'Florian's Knights' Film To Be Screened At CSFA Conference In Temecula

TEMECULA, CA — The California State Firefighters' Association has planned a special screening of "Florian's Knights" during their first event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula.

"Florian's Knights" is a documentary film released in 2021 that follows a group of firefighters who form a controversial motorcycle club to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder due to life in the fire service. According to the producer ad director, the film seeks to answer the unspoken question of why so many firefighters have lost their lives due to mental health disorders.

The film and question and answer session afterward is part of the CSFA's firstTraining and Education Expo conference, held at Pechanga Resort Casino from Sunday through Thursday, according to the event organizer and CSFA President Hemet Fire Chief Eddie Sell.

Admission to the showing of "Florian's Knights" is free for CTEX conference attendees.

General public admission is $20 per person, online. Proceeds will go toward supporting the mental and emotional health of California Firefighters.

The public is welcome to attend the showing and take part in the question and answer session, afterward.

"Florian's Knights" is a documentary-style film that explores a motorcycle club that began to help firefighters cope with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder related to their day-to-day traumatic experiences.

Producer and director Panayioti Yannitsos, as well as several cast members of the feature film, will be on hand for a "question and answer session after the showing, said Hemet Fire Chief Eddie Sell, president and organizer of the CSFA event.

Sell reviewed the film before throwing in his support.

"I thought the movie was well done," he said. "These are real firefighters that work across North America, up to Toronto, Vancouver, NYC and Detriot."

The film depicts real firefighters being candid about their PTSD.

"A lot of them were suffering and doing destructive things," Sell said. "They discovered wind therapy, which for these guys has been beneficial in improving how they feel and maintaining better mental health.

During the week-long conference, there will be a live fire training, a presentation on human trafficking, a presentation on Tele 911 - an innovative way for medics to get ahold of doctors in the field- to prevent people from going to the hospital in transport, and more.

Learn more on their website, and register for the conference in advance at ctex.csfa.net.