Pure Flix Familia Launches the Partnership
In a strategic move that underscores the accelerating demand for short-form storytelling, Great American Media has partnered with Minivela to develop, distribute and monetize a slate of premium micro-dramas aimed at U.S. Latinos and Latin American audiences.
The alliance—announced April 8 in New York during ANA GrowthFronts—will anchor the launch of Pure Flix Familia, a new Spanish-language and bilingual destination focused on faith- and family-driven content, set to debut later this year.
The partnership is notable within the evolving vertical video ecosystem: it represents one of the first Latino-centric ventures creating culturally specific content in English and bilingual formats, positioning both companies at the intersection of mobile-first consumption and underserved Hispanic audiences.
Minivela is the first bilingual vertical shorts platform serving the U.S. Latinos and Latin American markets, Brilla Media co-founder and former Hispanicize CEO Manny Ruiz is its Chief Executive Officer.
A Mobile-First Bet on Cultural Relevance
The collaboration combines Pure Flix’s established base in values-driven entertainment with Minivela’s creator-led, mobile-first production model. The result is a pipeline of vertical-format micro-dramas tailored for audiences increasingly consuming content on smartphones.
As part of a multi-project agreement, Minivela will produce original IP as well as adaptations from Pure Flix’s existing library—reimagined specifically for short-form vertical viewing. Content will be produced across key production hubs including Miami, Los Angeles, New York and locations throughout Latin America.
“We’re excited to build Pure Flix Familia with a highly creative partner that shares our commitment to meaningful storytelling for Latino audiences,” said Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media, about the strategic alignment.
Data-Driven Development Meets Creator Economy
A key component of the partnership is the use of Pure Flix’s proprietary audience data to inform development decisions—an increasingly critical advantage in the fragmented streaming landscape. The companies will also collaborate on distribution opportunities and content acquisition strategies aimed at scaling reach among Latino viewers.
Beyond content, the alliance opens the door to integrated brand partnerships, giving advertisers new ways to engage audiences through culturally resonant storytelling rather than traditional ad formats.
Expanding Latino Creative Opportunities
(L-R) Angela Sustaita-Ruiz (Minivela Co-Founder), Bill Abbott (Great American Media President/CEO, Carlos Ponce (Minivela Co-Founder, and Manny Ruiz (Minivela CEO)
For Minivela, the deal represents both scale and mission alignment as Co-founder Carlos Ponce highlighted the creative upside: “This creates opportunities for Latino writers, directors and creators to bring their voices into purpose-driven storytelling.” Ponce is also set to star in upcoming projects under the Pure Flix Familia banner.
“We’re focused on delivering stories that truly entertain, inspire and connect,” said Co-founder Manny Ruiz, added that the partnership stands apart in a crowded micro-drama space often driven by volume.
The micro-drama format—short, serialized content optimized for mobile viewing—has seen rapid growth globally, but remains relatively underdeveloped for U.S. Larino audiences, particularly in the faith and family segment.
With this move, Great American Media continues to build a multiplatform ecosystem targeting audiences seeking values-based entertainment, while Minivela strengthens its position as a leading creative and production partner in the vertical content space.
The launch of Pure Flix Familia later this year will test the viability of this hybrid model—combining bilingual storytelling, culturally specific narratives and mobile-first distribution—at a time when Latino audiences remain both one of the fastest-growing and most underserved segments in streaming.