We are incredibly honored to share that This Is Not A Draft has won Best Feature Documentary at the Chandler International Film Festival. CIFF celebrates their 10th anniversary this year and we were so excited to be able to participate in all of the coffee connections, educational sessions from professionals in the industry, and best of all screening our fellow independent filmmakers' films on the big screen!
What makes this award especially meaningful is how this film and this team came together.
Several members of our crew first met through Arizona State University and the Sidney Poitier New American Film School. That shared foundation became the starting point for a collaboration rooted in trust, creativity, and a shared commitment to telling meaningful stories. Moments in classrooms and capstone projects helped develop the skills, perseverance, and passion that made This Is Not A Draft a possibility.
I want to sincerely thank ASU for investing in a film program that not only teaches the craft, but also brings people together — people who go on to create work with purpose, empathy, and impact. This film exists because of that ecosystem and the relationships it fostered. Filmmaking is a team sport — it takes every member of the team to make these films memorable and amazing!
To have this documentary received so warmly by audiences, especially Veterans, and to be recognized in this way is deeply humbling. The film embodies the power of hope to spark healing and create opportunities at scale, reflecting a shared commitment to inclusion, meaningful impact, and public value. This work honors the idea that transformative storytelling can strengthen social and mental health well-being.
I am profoundly grateful for the collaborators, the communities we serve, and all who continue to uplift this work with purpose, integrity, and healing.
Thank you for watching, thank you for supporting, and thank you for doing your part to create a stronger community, where we support each other and make this world a better place!
Onward. 🎥
— Jack Blair
Director, This Is Not A Draft