Meet Eliana Reyes | Storyteller: Actor, Showrunner & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eliana Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eliana, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in the vibrant neighborhood of Washington Heights, NYC. When I was 5 years old we moved to Puerto Rico, where the rich island-life became a part of me. Summers were spent in the Dominican Republic with my father, adding yet another layer to my cultural tapestry. Years later, we moved to Minneapolis, MN—a place that couldn’t be more different from the Caribbean.

The shift from the warmth of the islands to the cold Midwest wasn’t just a change in climate—it was a profound cultural shock that shaped me in ways I’m still uncovering. Navigating life as an Afro-Latina teenager in this new environment pushed me to confront my racial and cultural identity in the U.S. It was during this time that I turned to poetry, using words to make sense of my experiences and emotions. What started as a personal exploration soon evolved into spoken word and storytelling—art forms that felt like home. They became my safe space, my lifeline, a way to heal and express myself.

Today, that passion for storytelling has blossomed into a career. Whether through acting, showrunning, or filmmaking, I’m still telling stories—stories that reflect the complexity of identity, the power of healing, and the beauty of the human experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a proud Afro-Latina artist, storyteller, and filmmaker. Puerto Rican & Dominican, born in NYC. I’ve worked across multiple creative mediums, including acting, directing, producing, hosting, and modeling. I have a deep passion for preserving culture and healing through storytelling in all its forms. In 2015, despite succeeding in finance and pursuing a Master’s in Organizational Leadership, I felt miserable because I wasn’t living a fulfilling life. I was out of alignment. I hadn’t fully abandoned my creative dreams but I was not living in my truth and could no longer continue living that way. So, I dropped out, made tough choices/sacrifices, and began pursuing dreams starting with taking acting seriously by enrolling in classes in 2017. By 2018, I was signed to four agencies across the Midwest and booked my first commercial. In January 2019, I was able to leave finance to fully commit to my creative journey.

Since then, I’ve appeared in over 50 commercials/campaigns, directed and starred in my own short film series ANAMNESIS, and directed Vida Nueva, a feature documentary about my family’s journey of healing, resilience, and forgiveness while reuniting with our father after 26 years of imprisonment and his deportation to the Dominican Republic. I’ve also been creating the space I wish I had as an Afro-Latina by championing Afro-Latino voices and diverse representation as a Showrunner at LatiNation. (FKA LATV) I produce content that amplifies underrepresented Afro-Indigenous Latino voices, celebrates our communities and educates general public about our complex identities and roots. This has been profoundly fulfilling and has helped me build community like I never imagined in LA. I Showrun/Produce two talk variety shows on LatiNation—Shades of Beauty and Blacktinidad, which I also co-host.

I’m really excited about my film Vida Nueva. It’s my first feature, and it was such a labor of love. I’m so proud of the honest and vulnerable story it tells, and I’m extremely proud of how it turned out. As a director, I stepped out of traditional documentary style and worked with my team to make something really unique and innovative by incorporating the use of AI image enhancements to help bring parts of the story to life. We also added an original soundtrack. My brother Max, who is also the Executive Producer and a cast member, produced the soundtrack for the film, which features songs written and performed by each one of us siblings/cast members. The film had its world premiere at NYLFF, where it was voted one of the top films to watch at the festival. We had a successful screening surrounded by the community and so much love. It was a special night. It was also selected to screen in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of the inaugural partnership between Distrito Puerto Rico and NYLFF. So, I’m looking forward to that as well.

Once the film gets distribution, I’ll be looking forward to getting back to acting and auditioning for film/TV. I also have several other projects I’d like to write and develop so that’s in the plan as well.

Another thing I’m excited about is my wellness journey. It’s been a huge part of my self-care this past year. Working as a showrunner, making a feature film, auditioning, etc., is a lot, and I’m lucky to have worked with Massy Arias and Tru Supplements to transform my mind, body, and spirit to better manage stress and take better care of myself so that I can keep working on making my dreams come true. I overall feel so much better, it’s been a priceless experience and I’m excited to see how this change of mindset will help me continue to grow and evolve.

Lastly, I’m excited about creating fresh, new content with LatiNation. My team and I were nominated for an Imagen Award for the Black History Month episode of our show- Storytellers, which featured Laz Alonso, Jnoa, Najah Elessie, and Chef Rogelio of Caribbean Soul Kitchen LA. I’m excited for the visibility my work is getting and really looking forward to seeing it blossom.

My journey wasn’t easy, but it was about realigning with my purpose. I couldn’t have done it without a strong spiritual foundation, which helped me embrace deep discomfort, release worries, and follow my heart. I think that is what sets me apart—I’m a heart-led creative. Everything I create has depth, valuable meaning, and careful intention behind it. I think my resilience also sets me apart. I’ve been blessed to overcome many challenges, road blocks, etc all while keeping a smile on my face and hanging on my unwavering faith that everything will always fall into place.

My art is not just what I’ve acted in and directed/produced, but it’s also the community I’ve built while amplifying the voices of my people. My art is the new life I was able to create for myself.

My mission now is to empower others to embrace their truth, tell their stories, and shine bright. I want people to know that we have the power to realign our lives at any point. It’s never too late. I’m saying this as a reminder for myself as well. lol

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so much I’m still exploring in LA. So much I have yet to see, eat, and experience—but if my bestie came to visit- I would use the opportunity to explore new things with her.

I would show her around my neighborhood in Hollywood, take her to Hollywood Lake Park, and do the hidden hike down to the reservoir. Maybe we’d go to the Melrose or Hollywood Farmers Market on a Sunday. We could check out Halloween Horror Nights at Universal. I’d definitely take her to Karibbean Cuisine for some good Dominican food from La Tia. We’d go to a Capicua party or a Must Be Nice rooftop party. Or, if we want something more chill, we can go to a poetry night at Mi Clandestina. I’d also take her to Leo’s Tacos after a night out, or to New York Chopped Cheese. I’d love to go to a Dodgers game, visit the Getty Villa, show her the beaches, and maybe drive out to Laguna Beach. Definitely would take her to a comedy show, maybe Chocolate Sundays. I love the food at Dialogue Cafe—they have the best brisket breakfast burrito—and we could get some fresh cocktails at Bar Flores. I know there’s so much I’m missing, lol. But like I said—I’m still learning LA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Big thanks to my mother, father, and brother Max for supporting me throughout my journey. Special shoutout to my friends for encouraging me during tough times, and to my incredible followers for always cheering me on. I also want to thank Teddy Grimes and Chris McDuffie for believing in me and giving me opportunities to develop and sharpen my technical, production, and directing skills, and also to LatiNation Media for trusting me to lead the Afro-Latino pillar and create authentic content that celebrates our rich and vibrant cultures.

Website: https://www.lianirey.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iam.elianareyes/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamelianareyes

Twitter: n/A

Other: Trailer to Vida Nueva Film-https://youtu.be/n5c89OBYZHk?feature=shared

Eliana on Camera-https://lianirey.com/elianaon-camera

Created/Produced by Eliana- https://lianirey.com/lianirey-productions

Anamnesis Short Film Series-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET_tIdDFnmk&list=PLTNMfJTanwg9yYRPym-sJ8RqY2wbpzvLj

Image Credits
Nicole Alvarenga @nicolevisions the rest are courtesy of my iphone