Vietnam War Documentary Will Premiere This October
Director Mat Hames chronicles a veteran's return to Vietnam in a new documentary film.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Documentary
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Filmmaker Mat Hames will premiere his new documentary, Home from the Vietnam War, at the Heartland Film Festival on October 16, 2026. The film features U.S. Army veteran Lee Alley as he returns to battle sites in Vietnam to seek reconciliation.
Why it matters
The documentary aims to explore the veteran's journey toward peace after decades of silence regarding his wartime experiences. It highlights the lasting personal impacts of the conflict more than fifty years later.
Alpheus Media has produced over 20 feature documentaries that have reached 20 million viewers. Director Mat Hames holds 12 regional Emmy Awards for his past work.
The players
Mat Hames
He is an award-winning filmmaker and director known for producing documentaries through his Austin-based company, Alpheus Media.
Lee Alley
He is a U.S. Army veteran who features in the documentary as he revisits his past experiences in Vietnam.
Alpheus Media
This Austin-based production company specializes in documentary filmmaking and has produced over 20 feature-length projects.
John Nguyen
He is a friend who accompanies the veteran on his journey back to Vietnam.
The details
The film follows Lee Alley, a U.S. Army veteran, as he visits Vietnam with his friend John Nguyen. Produced for Wyoming PBS by Alpheus Media, the documentary utilizes interviews and footage of the veteran confronting his past at a former battle site.
Timeline
October 16, 2026: Premiere screening at Heartland Film Festival.
October 18, 2026: Secondary screening at Heartland Film Festival.
November 11, 2026: Screening at St. Louis International Film Festival.
November 12, 2026: Digital streaming release on YouTube.
2027: Planned filming of Power Trip season three.
Industry Dynamics
The documentary mirrors the focus on personal testimony popularized by the Ken Burns and Lynn Novick series The Vietnam War. It reflects a growing industry trend toward using intimate, singular veteran narratives to bridge gaps between historical record and modern reconciliation.
Viewers can attend upcoming festival screenings in October and November before the film becomes widely available. The documentary will be accessible to the general public via YouTube beginning November 12, 2026.
The takeaway
This film highlights the long-term process of post-war reconciliation for veterans returning to the sites of their service. It provides a case study for how documentary storytelling can facilitate individual closure through archival footage and direct confrontation of the past.
What happens next
The film is scheduled to screen at the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 11, 2026, followed by a wide release on YouTube on November 12, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest projects in the Documentary section.
More information
Access further details on the project at the Mat Hames documentary information website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by North Texas e-News.
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