Presented in partnership with Iowa City Pride and the University of Iowa

A Community Collaborations event presented by GreenState Credit Union

Presented in partnership with The University of Iowa Departments of Anthropology, Gender, Women's & Sexuality Studies, Cinematic Arts, and the Center for Asian & Pacific Studies

Followed by a virtual postshow conversation with director Peter McDowell 

"A journey of personal healing."—Tara Judah, Screen International

"A personal story which reminds us that history is comprised not simply of great events but of human experiences."—Jennie Kermode, Eye for Film

"Poetic... exposes the secrets, lies, and taboo love that existed a half century ago."—Frank J. Avella, Edge Media Network

Jimmy in Saigon begins as a personal exploration into the mysterious death and radical life of Jimmy McDowell, an American 24-year-old Vietnam veteran who died as a civilian in Saigon in 1972 when filmmaker Peter McDowell was only five. While investigating Jimmy’s drug use and sexuality, Peter takes us from the US Midwest to Vietnam, France, and back home again. In his quest to get to know his brother, he uncovers a hidden romance, new family ties, and a remarkable global love story.

About Director/Producer Peter McDowell

Peter’s storytelling reflects his training as an actor, musician, curator and producer, stemming from a childhood surrounded by opera and the arts. Previous films, including the acclaimed I Dream of Dorothy, have been shown at festivals around the world. A recipient of the highly competitive DeVos Institute for Arts Management International Fellowship at the University of Maryland, Peter also received a Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events Individual Artists Program grant and a California Humanities Council grant for Jimmy in Saigon. Peter lived in San Francisco from 1992-1996 and 2010-2011. He worked for the San Francisco Opera and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where he was part of the inaugural staff. Two of Peter’s short films played at the Frameline Film Festival, in 1994 and 1995.
Peter is the founder of Peter McDowell Arts Consulting and recently served as the Director of Development for American Friends of the Louvre. He currently resides in Los Angeles.