AfterImage Public Media is a non-profit organization that partners with independent documentary filmmakers dedicated to telling stories that illuminate complex social issues and catalyze change. Through its latest film, IN WAVES AND WAR, the team is bringing national and global attention to the mental health challenges facing veterans, while opening new conversations about healing, trauma, and emerging therapeutic approaches.

IN WAVES AND WAR has evolved from a powerful documentary into a broader impact campaign designed to drive meaningful dialogue. The film is being screened across universities, clinical settings, professional associations, and veteran communities, creating spaces for conversation among those most directly engaged in mental health care and policy.

A central focus of this work is ensuring that each screening serves as more than a viewing experience. The team has developed a targeted engagement strategy that pairs screenings with facilitated discussions, educational tools, and partnerships with clinicians, researchers, and community leaders. These efforts are designed to deepen understanding and encourage action among audiences who are positioned to influence care, policy, and access.

The film has reached diverse audiences through screenings at the Student Veterans of America conference, the North Carolina Counseling Association Annual Conference, and leading institutions such as the American Psychiatric Association. International momentum is also building, with screenings hosted by organizations including MAPS Canada and the Association for Finnish Psychedelic Education & Culture.

The film’s impact has also extended into policy change. In Texas, advocacy screenings helped build momentum for the passage of SB 2308, the Texas Ibogaine Initiative, which allocated $50 million in state funding for clinical trials supporting veterans experiencing PTSD and traumatic brain injury. In California, screenings for lawmakers helped advance Assembly Bill 1103, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, removing key barriers to psychedelic research.

Public response has reinforced the urgency of this work. Ratings data shows that the film was viewed by 1 million+ Netflix accounts globally in its first 28 days, representing an estimated 2 million viewers worldwide.

To expand this impact, AfterImage Public Media partnered with ROCO to launch a global campaign of 1,000 screenings. This effort will bring the documentary into veteran communities, healthcare settings, universities, and professional networks at an unprecedented scale. Early response has made clear that the demand for this conversation is both urgent and widespread.

IN WAVES AND WAR was named one of the 10 best movies of the year by The Washington Post. The film has also generated national media attention through outlets including PBS NewsHour, CNN, and The Daily Show helping bring veteran mental health conversations into the mainstream.

These efforts position IN WAVES AND WAR as more than a film. It is a catalyst for dialogue, connection, and change, helping to reshape how mental health is understood and addressed for veterans and beyond.

“Bonni and I have long been drawn to stories of resilience, transformation, and hope. With this film, we were captivated by the unlikely intersection of two seemingly opposing worlds: the hyper-disciplined culture of Navy SEALs and the countercultural realm of psychedelic therapy. In that tension, we saw a rare opportunity to explore deeply personal healing journeys and address the urgent mental health crisis among veterans—particularly the epidemic of suicide—and to help destigmatize alternative treatments in that community.”

– Jon Shenk, President