Acknowledgments & Gratitude

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported Keep On Living—from those who shared their stories, to the families who entrusted us with their truth, to our incredible volunteers, advisors, students, collaborators, and sponsors.

Your time, talent, and belief in this mission have fueled every frame of this film. Whether you contributed financially, offered a helping hand on set, or simply shared our message, you are part of this movement.

Thank you for helping us give HOPE—one story at a time.

Meet Our Cast

Keep On Living is brought to life by an extraordinary group of veterans, advocates, mental health professionals, and community leaders who courageously share their stories on screen. Each voice adds depth, authenticity, and urgency to the film’s mission of hope and healing.

Meet Our Crew

Behind the camera, our crew consists of talented, purpose-driven creatives—many of them veterans themselves—who believe deeply in the power of storytelling to change lives. From our director and producer to our editors, every person involved has poured their heart into this mission.

Niurka Castañeda is a U.S. Army veteran, filmmaker, and mental health advocate. With over 20 years of experience in logistics and a background in media and storytelling, she brings a mission-driven lens to every project. Niurka is the founder of AMOR Umbrella, a creative media company dedicated to social impact through storytelling. As a film student and speaker, she combines her lived experience with her passion for advocacy to amplify voices often unheard. She is the producer and director of Keep On Living, her directorial debut and personal call to action focused on healing, resilience, and veteran suicide prevention. .

John Paul Amaya is a multifaceted filmmaker, video editor, scriptwriter, voice actor, composer, and author with a strong background in multimedia and film technology. Since 2005, he has worked on film, TV, and digital media projects with companies including Black Lounge Films, Univision, Native Films, and Point Productions. He is the founder of O.W.C.P Films and the author of the Brothers With A Bullet series and Adventure Start: Volume 1. He holds a Bachelor’s in Film, Television, and Digital Production from Miami Dade College and is certified in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Professional Video Design. .

What people are saying?

It’s an HONOR to be a part of this film and to support it!! Thank YOU!! 💜💜

There’s a part in the original “Coming to America” movie where Eddie Murphy attends the church pageant and yells out very awkwardly and loudly, “I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE HERE!” he has this really big grin on his face and sticks out in a weird but endearing way that only Eddie Murphy can. That’s how every day without suicidal ideation feels. And I’m happy that I am still here to share that it is possible to recovery after struggling with it for almost a decade. It’s been a year and a half of post-traumatic growth. It’s still hard to believe I look forward to tomorrow each evening, when the complete opposite was my outlook for so long. Niurka Castaneda is an incredible woman and storyteller. Thank you for helping me share my story.