Delivering a Message of Hope

Many military troops, veterans, and their families suffer in the shadows from a host of behavioral health issues stemming from combat and active-duty service. A new award-winning movie, SHEEPDOG, illuminates their struggles while delivering a powerful message of healing and hope.

SHEEPDOG has been heralded as “one of the best films of the year,” following a sold-out, nationwide film festival run where it garnered multiple major awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film.

Allen Media Group Motion Pictures is expanding distribution nationwide in January 2026.

“We are very excited to partner with filmmaker Steven Grayhm to bring SHEEPDOG exclusively to theatres nationwide this winter,” said Byron Allen, Founder/Chairman/CEO Allen Media Group. “Grayhm’s uplifting original story is an inspirational tribute to all those affected by combat-based psychological trauma.”

A Story of Post Traumatic Growth

The film stars writer/director Steven Grayhm in a breakthrough role as U.S. Army veteran Calvin Cole. The cast also features Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, Emmy nominee Vondie Curtis Hall, and Matt Dallas.

The story follows a decorated combat veteran (Grayhm) who is court-ordered into treatment when an ex-convict shows up on his doorstep. Unlike many films that focus solely on the trauma of war, SHEEPDOG explores the physical and psychological repercussions with a specific focus on Post Traumatic Growth (PTG).

“Today’s military troops and veterans face a range of challenges... One of the most pressing is the invisible aftermath of service: PTS, moral injury, anxiety and depression,” Grayhm explains. “SHEEPDOG aims to meet those challenges with honesty, compassion, and hope. This is not a war film – it’s a Post Traumatic GROWTH film. It picks up where most stories end: years after the last deployment, when the parades have stopped, and when the real battle for healing begins.”

Grayhm emphasizes that the film is designed to give veterans permission to feel and seek help without shame.

“It challenges all of us to do better – to listen, to show up, and to fight for the people who once fought for us. SHEEPDOG is more than a film, it’s a conversation... a call to action… and, most importantly, a source of hope.”

Inspired by True Stories

Although Grayhm is not a combat veteran, his understanding of trauma is deeply personal. He grew up listening to his grandfather, a World War II survivor who endured five years in a German labor camp.

However, the specific spark for SHEEPDOG came from a chance encounter in 2011 with a tow truck driver.

“I had just driven through the night... and found myself in the cab of a tow truck,” Grayhm recalls. “The driver started talking... He shared that he was a father of three, struggling to hold his marriage together... Then he told me about his military service – multiple deployments – and the PTS that he was challenged with.”

That conversation changed the trajectory of Grayhm's life.

“Throughout the ride, he kept repeating, ‘I can’t believe I’m telling you this. I’ve never told my wife. I’ve never told a therapist.’... I couldn't stop thinking about him. For weeks, he stayed with me. His honesty. His pain. His courage... That encounter didn’t just stay with me; it lit a spark. Not just curiosity – responsibility.”

Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs

The movie takes its title from Lt. Col. Dave Grossman’s concept that the world is made up of sheep (who live peacefully), wolves (who prey on the weak), and sheepdogs (who protect the flock).

“The sheepdogs – they run toward danger. They protect. They serve,” Grayhm points out. “But what happens when the battle is over? When the uniform is hung up... and the wolf doesn’t stay on the battlefield? What happens when the wolf is at your door — and it’s wearing the face of your trauma, your memories, your isolation?”

The film is a tribute to the "quiet heroism" of veterans trying to reintegrate as fathers, mothers, and spouses.

“It’s about holding the line when no one’s watching. It’s about reminding those who served: You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re still in the fight – and you’re still worth fighting for.”

Free Tickets Available for Veterans

SHEEPDOG has partnered with Vet Tix, 1st Tix, and Fandango for a “Pay-It-Forward” campaign to send veterans, first responders, and their families to see the film nationwide for free.

The film is supported by a massive coalition of partners including Navy Federal Credit Union, Blue Star Families, The PenFed Foundation, Carry the Load, and many others.

“If we can save a single life with SHEEPDOG, it will be the greatest Hollywood success story,” Grayhm says. “With SHEEPDOG, we want veterans to walk away with a sense of hope — to know, deep down, that they are not alone. It’s okay not to be okay... The road to healing is not easy. It’s a lifelong journey. But it’s worth it. Every life is worth it.”

For more information visit: SheepdogTheMovie.com