Experiencing Interruptions?

Love Thy Neighbor - The Story of Christian Riley Garcia

On May 18th of 2018, a gunman opened fired into a classroom at Santa Fe High School. In the midst of panic and terror, Christian Riley Garcia guided others into a closet where he used himself as a barrier against the door. For the next dozen minutes, Christian’s actions saved countless lives. It was his sacrifice that allowed others time to escape.

Love Thy Neighbor dives into the darkness that clouded that day, May 18th, the family’s effort to find normality and healing in the wakes of their loss, and tell a story of Riley. The 2020 Congressional Medal of Honor recipient of the Young Hero Award; who he was and how he impacted his family, his community, and ultimately the country.

  • Brandon Smith
    Director
    Apostasy
  • Shannan Claussen
    Executive Producer
  • Amber Claussen
    Executive Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Student
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 20 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 18, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - University of North Texas
  • Spotlight Documentary Film Awards
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    January 16, 2021
    Georgia Premiere
    Silver Award
  • Toronto Independent Film Awards Inc. (TIFA)
    Toronto, Canada
    Canada
    January 17, 2021
    Canada Premiere
    Nominee
  • Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
    Los Angeles, California
    United States
    January 9, 2021
    California Premiere
    Award Winner
  • Independent Film Awards, Bristol
    England
    United Kingdom
    February 27, 2021
    European Premiere
    Finalist
  • Atlanta Award-Qualifying Film Festival
    New York, New York
    United States
    March 26, 2021
  • Berlin Lift-off Film Festival
    Berlin, Germany
    Germany
    January 30, 2021
    Germany Premiere
  • WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival
    Houston
    United States
    April 23, 2021
    Texas Premiere
    Gold Remi Award
Director - Brandon Smith