PJIFF film was inspired by PTSD documentary made by a veteran who died by suicide in 2019

Filmmakers Nils Myers and Mattie Scariot with veteran Alfred Alciati, the commander for the VFW 6309. Photo courtesy PJIFF

By Staff Report

More than 58,300 members of the U.S. armed forces went missing or were killed in the Vietnam War. In the aftermath the American military was demoralized and the country was divided. South Valley filmmakers produced a new documentary exploring the impact of that war on four local veterans.

During a special Nov. 22 showing at downtown Gilroy’s CMAP studio, Mattie Scariot, CEO/director of Poppy Jasper International Film Festival, joined veterans Alfred Alciati of Morgan Hill, John Ceballos of Gilroy, Ron Sanchez of Hollister, and Ralph Marquez of San Juan Bautista at a screening of “Our Vietnam Veterans.” The event was sponsored by Gilroy After Hours Rotary as a celebration of Veterans Day and to promote PJIFF’s virtual screening of the documentary.

“The four veterans we honored epitomize the character and dedication of our brave men and women of the military,” Scariot said. “We owe them the support and resources to achieve their objectives when deployed and a tactical plan for reentry into life and society when returning home.”

Gilroy After Hours Rotary President Eric Howard thanked the film festival for producing the film focusing on Vietnam veterans from South Valley cities.

“The work Mattie Scariot and her team do in and around our community is yet another excellent example of putting others first and that is why we wanted to hear her speak about the festival and its achievements,” he said.

The film played virtually on Eventive until the end of November.  The Gilroy Exchange Club is also coordinating a screening at the Neon Exchange in January, Scariot said.

“It’s been so rewarding to see the impact this film has had on our community and our veterans,” she said. “I’m overwhelmed by the support from the Gilroy After Hours Rotary, the Exchange Club, and the Hollister Veterans Memorial Building (who screened the film).”

PJIFF’s Veterans Documentary Program was created after Scariot viewed a film the festival organizers received in 2019 from the parents of Carlos Lopez Jr.  The veteran wrote, directed and starred in the film “PTSD” about a young veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.  A month after he finished the film, Lopez died by suicide.

At the festival screening of Lopez’s powerful documentary, 80 veterans attended to watch the film and were moved by the depiction of the emotional traumas many men and women who serve in the armed forces must deal with after they return to civilian life.

“It made me think that our veterans were starving for films about them, so I created the Veterans Documentary Program,” Scariot said.

The documentary directed by Scariot was produced by Jennifer Herrera Sanchez and Ashley Hadjid. Cinematography and visual effects were done by Nils Myers from 152 West Productions.

The interviews were filmed at the Gilroy Veterans Hall.  Everyone involved in working on the film donated their time.