Semper Fi: Always Faithful Directed
by
Tony Hardmon, Rachel Libert USA / 2011 / 76 minutes
Screening
Times and Venues:
Upstate Films WOODSTOCK
09/23/2011, 11:45AM
$10
Upstate Films II RHINEBECK
09/25/2011, 2:00PM
$10
SYNOPSIS: 2011 Maverick Award winner for Best Documentary, sponsored by Lowel Light.
Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger devoted nearly 25 years to the United States Marine Corps, following their motto “Always Faithful” as a way of life. When his nine-year-old daughter died of a rare form of leukemia, a grief-stricken Ensminger took on a quest that would lead him to a shocking discovery: the organization to which he had pledged his loyalty was responsible for one of the largest water contamination incidents in US history. This searing exposé follows Ensminger’s mission to make the Marine Corps live up to its own motto and be accountable for exposing thousands of soldiers and their families to carcinogens. Along the way, Ensminger sheds light on conditions that affect military families across the nation and a government regulatory system that fails to protect all of us from toxic chemicals.
BIO: Rachel Libert is a New York-based director. Her critically acclaimed documentary "Beyond Conviction," was called 'Must See Cinema' by the "Hollywood Reporter." She made her directing debut with the award-winning short film "Underground," which premiered at Sundance and aired on Lifetime Television. Her broadcast credits include work for MTV, Discovery Health, HBO, Court TV, Food Network and Oxygen, and she was the Executive Producer and Director of a documentary series on Discovery/Planet Green.
Tony Hardmon is a veteran cinematographer whose credits include "The Execution of Wanda Jean," "Girlhood," "Juvies," "The Boys of Baraka," "SICKO," "Made in America," Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady's segment of "Freakonomics" and "A Walk to Beautiful." He was the additional cinematographer on the Academy Award -nominated "Jesus Camp," "12th & Delaware" and the HBO special "Alive Day Memories: Home From Iraq." He recently worked with Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky on their Sundance Channel series "Iconoclasts." "Semper Fi: Always Faithful" is his directorial debut.
The Woodstock Film Festival is a not-for-profit, 501c3 organization with a mission to present an
annual program and year-round schedule of film, music,
and art-related activities that promote artists, culture,
inspired learning, and diversity. The Hudson Valley Film
Commission promotes sustainable economic development
by attracting and supporting film, video and media production.
