Experiencing Interruptions?

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.

  • Andrea von Siebenthal
    Director
  • Andrea von Siebenthal
    Writer
  • Andrea von Siebenthal
    Producer
  • Thomas Kasza
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    23 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 16, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital 4K
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York Film Academy NYFA
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • DOC NYC
    New York
    United States
    November 16, 2023
    World Premiere
    Official Selection, Grand Jury Student Film Prize, Odyssey MyJustice Award
  • BigSky Documentary Film Festival
    Missoula, MT
    United States
    February 17, 2024
    Montana Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Hot Springs Documentary Film O Festival
    Hot Springs National Park, AR
    United States
    October 20, 2024
    Arkansas Premiere
    Official Selection
  • SCAD Savannah Film Festival
    Savannah, Georgia
    United States
    November 2, 2024
    Georgia Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Thomas Edison Film Festival 2024
    West Orange, NJ
    United States
    Honorable Mention
  • Lighthouse International Film Festival, Long Beach Island
    Long Beach Island, NJ
    United States
    June 7, 2024
    New Jersey Premiere
    Award: Best Social Impact Short
  • DCIFF, DC Independent Film Forum
    Washington DC
    United States
    February 24, 2024
    DC Premiere
    Official Selection
  • GI Film Festival San Diego
    San Diego
    United States
    May 7, 2024
    California
    Nomination, Best Student Film
  • Wyoming International Film Festival
    Cheyenne, WY
    United States
    July 12, 2024
    WY Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Whistleblower Summit & Film Festival
    Washington DC
    United States
    July 29, 2024
    N/A
    Award: Finalist Best Short
  • Sidewalk Film Festival
    Alabama
    United States
    August 26, 2024
    Alabama Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Lake Tahoe Documentary Film Festival
    South Lake Tahoe, CA
    United States
    October 7, 2024
    N/A
    Official Selection
  • St. Louis International Film Festival
    St.Louis, Missouri
    United States
    November 7, 2024
    Missouri
    Official Selection
  • Hamilton Film Festival, Ontario, Canada
    Hamilton, ON
    Canada
    October 23, 2024
    Canada Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Veterans Film Festival 2024
    Los Angeles
    United States
    November 14, 2024
    N/A
  • Mumbai Shorts International Film Fest 2024
    Mumbai
    India
    December 8, 2024
    India Premiere
    Award: Best Documentary
  • Oregon Documentary Film Festival 2024
    Oregon
    United States
    September 29, 2024
    Oregon Premiere
    Award Finalist
Distribution Information
  • N/A
Director Biography - Andrea von Siebenthal

ANDREA VON SIEBENTHAL
PRODUCER, DIRECTOR, EDITOR

Andrea is a storyteller at heart. A former tv journalist, spokesperson and communicator in the humanitarian realm, she believes that stories have the power to create empathy and thus promote real change.

Born and raised in Switzerland, she has worked extensively in post-conflict areas where she has witnessed the long-term effects of armed conflict first-hand.

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.

Andrea holds a Master's degree in International Conflict Journalism, a CAS in Press Relations from the Swiss School of Journalism MAZ and a certificate in Documentary Filmmaking from the New York Film Academy.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

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.