WATCH NOW
Watch on the app
Janicza Bravo’s Turn in Too Much Is Raw, Funny, and 100% Real
Janicza Bravo has carved out a space that is entirely her own in the world of film and television. An Afro-Latina storyteller with a sharp eye and an even sharper pen, Bravo is known for work that doesn’t just push boundaries, it obliterates them.
Born in New York City to Panamanian parents, Bravo grew up between Brooklyn and Panama, fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to her cultural roots, while being attuned to the complexities of identity and culture. Her upbringing, including time on an Army base in Panama City, gave her a bicultural lens that still influences her storytelling today. Returning to New York in her teens, she pursued directing and design at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
Breaking Through with Short Films
Bravo kickstarted her career with acclaimed short films like Eat (2011) and Gregory Go Boom (2013), the latter of which won a jury prize at Sundance, establishing her as a bold new talent. These early works featured her signature style: quirky humor, raw emotion, and in-depth explorations of human behavior.
Her debut feature Lemon (2017), co-written with then-husband Brett Gelman, premiered at Sundance and further highlighted her unique creative voice. But it was Zola (2020), her second feature based on a viral Twitter thread, that placed Bravo at the forefront of independent cinema. Co-written with Jeremy O. Harris, Zola was a daring, chic journey through themes of sex work, race, and friendship, earning seven Independent Spirit Award nominations.
In television, Bravo has directed standout episodes for Atlanta (“Juneteenth”), Dear White People, In Treatment, and Them, always infusing even the most formulaic formats with her unmistakable touch. She’s also worked on branded and fashion content, collaborating with brands like Gucci and Miu Miu on acclaimed shorts.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
Too Much and a New Chapter On-Screen
Bravo’s most recent turn is in front of the camera in Too Much, the Netflix rom-com created by Lena Dunham and Luis Felber. Bravo plays Kim Keith Independiente, a character she says reflects parts of her real-life journey: moving to L.A. to rewrite her own story, navigating breakups, rediscovering sexuality and agency in her 40s.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
But Bravo didn’t just act, she also directed the show’s eighth episode, infusing her unique mix of empathy, humor, and elegance into a British wedding scene. It’s another example of how Bravo won’t be contained, seamlessly transitioning between genres, roles, and continents.
Bravo is continuing to work on new projects, including one she’s co-writing with Dunham. She remains choosy, turning down work that doesn’t personally resonate with her. This selectiveness has paid off, resulting in a career characterized not by quantity, but by vision.
Ver esta publicación en Instagram
Throughout her career, Bravo has embraced her identity as an Afro-Latina artist, telling stories about outsiders and people who don’t quite fit in. Whether she’s directing a surreal road trip like Zola, crafting an immersive fashion short such as House Comes With a Bird, or portraying a lovesick co-worker in Too Much, Janicza Bravo approaches each project with curiosity, skill, and conviction. She’s not just a filmmaker; she’s a force to be reckoned with.
for the latest updates from LatiNation