PRODU + Horowitz Thought Leadership: Elaine Del Valle

Our next feature in the ongoing series powered by Horowitz Research x PRODU spotlights the perspectives of Elaine Del Valle, award-winning writer, director, producer, and actress. Del Valle brings a deeply personal and powerful voice to the conversation on multicultural representation, underscoring why authentic storytelling is essential for Latinx audiences and beyond.

At Horowitz Research, our mission is to deliver deep insights into how diverse audiences engage with media content and technology. For example, one in four Gen Zers (24%) specifically seek out content from cultures and communities other than their own, according to our study State of Media, Entertainment, and Tech: FOCUS Generation Next 2025.

Below, Elaine shares her reflections on the importance of cultural representation in media and the role of film in bridging communities:

“When I read that 59% of the media Latinx Gen Zers consume is in-culture media, I feel both seen and responsible. These young people are looking for mirrors—for stories that help them recognize themselves, their families, their struggles, and their joy. Brownsville Bred, which opens theatrically on September 19th, is my love letter to that need. It’s my story, rooted in the streets of Brownsville and in the rhythms of Puerto Rico, but it’s also the story of so many who grew up wondering if their voices, their accents, and their homes were worthy of being on a big screen. I made this film for them—for every young person who deserves to feel that their culture is not only valid, but beautiful and cinematic”.

And when I see that 24% of all Gen Z seek out content outside of their own culture, I feel hopeful. It means there is a generation ready to open their hearts, to step into someone else’s shoes, and to find themselves in the common threads of humanity. I’ve seen firsthand on the festival circuit—through the collective gasps, tears, laughter, and applause—that this film resonates with people from all walks of life. I feel strongly about seeing movies at the movies, because it’s in that shared space that we understand this connection in the most meaningful way. Sitting together in a darkened theater, we discover what we have in common—whether we’re seeing our own families reflected on screen for the first time or realizing that our differences are far outweighed by what we share. That is the power of film: to remind us that we are different, yes, but also deeply connected.” – Elaine Del Valle

About Brownsville Bred

US Release Date: September 19, 2025
Starring: Nathalia Lares, Javier Muñoz, Karina Ortiz
Directed by: Elaine Del Valle
Synopsis: In 1980s Brownsville, Brooklyn, Elaine is on the cusp of becoming a teenager. She wrestles with her mother’s resilience, the father she resents, and the chaos outside her window—while discovering her Puerto Rican roots and the courage to forge her own path.

About Elaine Del Valle

Elaine Del Valle rose to prominence with her autobiographical off-Broadway stage play Brownsville Bred, which won critical acclaim and was named “Best Play” by The New York International Fringe Festival. She has since become a sought-after director, with award-winning shorts and series under her belt, including projects with Warner Bros. Discovery, CBS, and HBO. As a storyteller, she is dedicated to spotlighting underrepresented voices, particularly those of women and the Latinx community, with the goal of shifting narratives and expanding cultural representation in media.