MORE THAN BROTHERS
Since the precipitous retreat of the U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021 and the subsequent power takeover by the Taliban, the Afghans who helped the Allies are being hunted down and killed.
“More Than Brothers” portrays the personal sacrifices and political engagement of two Green Berets in a race against time to save the Afghans who kept them safe during their deployments as well as two of their Afghan allies whose lives have been completely uprooted since the chaotic withdrawal.
This short documentary is a deeply mournful film that highlights the human cost of political decisions.
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Andrea von SiebenthalDirector
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Andrea von SiebenthalWriter
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Andrea von SiebenthalProducer
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Thomas KaszaKey Cast
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:23 minutes 30 seconds
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Completion Date:November 16, 2023
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Production Budget:15,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:United States
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital 4K
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - New York Film Academy NYFA
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DOC NYCNew York
United States
November 16, 2023
World Premiere
Official Selection, Grand Jury Student Film Prize, Odyssey MyJustice Award -
BigSky Documentary Film FestivalMissoula, MT
United States
February 17, 2024
Montana Premiere
Official Selection -
DCIFF, DC Independent Film ForumWashington DC
United States
February 24, 2024
DC Premiere
Official Selection -
GI Film Festival San DiegoSan Diego
United States
May 7, 2024
California
Nomination, Best Student Film -
Lighthouse International Film Festival, Long Beach IslandLong Beach Island, NJ
United States
June 7, 2024
New Jersey Premiere
Nomination, Best Documentary Short -
USA Film FestivalDallas, Texas
United States
April 20, 2024
Texas Premiere
Finalist
Distribution Information
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N/A
ANDREA VON SIEBENTHAL
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, EDITOR
Andrea is a former broadcasting journalist, spokesperson and communicator in the humanitarian realm.
She holds a Master’s degree in International Conflict Journalism as well as a Certificate in Documentary Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy. Previous productions of hers have won gold awards at both the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards and the Internationale Wirtschaftsfilmtage.
Born and raised in Switzerland, she has worked extensively in post-conflict areas. The topics of war and its consequences on civilians have always been at the heart of her work. Her desire to shed a light on forgotten conflicts and the human cost of geopolitical decisions continues to inform her documentary projects.
WHY NOW?
The topic is extremely timely as many thousands of Afghans who have collaborated with the Allied Forces are being hunted down, tortured and killed by the Taliban regime that took over the country in August of 2021.
Whilst America’s longest war has been forgotten by many and its failures thrown under the carpet by the U.S. Government, many (former and current) members of the U.S. Forces stepped up, starting private humanitarian initiatives to bring their former comrades to safety.
The toll this personal engagement takes on those veterans is immeasurable: careers ruined, relationship and financial problems, mental health issues are things they all experienced and continue to deal with.
There is mounting pressure from veteran and human rights organizations and civil society for the U.S. Government to take responsibility for the Afghans who had collaborated with their military and to honor their promise that was to bring them to safety. To date, all initiatives to speed up the process for the Afghan allies to obtain Special Immigration Visas have failed to pass the U.S. Congress.
To get these people and their families to safety is a matter of life and death, and every day counts.