He reflects on lessons learned from combat deployments, reintegration challenges, and strategies for managing stress and building resilience. Dr. McConkey highlights the importance of finding purpose, leveraging community support, and recognizing the value of teamwork in achieving personal and professional success. He also discusses his book, The Weight Behind the Spear, which encourages individuals to embrace their roles as community supporters and leaders. The conversation touches on overcoming life's obstacles, adapting to challenges, and the unique skills veterans bring to society.
Behind the Scenes
By a Veteran
Director Biography - Manny Marquez
Marine Corps veteran Anthony Marquez returned from Afghanistan deeply wounded riddled with survivors guilt. His unit, 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, lost 17 men on their 2011 deployment to Sangin. Upon returning home, Anthony made it his mission to help the Gold Star families of the fallen find healing, and in the doing so, attempt to heal himself.
Keeping it Reel
Behind the Scenes - Veteran
Director Biography - Dr. Tamecca Rogers
"The Journey of Keepin' It REEL: Script 2 Screen Film Camp" chronicles the transformative experiences of young aspiring filmmakers as they collaborate with Emmy-winning mentors to discover the art of storytelling, overcoming challenges, and creating cinematic magic from script to screen
Salsipuedes Street
Best Feature, Veteran
Director: Dennis Sandoval
Salvadoran-American. Immigrated at the age of 5 from El Salvador and was raised in Los Angeles, California. Went to school locally at UCLA. Served in the Iraq War with the U.S. Marines in San Diego, California. Disabled Veteran.
The Invisible Enemy
Best Short Doc - Non-Veteran
Director: Mark Shapiro, Douglas Brian Miller
During tours of duty in Nevada, enlisted men and women were repeatedly exposed to lethal radiation at the world's largest nuclear test site. But because exercises were “top-secret,” the U.S. government continues to conceal official records of their ever having served there. Now cancer-stricken and ineligible for benefits because of their classified designation, veterans are mobilizing to prove they served and to secure basic healthcare for themselves and their families.
Voices of Valor
Best Documentary Non-Veteran
Directed by: Phillip Large
They were ordinary men and women, called to extraordinary deeds, united by a common purpose – to defend freedom and uphold the dignity of humanity. This is the story of World War II, told through the voices of those who lived to tell it. From the bombers and fighter pilots who braved freezing altitudes - the soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest land invasion in history - to the African American men and women who shattered barriers on the front-lines - this is their legacy - one told by those whose fight for victory did more than just end a war, it cemented the foundation of a superpower, laying the groundwork for the freedoms and opportunities we cherish today.
Beck Decks
Best Comedy Short, Veteran
Director: Rylan Tuohy
Rylan Tuohy became a TV Writer by way of rural Kentucky, a physics degree, Naval service, and viral videos. With an affinity for crime dramas with grounded comedy, Rylan received the Netflix Native American Writer Accelerator Grant and was in the inaugural Writers Guild Foundation’s Veterans Fellowship.
East Bay Confidential
Best Feature - By a Veteran
Director: Chris De Pretis
A disillusioned Iraq War veteran is framed for a murder by a beautiful social media influencer. He must track down the only person who can testify on his behalf: a former sex worker on the run from a murderous gangster. Chris De Pretis lives in the SF Bay Area and works in film and video production. He studied film production at Cal State Northridge and is a US Army/GWOT combat veteran.
An American Hero
Best Documentary by a Veteran
Directed by: G.M. Cahill
Sponsored by American Legion Post 1346 and VFW Post 9249
Back by Monday
Best Female Actor, Veteran
Director: Rhonda Gulliver
Rhonda is an Air Force veteran, recently dabbling in creative work over the 4 years. She is now pursuing a career as an actor, vocalist and filmmaker. She is currently based out of Northwest Arkansas, working on various projects in the surrounding area. Rhonda is known for her recent role as Rebecca in the short inspirational film, Take it Slow by Jason Pitts. The short film, Back by Monday in which she co-directed and plays the lead, Jess, has recently been completed and is pursuing the film festival circuit. She enjoys all facets of filmmaking outside of acting, including sfx makeup, editing, writing, directing and production planning.
13th Night
Best Veteran Male Actor
Director: Benjamin Percy
Benjamin Percy is the author of seven novels (most recently The Sky Vault), three story collections, and a book of essays. He writes Wolverine, X-Force, and Ghost Rider for Marvel Comics. He co-wrote Summering with director James Ponsoldt, and the film premiered at Sundance. He is currently writing Urban Cowboy at Paramount Plus and is adapting his novel, The Ninth Metal, into a show for Sony. His honors include the 2023 McKnight Fellowship in Media Arts, the Whiting Award, the Plimpton Prize, an NEA Fellowship, three Pushcart Prizes, the iHeartRadio Award for Best Scripted Podcast, and inclusion in Best American Short Stories.
