La Tierra del Valor | Oscar-Qualifying Film Screening
September 10 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm
A Story That Speaks to Our Moment
La Tierra del Valor (The Home of the Brave) is a 23-minute documentary short directed by Cristina Costantini and starring singer-songwriter NEZZA (Vanessa Hernandez). The film follows NEZZA’s decision to sing the national anthem in Spanish at Dodger Stadium amid the immigration raids that swept across Los Angeles last summer, a powerful act of courage and cultural expression that resonated with communities across the region.
NEZZA’s decision was an assertion of identity, belonging, and courage, and it invited people to consider how we can stand up for ourselves and our communities every day.
The film has screened at Sundance and the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, earning recognition for its powerful and timely storytelling. It is now pursuing an Oscar nomination.
Why ABC Is Supporting This Film
At ABC, we’re committed to uplifting our stories and supporting communities impacted by disruptive and dangerous policies and practices. Arts and entertainment are a vital space for that work, and we’re thrilled to partner once again with Latino Theater Company to co-host a community screening of La Tierra del Valor.
This screening is part of ABC’s broader commitment to cultural power: using storytelling, the arts, and shared cultural spaces to build pride, shift narratives, and strengthen civic participation across our communities. Stories represent us. They help us see ourselves, understand one another, and imagine what is possible. They also create the foundation on which lasting collective power is built.
We’re “Four-Walling”! and Why Does it Work?
To be eligible for an Oscar nomination, a film must meet specific eligibility requirements established by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. One pathway is a qualifying theatrical release, and that’s the route La Tierra del Valor is taking.
Rather than entering into a traditional distribution deal, the filmmakers are using an independent release strategy known as a “four-wall” release, renting a theater directly for the run. ABC, Latino Theater Company, and a private donor are covering the costs of this theatrical engagement, helping make it possible for the film to meet the Academy’s eligibility requirements and enter the awards process alongside documentary shorts from around the world.
Why Your Attendance Matters
This seven-day theatrical window is about more than checking a box for Oscar eligibility. It’s an opportunity to put this story in front of an audience at a pivotal moment.
Every person who comes to the theater helps build the film’s audience, visibility, and momentum. For an independently released documentary short, a strong theatrical showing can generate word of mouth, attract the attention of critics and industry members, and demonstrate that there’s a meaningful audience for the story. Most importantly, it gives more people the chance to experience the film together, in a shared space.
Join us
Please join us on Thursday, September 10 at 12:30 PM at Laemmle Glendale. ABC will welcome you to the theater, and director Cristina Costantini will join us for the screening and for appetizers and conversation at Tavern on Brand.
The screening is open to the public. Bring a friend. Share it with your family and community. Invite someone who you think needs to see this story.
Can’t make the screening? The film will play at Laemmle Glendale for 7 days, from Friday, September 4 through Thursday, September 10. You can purchase a ticket for any of those days.
Still can’t make it? You can still help spread the word. Purchase a ticket for someone else, or share this Instagram post with your network.