[8][9][10] On October 22, 2014, GIFF hosted a screening of The Good Lie, in collaboration with and benefitting the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, a drama film on the subject of the Lost Boys of Sudan, orphaned during the Second Sudanese Civil War.
The Festival's charitable and socially conscious mission led it to donate a portion of proceeds to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, helping to support the OneminutesJr campaign, which equips young filmmakers with the resources to create one-minute short films, and showcases their work.
[12] Over 7,500 celebrities, filmmakers, journalists, financial executives, and movie lovers attended the Festival which featured 31 domestic and international films, educational panels that were free to the public, a Children's Acting Workshop, Q&A's, parties, and evening events.
The advance screening of The Big Short, co-sponsored by GIFF Board Member Mark Teixeira, included a post-film panel featuring three of the men that inspired roles in the film.
[19] The Festival donates a portion of proceeds to nonprofit organizations, with a partnership announced in August 2014 with UNICEF and the One Minute Foundation on the OneminutesJr campaign, which equips young filmmakers with the resources to create one-minute short films, and showcases their work.
Recent premieres and award-winning films shown at GIFF include: Entourage, All Things Must Pass, Jane Wants A Boyfriend (World Premiere), I Smile Back, The Keeping Room, The Overnight, Time Out of Mind, Mania Days, 7 Minutes, 40-Love, Night Owls, Uncle John, Victoria, WildLike, Zurich, 3 ½ Minutes, 10 Bullets, Landfill Harmonic, The Russian Woodpecker, Tiger Tiger, Vaclav Havel: Living in Freedom (U.S.