Best Podcast- Veteran
Directed by: Tommy Mel Anderson
Tommy is an accomplished entertainment artist of all types. He's an Air Force veteran and seems to be busy doing what he does best.
NCIS
Behind the Scenes Nominee
Navy Chief Michael R. Smith
Retired Navy Chief Michael R. Smith signed on to the NCIS Franchise as the Military Technical Advisor in 2017 on the set of NCIS New Orleans. In 2021 he was asked to help establish the spin off NCIS Hawaii Series of which he worked 3 years as the on-set Tech Advisor training the actors in weapons handling and NCIS tactics. After NCIS was canceled he was asked to takeover as Technical Advisor of the original 21 year running NCIS series in June 2024 where he makes a big impact behind the scenes working with the writing staff, directors, and actors to ensure creative and authentic NCIS and military stories and actions.
Best Feature Film by a Veteran
Directed by Former Green Beret Nate Boyer From Executive Producer Sylvester Stallone
On the streets of Hollywood, a recently retired NFL player is saved from scandal by a homeless veteran. With their “glory days” behind them, the two men bond in search of purpose and identity. Inspired by actual events, MVP dramatizes the formation of Merging Vets & Players and features both military veterans and former professional athletes in front of and behind the camera.
Best Drama Film by a Veteran
Produced, Written & Directed by: Michael Carter
Michael Andre Carter, I was born in Hattiesburg, Ms. on January 25, 1975, to Mrs. Marva Carter Wade (Deceased) and Eddie Earl Graham (Deceased). I was always into entertainment at a young age, doing plays and singing. My family moved to Jacksonville in the early 90’s where I attended high school, graduated and joined the United States Army in 1995. Throughout my military career of 22 years, I was able to perform, coordinated and plan the logistics for the United States Army Soldier show, a 3.5-million-dollar production. I traveled and performed in over 80 cities in the United States and 8 different countries. After retiring I was introduced to my first film here in Jacksonville as a supporting actor in a Tall Paul Production. I was very interested in filming after seeing how his team made a great film and made me look very professional on screen, now it was time for me to write, direct and produce my own film. My first production was called what Goes Around Comes Around shot by CASII Films and won 8 film festival awards and 12 official selections. The movie is now streaming on Tubi and is getting rave reviews. I started getting behind the camera after that and wrote, produced and directed short films on YouTube called Earl and Willie, What’s to Be Expected, Deadly Pleasures and a web series called The Lives We Live. I also wrote, produced and directed a music video. I just wrapped a production and film premiere of my film How I Got Twenty and a movie I shot for ID4 Nation called writes of A Father. I have acted, produced and was AD for several films as well as several plays in Jacksonville, Florida and other states within the region. I am currently 2nd camera and AD for Future Soul and in the process of filming MAAB Chixx a feature film.
Best Comedy Short by a Veteran
Director & Writer Nick Palmisciano
Nick Palmisciano is a NYT Bestselling author, director, and producer. Nick is a Founding Board Member of international rescue non-profit Save Our Allies, and is the CEO of the full service marketing agency Diesel Jack Media. He is a Graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and received his MBA from Duke University. He received the prestigious “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Entrepreneur Organization in 2015, the U.S. Army Ranger Tab, and the Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos badges in Cub Scouts. The Wolf Badge was his favorite. His screen work includes Range 15, which he wrote and produced, and was the first independent film to top the charts at Amazon. Not A War Story, a documentary on the challenges of making a film with an all-veteran team, became the number one documentary in America. Send Me, is a documentary that Palmisciano filmed while joining a team of 12 veterans assisting with the evacuation of Afghanistan in the final days of the war, qualified for Academy Award voting. Palmisciano loves to tell stories that include veteran characters that do not fit the Hollywood stereotype of what a veteran is supposed to be. Office Joe fits that to a T. That rhymed you see. Tee-hee.
The Siege at Khe Sanh
Best Vietnam Documentary
Director Biography - David Carl Kniess
FULL LENGTH Dennis Mannion recounts the gripping story of his time in Vietnam, the strain his deployment put on his relationship with his family, and the surreal feeling of being back 30 years later.
Ohryis Project
Best Feature - Sci-Fi
Director Biography - Dana Cowden Heath, Air Force Veteran
Air Force Veteran Dana Cowden has won numerous awards in screenplay contests such as her First Place rom-com Not as Advertised. As a Director, her short films have won Best Short Film awards and Best Actress awards, and twice nominated for Best Director. Her first feature Film, Nova, won Best Sci-Fi film and is currently out on several platforms including Amazon, Apple, Roku, etc.
