First Capital Films, in association with Faith Channel, announces the upcoming release of the feature film Learning You, opening in select theaters nationwide on January 16, 2026. Directed and produced by Tyler Sansom, this heartfelt drama-based on the real experiences of families raising children with special needs-shines a light on the strength, hope, and redemptive love shared between a father (John Wells) and his autistic son (Caleb Milby).
When an architect embarks on a Christmas road trip with his son, their journey of struggle and renewal deeply impacts a billionaire father facing his own challenges. Featuring a cast that includes Stacy Haiduk, Daniel Roebuck, Cameron Arnett, Al Snow, and Read Choi, the film blends authenticity with inspiration, employing individuals on the autism spectrum both on-screen and behind the scenes.
With 100% of the filmmakers' proceeds going to ACT (Awareness, Connection, Touch), a nonprofit ministry supporting special needs families, Sansom describes the project as "a love letter to the parents and caregivers who embody unseen heroism every day." Grounded in faith, compassion, and genuine storytelling, Learning You reminds audiences that miracles often arrive quietly-through understanding, patience, and unconditional love. Watch the official trailer now and experience a preview of this powerful story of healing and hope.
We are honored to be able to chat with the film's producer and director Tyler Sansom for this exclusive interview.
Q. Thank you for doing this interview with us. In your own words, what is Learning You about?
Learning You is about the love between a father and his son, who he struggles to understand. Parents of kids with autism have specific struggles of which many of us cannot relate. This film shines a light on those struggles and challenges us all to begin to learn one another, regardless of the circumstance.
Q. The film highlights the bond between a father and his autistic son. How did you approach portraying that relationship in a way that feels both authentic and hopeful?
We were very intentional not to romanticize this specific relationship. Feedback that we got from parents in the autism community was that many movies about autism lean into the "happy ending" too much. We strove to tell a story that is both entertaining and authentic to the shared experiences of parents of kids with autism. We had parents on set who have kids with autism. one of our producers and his wife fall into that category as well. The writer of the script wrote this partially about his real life family, and the lead actor (John Wells) has a profoundly autistic son. So we tried to cover as many bases of authenticity as possible.
Q. The film was made to honor caregivers and parents of children with special needs. What moments during production most reminded you of that mission?
There were moments where the crew, who didn't have a ton of experience with the autism community, clearly had their eyes opened to the hardships that parents and caregivers face. Also, having John as the lead actor, and leaning on his real life experience, created many powerful moments. One specific example is when we were filming on the shoreline at Myrtle Beach (SC) and one of the extras, named Marcy, on the beach ended up having a grandkid with autism. John and Marcy connected and then Marcy ended up praying over him. She prayed over a specific issue and had no idea that it matched a text message that John had received before we started shooting about some of the struggles his son was experiencing that day. It was a profoundly moving moment.
Q. Including individuals on the autism spectrum both in front of and behind the camera makes this production unique. How did that influence the atmosphere on set and the film's storytelling?
It made everything feel significantly more real. We were able to ask questions and make decisions on the fly as we learned from the real life experiences of both the people on set who were either autistic themselves, or parents/caregivers of kids on the spectrum.
Q. The film donates 100% of its proceeds to ACT, a nonprofit supporting special needs families. What impact do you hope this act of generosity will have beyond the screen?
I hope that this helps create a movement across the world that allows those who feel isolated and voiceless to know that there ARE people who care about them, see them, and value their voices.
Q. What do you hope audiences will take away from Learning You?
I hope they experience an enjoyable film, and take away a sense of understanding for what a group of people go through on a daily basis. I also hope they experience a Christian film that isn't shy about portraying authenticity.
For more information, visit www.learningyoumovie.com.
