BY MY SIDE tells a story of hope and possibility in an intimate portrait of three veterans suffering with the invisible wound PTSD, the most prevalent and unhealed wound experienced by veterans. Approximately 20% of those who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are still haunted by visions, chased by enemies they can never outrun, and tortured by the fear that they are now the enemy. Through intimate interviews with the families and revealing footage of bonding with their service animals, the film demonstrates how wo/man’s best friend mitigates the psychic scars imprinted on those who have been in service to our country. BY MY SIDE celebrates our veterans and their love of country and family. And shows how and why service dogs – who match their loyalty and commitment – can heal broken hearts and quiet the wars within. That is the message our veterans and their families want others to know. There is hope and it can be found on the end of a leash.
ABOUT THE FILMABOUT OUR TEAM
Our Story
BY MY SIDE tells a story of hope and possibility in an intimate portrait of three veterans suffering with the invisible wound PTSD, the most prevalent and unhealed wound experienced by veterans. Approximately 20% of those who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars are still haunted by visions, chased by enemies they can never outrun, and tortured by the fear that they are now the enemy.
Through intimate interviews with the families and revealing footage of bonding with their service animals, the film demonstrates how wo/man’s best friend mitigates the psychic scars imprinted on those who have been in service to our country.
BY MY SIDE celebrates our veterans and their love of country and family. And shows how and why service dogs – who match their loyalty and commitment – can heal broken hearts and quiet the wars within. That is the message our veterans and their families want others to know. There is hope and it can be found on the end of a leash.
ABOUT THE FILMABOUT OUR TEAM
Maria’s Mutts & Stuff Podcast
BY MY SIDE Director Vicki Topaz and Producer Michael Collins were invited to talk about BY MY SIDE on Maria’s Mutts & Stuff podcast. Maria Milito, the host of the podcast, is the voice of Q104.3 New York’s middays and an advocate for animal rights.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST
Support Our Impact Campaign
Since the completion BY MY SIDE in 2023, we have achieved several awesome milestones that we are excited to share: the film has been selected for 46 film festivals across 21 states along with 3 in Europe, earned 16 awards, and hosted over 30 community screenings. We could not have achieved this without your support and the teamwork of our incredible cast and crew. We are truly thankful.
We are continuing to move forward with our Impact Campaign, bringing the conversation to even more communities — raising awareness about the life-saving role of service dogs, helping navigate PTSD, reuniting families, and preventing suicide. Each screening and discussion play a part in breaking the stigma associated with veteran mental health and ensures that this vital message gets to those who need it the most.
Your support is key to helping us expand our outreach. DONATE today and join us in our mission to double the screenings and audience. Donations can be made by CHECK or ONLINE. Thank you for your generosity, interest, and support throughout the years.
MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
Support Our Impact Campaign
Since the completion BY MY SIDE in 2023, we have achieved several awesome milestones that we are excited to share: the film has been selected for 46 film festivals across 21 states along with 3 in Europe, earned 16 awards, and hosted over 30 community screenings. We could not have achieved this without your support and the teamwork of our incredible cast and crew. We are truly thankful.
We are continuing to move forward with our Impact Campaign, bringing the conversation to even more communities — raising awareness about the life-saving role of service dogs, helping navigate PTSD, reuniting families, and preventing suicide. Each screening and discussion play a part in breaking the stigma associated with veteran mental health and ensures that this vital message gets to those who need it the most.
Your support is key to helping us expand our outreach. DONATE today and join us in our mission to double the screenings and audience. Donations can be made by CHECK or ONLINE. Thank you for your generosity, interest, and support throughout the years.
MAKE YOUR TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
“BY MY SIDE demonstrates in real time how the service dog and therapist provide support for the combat Veteran. In a very empathetic way, the film shows how the pairing works. This is a terrific film.” – Robert A. McDonald, Former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Board Chairman of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Host a Screening
We welcome you to bring BY MY SIDE to your community by hosting a screening. This is a way you can take action to raise awareness of life-saving service dogs, challenge stigmas associated with PTSD, bridge the civilian-military divide, and help prevent suicide.
For screening inquiries, please complete our SCREENING REQUEST FORM or click CONTACT for more information. After receiving your questionnaire, we’ll be in touch to answer any questions you may have. Thank you!
“The stories in BY MY SIDE are raw and the willingness of the service member and the family to give insight into their very personal lives is very admirable. As a military spouse, I felt heard, seen and validated. Thank you to our veterans for your vulnerability and willingness to share and educate our communities on the challenges you face daily, thank you for showing us all that recovery is possible and there is always room for HOPE. You are greatly appreciated.” – Gemma Uribe-Cruz, USMC Veteran spouse
“The stories in BY MY SIDE are raw and the willingness of the service member and the family to give insight into their very personal lives is very admirable. As a military spouse, I felt heard, seen and validated.
Thank you to our veterans for your vulnerability and willingness to share and educate our communities on the challenges you face daily, thank you for showing us all that recovery is possible and there is always room for HOPE. You are greatly appreciated.”
Gemma Uribe-CruzUSMC Veteran spouse
This project was made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the NEH.
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