EXCLUSIVE: Actress Eva Longoria has signed on to executive produce La Tierra del Valor (Home of the Brave), the new film from L.A. Times Short Docs directed by award-winning filmmaker Cristina Costantini.
The documentary, which debuts Thursday on latimes.com/shortdocs, centers on Nezza, the Latina American pop star who bravely sang a Spanish-language version of the U.S. National Anthem at Dodgers Stadium last year even as ICE agents were causing an uproar in the city with immigration raids.
Watch the trailer for the documentary above.
“On June 14, 2025, as No Kings Day protesters filled the streets of Los Angeles, Nezza stepped onto the field at Dodger Stadium to sing the national anthem,” notes a release. “But instead of the traditional English version, she boldly performed ‘El Pendón Estrellado,’ a Spanish-language rendition commissioned in 1945 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was a small but mighty act that gave a community hope when it needed it most; a declaration of belonging not just for the city’s Spanish-speaking communities, but for generations of immigrants who left behind the lives they knew in pursuit of something better for their children.”
Costantini’s credits include Science Fair, co-directed with Darren Foster; Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado (co-directed with Kareem Tabsch), and Sally, her documentary about astronaut Sally Ride. La Tierra del Valor is produced by Costantini and Alfie Koetter, Costantini’s husband; together, they directed the award-winning 2022 short film The Originals.
“I was raised on a vision of America that families like mine could belong, could build, could live without fear,” Costantini stated. “Watching the promise of our country collapse as ICE agents continue to terrorize innocent people has been gutting. When so many have chosen the comfort of silence, though, Nezza chose courage. And in that moment, she made me proud to be an American again. I hope that Nezza’s story is a reminder to all of us that bravery isn’t reserved for politicians and those in power, but that it is the stuff of everyday people.”
Along with actress-filmmaker Eva Longoria, the film is executive produced by Cris Abrego and Rachelle Mendez of Hyphenate Media Group, the production company co-founded by Longoria and Abrego. They join are joined as EPs by the Muck Media team of Emmy Award winners Mariana van Zeller, Darren Foster, Jeff Plunkett, Alex Simmons and more.
“At a moment when ICE raids were tearing through Latino communities, Nezza stood on a national stage and reminded the world that being American has never been defined by asingle language or heritage,” Longoria observed. “By singing our national anthem in Spanish, she reclaimed a symbol of our shared identity and turned a moment of fear into a powerful declaration of belonging. I’m proud to join Cristina and the filmmaking team, especially as the violence and injustice Nezza stood against continue to terrorize communities across the country.”
L.A. Times Short Docs, now in its fourth season, is an Academy Award-winning series that “celebrates documentary filmmaking with a West Coast perspective… [showcasing] the work of established and emerging voices who break with convention and present undiscovered stories that challenge, move and inspire audiences.”
La Tierra del Valor (Home of the Brave) is presented by LA Times Studios and produced by Muck Media in association with DoctoraStories and Hyphenate Media. The film is directed and produced by Cristina Costantini, produced by Alfie Koetter, and edited by Mohammed El Manasterly. Music is by Jeff Morrow; the director of photography is Daniel Hollis Diamond, with additional photography by Keean Johnson.
Executive producers include Eva Longoria, Yuna Ma, Jihan Robinson, Mariana van Zeller, Jeff Plunkett, Alex Simmons, Darren Foster, Juan Arenas, Myrna Perez, Josh Albillo, Sarah Schoellkopf, Terry Tang, Anna Magzanyan, and Jason Spingarn-Koff.
Watch the trailer for La Tierra del Valor (Home of the Brave) above. It begins with Nezza at Dodgers Stadium being told she should sing the national anthem in English.