Films

IAVA partnered with Warner Brothers on Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk, a film based on the bloody and gripping story of the epic World War Two battle in 1940. IAVA and Dunkirk partnered to encourage a national conversation about military service.

IAVA worked with Netflix and Plan B Entertainment to partner on the release of the film, even offering IAVA members a special screening with War Machine star, Anthony Michael Hall, in New York City ahead of Memorial Day. 

IAVA worked closelywith Warner Brothers and MGM on hosting over 39 IAVA-sponsored, family-friendlyMax VetTogethers from Hawaii to New Hampshire. IAVA program support was fully integrated into every event—and online. IAVA members provided real military working dogs at dozens of events, and IAVA’s extensive social media jump-started public support for the film and generated excellent earned media. Max himself joined IAVA for a Memorial Day VetTogther “Instameet”, in partnership with Instagram, on The Mall in Washington, DC. VA Secretary Bob McDonald attended another event in Washington, as did Max star Josh Wiggins in Houston, Texas. For these efforts, IAVA awarded the film with their Seal of Approval.

IAVA was a close adviser and charitable partner for this powerful independent film about a female combat medic. To promote advocacy around women’s veterans issues, we worked with Michelle Monaghan, the star of the film, to ensure she was well-versed on the priorities and needs of female veterans. Beyond our feature on the film’s homepage, IAVA assisted in outreach for screenings and hosted VetTogethers for the film in multiple cities. Additionally, IAVA welcomed Michelle as a guest of honor at our annual Heroes Gala in New York. Michelle continues to serve as a passionate and effective advocate for IAVA and female veterans. For these efforts, we’ve awarded Fort Bliss with our Seal of Approval

Produced by Julie Taymor and starring Anne Hathaway, this groundbreaking play depicts the story of a female Air Force UAV (drone) pilot. IAVA served as the exclusive charitable partner and technical advisor to the film and connected the producers with Lauren Augustine, UAV pilot combat veteran and IAVA Legislative Associate. Lauren helped Anne understand what life was really like for the character to serve as a drone pilot and provided technical assistance throughout. IAVA also assisted with outreach to the military community for the premiere and was featured in the Playbill.

Working with Director Clint Eastwood, IAVA provided early content feedback to Warner Brothers and the American Sniper team on messaging, outreach and program support. IAVA awarded the film with the Seal of Approval for its accurate depiction of the veteran experience after serving overseas

This Oscar-award winning documentary short was co-produced in association with IAVA and HBO and profiled the longtime IAVA program partner, The Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). IAVA conducted extensive media and social media outreach and hosted an event on Capitol Hill in Washington featuring the IAVA-created Post-9/11 Veterans Caucus and Co-Chairs Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Congressman Dan Perry (R-PA). IAVA is a leader in bringing together Republicans and Democrats and in convening events to promote IAVA partners and products. For this collaboration, IAVA awarded the film with its Seal of Approval.

Directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Matt Damon, this major motion picture is based on Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s best-selling book, Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone. IAVA held casting calls at their headquarters in New York, resulting in about a dozen first-time actors being selected to appear in the film—including a cameo by IAVA founder Paul Rieckhoff. IAVA leaders attended and supported red carpet screenings and awarded the film with their Seal of Approval.

This Sundance-selected documentary shows the realities of war for a U.S. platoon in Afghanistan. IAVA partnered closely with journalist Sebastian Junger and National Geographic on the film. IAVA members attended premiere events and hosted special advanced screenings for IAVA members in multiple cities. IAVA conducted press outreach and provided program support, awarding the film with their Seal of Approval.

Written by Aaron Sorkin and starring Tom Hanks, IAVA supported this film, which is based on the life of the former U.S Congressman as he worked with the CIA in supporting the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan war. Working closely with Take Part, the social action platform for Participant Media, IAVA sponsored house-party screenings of the film nationwide and hosted a conference call with IAVA CEO Paul Rieckhoff, Nathaniel Fick, the best-selling author of “One Bullet Away: The Making of a Marine Officer” and Charlie Wilson himself. On a call forwarded to all IAVA members, Tom Hanks recorded an introduction and welcome message. IAVA was a charitable partner and helped create the “Social Action Campaign” for the film, which included a way for viewers to sign a petition and take action to pressure legislators in support of the People’s Treaty to Ban Cluster Bombs. IAVA is proud to award this film with their Seal of Approval.

This film looks at the challenges faced by returning combat veterans and the battle many must fight against the VA for the benefits promised to them. Through the story of Herold Noel, an Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD and living out of his car in Brooklyn, it reveals a failing system and the veteran’s struggle to survive after returning from war. In addition to Noel, Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA’s founder, makes several appearances in the film.

This Tribeca Award-winning documentary is one of the first and best films about the war in Iraq. IAVA served as a technical advisor and validator, hosted viewing parties nationwide, included featured characters in IAVA panels and events, and authored supportive articles with partners, including the Huffington Post. IAVA distributed thousands of DVDs, supported the broadcast premier on CNN, and awarded the film with their Seal of Approval.

IAVA raised over $20,000 in initial funding for this Sundance award-winning documentary by Patria Foulkrod. IAVA also helped the filmmaker find almost all veteran subjects, reviewed edits, conducted outreach, hosted IAVA-sponsored screenings, attended film festivals and red-carpet events, executed extensive social media outreach and distributed and sold thousands of DVDs. IAVA’s Paul Rieckhoff and other IAVA leaders are featured in the film, and IAVA awarded the film with their Seal of Approval. 

Written by, produced by and starring Iraq vet and IAVA member Sean Huze, The Sandstorm was a play that premiered at the Elephant Asylum in Los Angeles and in Washington, D.C. at MetroStage. IAVA provided financial support, technical guidance, media outreach and program information at all events. IAVA donor Charlie Fink underwrote the Washington, DC production after an IAVA introduction, and IAVA awarded the play with its Seal of Approval.