Beyond the Battlefield: Sag Harbor Cinema Explores Veterans’ Mental Health Through Film

In a free Nov. 15 program, Sag Harbor Cinema pairs two films about the psychological toll of military service with a candid discussion featuring veterans and mental health experts.

The battles don’t always end when soldiers come home.

For many veterans, the transition from military to civilian life brings a different set of challenges — from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to isolation and the struggle to reconnect with family, friends and everyday life.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, Sag Harbor Cinema will turn its attention to those often-invisible struggles with a free program exploring veterans’ mental health through film and conversation.

Part of the cinema’s year-round Lighthouse Project, the event begins at 11 a.m. with screenings of two films, followed by a 1:30 p.m. panel discussion featuring a mental health specialist and veterans who understand the challenges of life after military service.

The centerpiece is Leave No Trace (2018), director Debra Granik’s acclaimed drama starring Ben Foster as Will, an Iraq War veteran living with PTSD who has retreated to the forests of Oregon with his teenage daughter, Tom (Thomasin McKenzie). When their secluded existence is discovered, father and daughter must confront the demands of a society Will has struggled to rejoin.

The second film, Bearing Witness (2026), is a 10-minute documentary-style video featuring veterans participating in a June 2026 retreat organized by Shelter Island-based nonprofit Strongpoint Theinert Ranch. Through shared activities, service projects and personal reflections, the film explores how camaraderie and connection can help veterans navigate life after military service.

“While every veteran’s experience is different, the transition from military to civilian life can present challenges that aren’t always visible,” said Benjamin Fischer, a U.S. Army veteran who served two combat tours in Iraq and will participate in the discussion.

“Organizations like Strongpoint Theinert Ranch provide an opportunity for veterans to reconnect, share experiences, and rediscover the camaraderie and support that are so important during and after military service.”

Joining Fischer on the panel will be Dr. Desiree Romaguera, director of the Unified Behavioral Health Center for Military Veterans and Their Families at Northwell Health. James “Jimbo” Theinert, president and facilitator of Strongpoint Theinert Ranch and a Gold Star brother, will moderate.

Romaguera sees the two films as complementary portraits of trauma and healing.

“Leave No Trace portrays the grip of unresolved trauma and how difficult it can be to loosen our reliance on defense mechanisms that once helped us survive but interfere with creating a new story outside of seeking safety,” she said.

“Bearing Witness shows us how emotional processing and leaning into connection can make a world of difference on the healing journey.”

Theinert emphasized the importance of veterans helping one another.

“The shared bond of military service creates an environment where veterans can openly discuss challenges, exchange strategies, and support one another,” he said.

The Lighthouse Project was established by Sag Harbor Cinema board members Bill Collage and Dr. Diana Diamond to encourage conversations about mental health through film, education and community engagement. The series is led by Dr. Meghan McGinley Arnone, the cinema’s director of education and grants management.

“The Lighthouse Project offers an opportunity to better understand experiences different from our own,” said Mark Lubell, executive director of Sag Harbor Cinema. “We are grateful to the veterans and mental health professionals whose perspectives continue the conversation beyond the screen.”

The Nov. 15 program will include an audience Q&A, with light bites and refreshments served during the discussion. The event is supported by Bobbie Braun/The Neuwirth Foundation.

IF YOU GO

Veteran Mental Health: Sag Harbor Cinema’s Lighthouse Project

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026

11 a.m. — Film screenings: Leave No Trace and Bearing Witness

1:30 p.m. — Expert panel discussion and audience Q&A

Sag Harbor Cinema

90 Main St., Sag Harbor, NY

Admission: Free. Advance registration required; seating is limited. Guests may register for the films and panel or attend only the panel discussion.

Information and registration: https://www.sagharborcinema.org/