Directors: Vicki Topaz, Wynn Padula Producers: Vicki Topaz, Michael Collins
Description:
BY MY SIDE tells a story of journey and return, of veterans and their families rescued by their service dogs from the pitfalls of PTSD to a promising sense of hope and restoration.
Biography:
Vicki Topaz has worked as a photographer and filmmaker for the past 25 years. Since 2010, she has focused on a multimedia project called HEAL. This endeavor documents veterans who are aided by service dogs in their challenges with PTSD. Her short documentary Veterans Speak About PTSD garnered significant public attention and was screened in 17 film festivals nationwide. Her deep, personal commitment to telling these stories is rooted in her childhood experiences with her own father, a WWII tail gunner who returned home with PTSD, which was then unrecognized.
Wynn Padula recently directed and shot the Netflix original documentaryResurface. Wynn is also well known for his cinematography on the film Slomo, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award and the winner of Best Short Documentary at SXSW and IDA.He has directed and shot television commercials, music videos and branded content videos for clients ranging from Adobe to HBO.
MichaelCollins is a two-time Emmy® Award nominated filmmaker and founder of Thoughtful Robot, a film production company committed to sharing stories that inspire, connect, and galvanize change. Michael's most recent film, Almost Sunrise, premiered on PBS and was nominated for an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Current Affairs Documentary. In recognition of the positive impact the film has had in society, it has been honored with media awards from government organization SAMHSA and the National Association of Social Workers.
