By My Side

By My Side

Directed by Vicki Topaz
Produced by Michael Collins

Videos

By My Side - Trailer

Overview

Genre
Social Issues, Human Rights, Culture, and Current Affairs
Synopsis

By My Side tells a story of journey and return, of veterans and their families rescued from the pitfalls of PTSD by their service dogs to a budding sense of hope and restoration.

By My Side is an intimate portrait of three veterans suffering from the “invisible wound,” called post-traumatic stress disorder. PTSD is the most prevalent and unhealed wound suffered by veterans. Approximately 20% of those who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are still haunted by visions, chased by enemies they can never outrun, and tortured by the fear that the enemy is them. The three veterans and their families bravely share their pain, fear, and the difficult realization that they’ve lost time and love that they may never get back again. All three found hope where no one had looked—in the heart of a faithful service dog.

This project is made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Yellow Chair Foundation.

Stage
finished
Running time
30 minutes

Credits

  • Vicki Topaz ... Writer/Director/Producer
  • Vicki Topaz ... Director, Producer, Writer
  • Michael Collins ... Producer

Production Details

Prod. Co.
Dogged Productions LLC
Country
United States
Years of Production
5
Locations
Northern California (San Jose, Soledad, Carmel Valley)
Prod. Partners
Michael Collins, Eric Metzgar, Vishal Solanki

Distribution Details

Release year
2023
Festivals
GI Film Festival San Diego, Hispanic Film Festival, AVFest
Awards
Best Documentary Short Film (Hispanic Film Festival)
Language
English

Photos

A9fdce1a2bcef21530471ff64bfb6654

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