"American Sons" LA County Hispanic Heritage Month Event

https://americansonsfilm.com/

@americansonsfilm

Alongside Supervisor Hilda Solis and PBS SoCal, The Warrior Heritage Foundation will proudly present a screening of American Sons—fresh from its premiere at SXSW. This powerful film honors the profound sacrifices and contributions of Hispanic Americans to our nation and to Los Angeles County.

'American Sons ' is a profoundly intimate documentary that traces the enduring scars of war through the story of Cpl. JV Villarreal, a Mexican American Marine from San Antonio, Texas, killed in action in Afghanistan. Told through JV’s own raw, never-before-seen combat footage and the decade-long emotional journey of his Marine brothers and family, the film is both a tribute and a courageous exploration of grief, resilience, and undying love.

Visually arresting and emotionally uncompromising, the film is both a reckoning and a call to action - challenging the nation to confront its obligations to those who serve. In its most powerful moments, American Sons reveals a rare and tender expression of brotherhood, proving that the courage to heal can be as profound as the courage to fight."

Doors open: 5:00PM

Program and film begins: 5:30PM

Silent auction, and after-event (meet the filmmakers) begins: 7:00PM

Event ends: 8:00 PM

Parking: On-site (only 70 spots available on-site over flow parking at 240 Venice St. or the convention center parking garage)

An assortment of bites and a cash bar will be available for purchase before and after the screening. Proceeds will directly support the mission of the Warrior Heritage Foundation.

www.warriorheritagefoundation.org

Producer / Director – Andrew Gonzales:

Andrew James Gonzales is an award-winning Texas filmmaker and the Producer, Director, Cinematographer, and Editor of American Sons, a feature-length documentary that reveals the sacrifices of veterans and their families and confronts the mental health epidemic impacting those who return from combat.

Dedicated to telling underrepresented stories with raw, honesty, Gonzales brings a rare blend of technical skill and emotional sensitivity to his work. His dual role behind the camera and in the editing room gives American Sons a visual and emotional cohesion that captures the veteran experience with unprecedented intimacy.

More than a filmmaker, Andrew is an advocate. His work is rooted in a commitment to honoring veterans, raising awareness about mental health and ensuring that the sacrifices of service members are both recognized and remembered. Through storytelling, he seeks to create connection, healing, and a deeper cultural understanding.

Producer – Laura Varela:

Laura Varela is a cultural translator and channels her upbringing on the US/ Mexico border in El Paso, TX, into her work, transcending cultural, linguistic, and physical borders through film and contemporary art installations. She is based in San Antonio, TX, a hub for her filmmaking and artistic endeavors. American Sons, Produced by Laura Varela, had its World Premiere at SXSW 2025 and will broadcast nationally on PBS on January 12, 2026. She is a producer for the VoxFem Network, a platform for innovative, international women artists and changemakers. Her work as a Producer/Director/Writer for documentary films further underscores her commitment to social justice movements and her life’s mission to use art and storytelling to uplift the Latinx/Chicanx community. She is developing a feature film, QUEEN OF THE ACCORDION, based on the life of Conjunto musician Eva Ybarra; and the documentary REBECCA FLORES: UNDER THE SOUTH TEXAS SUN with Anne Lewis.

Varela’s documentary, AS LONG AS I REMEMBER: AMERICAN VETERANOS, was broadcast nationally on PBS from 2010 to 2016 via American Public Television. UN TRIP: RAÚLRSALINAS AND THE POETRY OF LIBERATION (documentary short) by Anne Lewis and Laura Varela has completed its film festival run and has won numerous awards and has been broadcast on PBS stations across Texas as part of the Frame of Mind Series. She is the Associate Producer on Anne Lewis’s 2028 film A STRIKE AND AN UPRISING (IN TEXAS!) EMMA TENAYUCA AND THE 1938 SAN ANTONIO PECAN SHELLERS STRIKE and helped develop the academic website.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Patriotic Hall, 1816 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, United States