Country and Courage
Best Documentary by a Veteran
Director Biography - Rodney Roldan
After serving ten years active duty in the U.S. Navy, Rodney joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, CA while pursuing a career in performing arts. He attended Defense Information School at Ft Meade, MD where he became a U.S. Army Broadcast Journalist. Shortly after graduating from Defense Information School, he deployed to Afghanistan, as a field reporter for American Forces Network (AFN) Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Rodney also deployed to Baghdad, Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve as well as additional assignments in Poland and Germany.
Triggered
Best Veteran Male Actor
Directors: Mario Ricardo Rodriguez, Marcus Nel-Jamal Hamm
A diabolical madman known as The Director 2.0, with a vendetta against Wolverine, plots a way to take his powers and use him as a distraction as he enacts his ultimate means of destroying all superpowered beings, by pitting him against his one ally, Blade, in a fight to the death. Lucas Bishop must find a way to break free of his control so he can save his friends and the rest of humanity.
Circles
Best Short by a Veteran
Director - Thomas Moeger, National Guard
Circles is more than a project—it's a personal tribute to my father, who bravely battled lung cancer and passed away when I was still a child. This film is my way of honoring his memory and reflecting on our love, wisdom, and unforgettable moments. Through this story, I aim to keep his spirit alive, reminding us to cherish our time with those we love. I hope Circles touches you as deeply as it has touched me, sparking meaningful conversations about life's joys and challenges.
The 12th Letter
Best Writer by a Veteran
Directors: Jeff Smee, Jackie Hovorka- Assistant Director
An unlikely pen pal relationship, not only because he is a disabled Marine veteran with severe PTSD and she’s a Catholic nun struggling with her faith, but because their distance is not measured by how far away they are to each other in miles, but because they’re living 100 years apart. However, as both begin to heal through their writings to each other, fate has its own plan and neither of them are prepared for the devastation and loss that is to come.
Lizzy's Plan
Best Writer/Director- Veteran
Director: Jeremy Mowery, Writer Mia Rivera
When the fame-seeking female leader of a mature trio of lifelong veteran friends gets a call, during a funeral, to immediately fill in on a podcast, she forms a plan-but - complications ensue.
Ambivalence
Best Director -Feature Film
Directed by: Caleb Childers, Veteran
Caleb Childers is an American actor and director. He began his career with film and stage acting in 2017. After high school, he served in the 82nd Airborne and now works in Austin, Texas. He is most notable for performances in both short and feature film roles, acting in The Void Underground (2024), What God Fears (2024), Sous Vide (2024), Locked Doors (2024), and Ambivalence (2025).
Brothers
Best Short - Activity Duty
Director: Jeremy Walker
Jeremy Walker is an active duty Marine Officer that started making outdoor films 10 years ago. Combining his passion for the outdoors and story telling, Backcountry Traditions aims to show a different side of outdoor film. A side that everyone can connect with.
Best Documentary by a Veteran
Produced by Christopher Tetrault, Veteran and Directed by: Dale Mord
"The Weight of the Crown" is a compelling documentary produced by Chris Tetrault, an Army veteran and law enforcement officer, that tells the courageous story of Officer Matson, who was critically injured in the line of duty after being shot in the head. The film captures the harrowing aftermath of this life-altering incident, detailing his journey of recovery, resilience, and the unwavering support of his family, community, and fellow officers. Through raw and heartfelt storytelling, the documentary sheds light on the physical and emotional challenges faced by those who endure such trauma. It also highlights the broader goal of raising awareness about the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers and the importance of supporting them through adversity. At its heart, "The Weight of the Crown" is a tribute to Officer Matson’s indomitable spirit and a call to action for understanding, appreciation, and unity within our communities.
Best Docu-Series by Non-Veteran
Nationally recognized Director & Producer Maria Mendez Reed
FULL EPISODE Surprise makeover series - Food pantry in Reno for a Blue Star Family
Best Podcast by a Veteran
Written by: Aaron Richard Knowles, Christephor Hacker
Join hosts Chris Hacker and Aaron Knowles as they unlock the gates to The Oblivion Bar Podcast — a one-stop-shop for all things nerd-culture. Dive deep into the realms of comic books, TV, film, and gaming with witty banter, exclusive interviews, and a passionate week-in-review that'll teleport you into the heart of nerd nirvana. Get ready for an immersive journey into the multiverse of podcast entertainment!