American Sons Documentary Impact Tour

*Stream here tonight at 7:30 PM CST!
Check our events page for more details!

Premiering Monday, January 12th, 2026 on PBS, PBS.org, and the PBS app, American Sons, Produced by Laura Varela, Produced and Directed by Andrew James Gonzales, follows a group of Marines a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan as they navigate the lingering trauma of war and the devastating loss of their comrade, Corporal JV Villarreal. Through Villarreal’s haunting first-person video diary, audiences gain an intimate view of life on the front lines and the unbreakable bonds formed through sacrifice. The film serves as a poignant exploration of resilience, grief, and the urgent need for mental health support among veterans.

A Story of Brotherhood, Loss, and Healing

“This project is our commitment to breaking the stigma of mental health and fostering healing through community support for Veterans. Through this story we mean to inspire meaningful conversations and amplify the voices of veterans being left behind.” Andrew Gonzales, Producer/Director

“We are deeply honored that Cpl JV Villarreal's family and his fellow Marines have placed their trust in us to share their story. It is both a privilege and a significant responsibility.” Laura Varela, Producer

American Sons is funded by Latino Public Broadcasting, Black Public Media via the Jacquie Jones Memorial Award, Bexar County, and the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture, with major funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This project was also made possible with support from California Humanities, a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. www.calhum.org. Supported by the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund and the Airpower Foundation.

American Sons is a co-production of Infinite Warrior LLC, Latino Public Broadcasting, and Black Public Media.