‘You Have to Kill Every Single Time’: Jessica Alba, Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Tatti Ribeiro on the Indie Film ‘Valentina’ and Latina Storytelling
By Clayton Davis
Published on March 9, 2026.
The independent feature film "Valentina," directed by Tatti Ribeiro, stars Keyla Monterroso Mejia, and actor and producer Jessica Alba, who are both Latina actors and executive producers. The film, which won the Someone to Watch Award at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, follows a young woman trying to complete a simple to-do list at the El Paso-Juarez border. The dramedy was shot with a skeleton crew of only 10 people and blended narrative and documentary styles to capture the everyday experiences of the people living in El Paso. Nearly 98% of the film is unscripted, with real El Paso residents delivering performances so naturalistic that audiences were unaware they were not professional actors. The director also shared his personal experiences and shared his thoughts on the double standard women and Latina creatives face in Hollywood.
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