Sum Function heads to San Diego International Film Festival

The award-winning veteran documentary Sum Function will screen twice at the 25th San Diego International Film Festival on Oct. 15 and 16 in La Jolla. The film’s return to Southern California carries extra weight for Marine veteran director Noah Currier, who served and was injured at Camp Pendleton, where part of the documentary was filmed.

Why it matters: - Sum Function brings a veteran-led story about disability, purpose and resilience to a major Southern California festival. - The screenings also mark a homecoming for director and Marine veteran Noah Currier, whose military service and injury are tied to the region. - The film puts attention on adaptive sports and the Oscar Mike Militia, the nation’s only all-veteran wheelchair rugby team.

What happened: - Sum Function will make its San Diego premiere with two screenings at the 25th San Diego International Film Festival. - The screenings are set for Oct. 15 and Oct. 16 at AMC 14 at Westfield UTC in La Jolla. - The festival runs Oct. 13-18 and is marking its 25th anniversary in 2026. - The festival’s 2026 slate includes 90 films from 22 countries, selected from a record 3,500 submissions.

The details: - Sum Function follows members of the Oscar Mike Militia as they navigate challenges beyond wheelchair rugby. - Each athlete in the film lives with impairments affecting all four limbs. - The documentary shifts from sport into themes of relationships, access, survival and mutual support. - Currier attended boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in 2000. - Currier was later stationed at Camp Pendleton. - Currier deployed to Iraq in 2003 with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. - Three days after returning from deployment, Currier was injured in a motor vehicle accident that left him a quadriplegic at age 21. - Portions of Sum Function were filmed at Camp Pendleton. - Currier said bringing the finished film back to Southern California means a lot because the region is tied to his service, his injury and the film’s production. - Members of the Oscar Mike Militia featured in the film will take part in a Q&A after the screening. - The team will also engage with the local VA. - The 90-minute feature documentary is directed by Noah Currier and Nick Cavalier. - Sum Function has earned awards and recognition across the country during its 2026 festival run. - Tickets and screening information are available through the San Diego International Film Festival. - More information is available on the official Sum Function website.

Between the lines: - The film is positioned as both a sports documentary and a broader story about veterans rebuilding identity after trauma. - Currier’s personal connection to Camp Pendleton gives the San Diego screenings added emotional context beyond a standard festival stop. - The Q&A and VA engagement suggest the premiere is being framed as a community event, not just a film showing.

What's next: - The San Diego screenings on Oct. 15 and 16 will be the film’s local premiere. - Festival audiences, veterans and military families in the region will have a chance to see the film and hear from the people featured in it. - Sum Function will continue its 2026 festival run as it adds more recognition and audience reach.