American Sons

01/26/2026

Houston — join us this Saturday, January 31 for a special screening of the PBS documentary American Sons at Rice University / Rice Cinema.

American Sons is a powerful PBS VOCES documentary that follows a brotherhood of U.S. Marines more than a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan as they reconnect, grieve, and search for healing after the loss of their brother, Cpl. Jorge “JV” Villarreal. Told in part through JV’s own video diaries, the film offers an intimate look at sacrifice, trauma, and the enduring bonds forged in war.

🎥 Screening begins at 7:00 PM, followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Andrew James Gonzales and producer Elizabeth Avellán.

📍 Rice Cinema, Sarofim Hall
🎟 Free and open to the public (tickets required – link in bio)

We cordially invite you to join us for this special evening of film and conversation.
A co-production of Latino Public Broadcasting and Black Public Media , with major funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities , a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Additional support provided by the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund and the AirPower Foundation

01/23/2026

We are so grateful to screen American Sons at the Marine Memorial Theater!

01/21/2026

Tomorrow San Francisco January 22, 6 PM at the Marine Memorial Theatre. Meet Producer, Laura Varela producer, Director, Andrew Gonzales, and film participant Billy Branch (India Battery 3/12). 

American Sons is a PBS documentary that has been screened at prestigious film festivals such as SXSW. The film is a profoundly intimate documentary that

01/17/2026

Years after deployment, the Marines of India Battery come together again - talking openly about loss, survival, and the bonds that don’t fade with time or distance. These are the conversations that don’t often happen in public, but they are the ones that matter most.

American Sons is now streaming on PBS.org and the PBS App. Link in Bio.

If you haven’t seen it yet, we hope you’ll take the time.

01/15/2026

Join us for two special in-person screenings of American Sons this month:

🗓 Thursday, January 22 —
📍 Marines’ Memorial Theatre in San Francisco
🎥 Screening at 6:00pm.
🎟️ Free event with registration required (Link in bio)

🗓 Saturday, January 31 —
📍 Rice University / Rice Cinema in Houston
🎥 Starts at 7:00pm, followed by a Q&A with filmmakers.
🎟️ Free screening (Link in bio)

And if you can’t make it in person, American Sons is now streaming on , PBS.org, and the PBS app through April 13. Watch, share, and keep the conversation going.

01/15/2026

VOCES' "American Sons" introduces us to a brotherhood of Marines a decade after their deployment to Afghanistan, as they struggle to overcome the trauma of combat and the loss of many of their comrades, including their dear friend JV, who was killed in action by an IED.

Watch it now on the PBS app.

01/14/2026

NOW STREAMING on PBS , PBS.org, and the PBS app until April 13.

American Sons is a profoundly intimate documentary that traces the enduring scars of war through the story of Cpl. Jorge “JV” Villarreal Jr., a Mexican American Marine from Texas who was killed in action in Afghanistan. Told through never-before-seen combat footage and the decade-long journey of his Marine brothers and family, American Sons is both a tribute and a courageous exploration of grief, resilience, and love.

A co-production of Latino Public Broadcasting and with major funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

This project was made possible with support from California Humanities , a non-profit partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Supported by the Jacquie Jones Memorial Fund and the Airpower Foundation with additional support from Bexar County and the City of San Antonio Arts & Culture