It wasn’t from Hollywood. It wasn’t from New York, Los Angeles or even another American city. It came from Venezuela.
One email from Venezuela reminds us that Gettysburg’s story belongs to the world.
Thousands of miles away, Fernando Bastidas had been following the work happening here in Gettysburg. As administrator of two of the world’s largest online communities devoted to the history and cinematic representation of the American Civil War, he wasn’t simply reaching out as a fan. He was extending a hand across continents with a shared vision.
His message carried an extraordinary realization. The world is watching Gettysburg. His Facebook community, Civil War Movies & Series, includes more than 18,000 members, with more than three-quarters of its audience living in the United States.
Remarkably, Gettysburg ranks as one of its most engaged cities. Another thriving audience comes from Lima, Peru, demonstrating that Civil War history continues to captivate people far beyond America’s borders.
His second community, Guerra Civil Americana en Español, has about 8,000 Spanish-speaking members from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Venezuela, Cuba and many other nations. Despite language barriers, geography and even limited internet access in some regions, thousands gather daily around one common interest: the history and cinematic legacy of Gettysburg.
These numbers represent far more than social media statistics. They represent opportunity.
For generations, Gettysburg has been known as the place where history changed America. Today, it can become the place where the world gathers to experience how that history continues to live through film.
Fernando’s vision reaches well beyond online conversations. He imagines Gettysburg becoming the international home for Civil War cinema screenings, a place where forgotten classics, new independent films, documentaries and major productions are screened in the very landscape where history unfolded. Gettysburg is a destination where filmmakers, historians, students and audiences from around the globe come together to experience stories in the place they were born.
This isn’t simply a cultural dream. It is an economic strategy. Every film premiere and screening brings visitors who stay in our hotels, dine in our restaurants, shop in our stores and discover everything Adams County has to offer.
Film tourism has transformed communities around the world. Locations made famous through cinema continue welcoming visitor’s decades after filming ends, creating sustainable economic growth for local businesses.
Gettysburg possesses something few places can claim. It is authentic. There is no movie set capable of recreating the emotional power of standing where history happened. By embracing film, we are not replacing our history, we are giving new generations another doorway through which to discover it.
As Fernando notes, history has repeatedly demonstrated the influence of Civil War cinema. During the First World War, military leaders from other nations studied American Civil War films to better understand battlefield tactics. Early filmmakers worked alongside Civil War veterans to create authentic depictions of battle, forever establishing Gettysburg as one of the world’s most recognizable historical landscapes.
We can transform Gettysburg into the epicenter of this cinematic legacy. We should establish a dedicated venue to bridge the past and the present, bringing both forgotten classics, long removed from commercial circuits and new independent productions to the local screen.
Today, that cinematic legacy continues. The Gettysburg Film Commission has spent the past several years building relationships with filmmakers, producers, historians, educators, government leaders, businesses and volunteers. Those relationships are now extending across oceans. What began as one email has become the beginning of an international partnership.
Fernando has invited the Gettysburg Film Commission to engage directly with his worldwide communities, introducing Gettysburg to tens of thousands of history enthusiasts and filmmakers who share a passion for preserving historical accuracy and celebrating powerful storytelling.
Together, we are exploring the possibility of creating international Civil War film screenings, filmmaker collaborations, educational programs and conversations that unite people from every corner of the world through one shared story.
This is what relationship-building looks like. It begins with the courage to send an email. It begins with saying yes before knowing exactly where the journey will lead. Dreams rarely arrive fully formed. They begin as conversations, evolve into partnerships and eventually become realities that change communities. That is exactly what is happening today.
The Gettysburg Film Commission was founded on the belief that film can strengthen local economies, create jobs, preserve history, educate future generations and inspire visitors from around the world. Every relationship built expands that mission.
Sometimes the greatest opportunities don’t come from the biggest cities. Sometimes they arrive quietly, from a filmmaker, a historian or a passionate advocate living thousands of miles away, who simply believes Gettysburg deserves to become the global center of Civil War cinema.
The world is paying attention. The question is no longer whether Gettysburg has something to offer the world. The question is whether we are ready to embrace the world that is already reaching out to us.
Because every meaningful relationship begins with one courageous step. And this one began with an email from Venezuela.
Together, we now look toward a future where Gettysburg is recognized not only as the place where American history was forever changed, but as the place where that history continues to inspire the world through the enduring power of cinema.
The Gettysburg Film Commission is honored to once again be part of ACCF Giving Spree 2026, where one day of generosity can change lives, strengthen our community and ensure Gettysburg’s stories continue to inspire the world. This November 5, 2026, stand with us and prove that when we give together, then hope, opportunity and lasting impact become our greatest legacy.
Kris Webb is co-founder/film commissioner of Gettysburg Film Commission. Email kristin@gettysburgfilmcommission.org or call 717-334-0551. Visit us at gettysburgfilmcommission.org.
