Event Details
“NASTY,” the story of an F-15 pilot scrambled into action on September 11, will screen September 20 at the Madison Street Theater.
A locally produced documentary about an F-15 pilot’s experience on September 11, 2001, has been selected for the 2026 Oak Park Film Festival.
“NASTY,” directed and produced by John Scaletta, tells the story of Lt. Col. Daniel “Nasty” Nash, a 1984 graduate of Lyons Township High School who went on to become an F-15 fighter pilot with the Massachusetts Air National Guard.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Nash and his wingman were scrambled from Otis Air National Guard Base and flew at supersonic speed toward New York City. Their mission was to intercept what authorities believed could be a hijacked commercial airliner.
The 40-minute documentary explores Nash’s military service, the uncertainty surrounding his mission that morning and the lasting emotional effects of September 11, including his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
After receiving a warm response at film festivals across the country, “NASTY” was selected for the Oak Park Film Festival and nominated for Best Long-Form Documentary.
“This local screening means a great deal to us because it gives Dan’s friends, former classmates and members of the community an opportunity to experience his story together on the big screen,” Scaletta said. “It is especially meaningful as we commemorate the 25th anniversary of September 11 and remember everyone whose life was forever changed by that day.”
The film will be presented as part of the festival’s “Legacy & Impact” program, a collection of documentaries about people whose lives and work have left a lasting mark on others.
“NASTY” will screen at 10 a.m. Sunday, September 20, at the Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St., Oak Park.
Additional festival and ticket information is available at www.opilff.org.