By Bel Hernandez Castillo
I still remember the early 1980s, when I first stepped into acting. Many of us had crossed paths while performing in Zoot Suit—the groundbreaking play that would later be adapted into a film. At that time, the roles available to Latino actors were painfully limited and steeped in stereotypes.
For Latinas, it was often the suffering mother of gang members, the maid, or the prostitute. For our male counterparts, it was the drug dealer, the snarling bandido, the immigrant, or the gardener. And that’s only if Hollywood even thought to write us into the story at all.
Over the years, some of us banded together to speak out, to lobby for better, more authentic roles. But our voices seemed to echo into silence.
Still, a few powerful projects broke through. El Norte, written and directed by Gregory Nava, shined a light on immigrant struggles with depth and humanity. Nava went on to bring us Mi Familia and Selena, the latter introducing Jennifer Lopez to the world and launching her into stardom.
Then came Robert Rodriguez, who reshaped the landscape in the 1990s with El Mariachi. With its micro-budget and innovative filmmaking techniques, El Mariachi became a phenomenon and cemented Rodriguez as a pioneer. Through Troublemaker Studios, his bold approach to digital filmmaking—and his book Rebel Without a Crew—inspired an entire generation of Latino (and non-Latino) filmmakers to believe they, too, could create films outside the Hollywood system.
But El Mariachi was in 1993. And although many Latino independent films have been made since then, none have reached the same level of commercial success. Even when these films managed to secure distribution, they were rarely given the marketing push necessary to reach audiences.
That’s the tragic irony. Latinos make up the #1 filmgoing audience in the U.S.—yet Hollywood has long dismissed our economic power.
The numbers speak for themselves: Latinos represent about 24% of all U.S. movie ticket sales, despite being just 19.5% of the population. Imagine what those numbers could be if our stories were given the visibility, marketing, and respect they deserve.
Hollywood has ignored us for too long. It’s not a question of whether Latinos will show up for Latino stories—we already do. The real question is: when will Hollywood show up for us?
As an audience who is looking for Latino Stories, Latin Heat has compiled a list of upcoming films and TV shows currently airing. If you would like to support Latino content creators and Latino stories, make a point of watching these projects. Follow them on social media and comment. Another way to support is by being an investor…that is how Hollywood gets films made.
Latino are The Power of The U.S. Boxoffice
According to the Latino Donor Collaborative, U.S. Latinos have a $4.1 Trillion annual GDP, that if we were a country, we would be the 5th largest in the world based on our GDP. That is the power of the Latino community. This community can ensure that we make our films profitable. To do that we need to support our films. Are all our films masterpieces? No, but some of them are. El Norte, Mi Familia, La Bamba, Frida, Selena to name a few. But to put it in perspective, when Hollywood started they also produced inferior films, but they have had over 100 years to perfect their product. Latinos, really started producing films around 30 years ago. We are just getting started and we need the power of the Latino audience to support the film and TV projects.
Following is a list of films that are currently streaming or getting ready to release in theaters or streaming platforms. If you want to see Latino stories, check these projects out. From
List Of Current Independent Film Written, Produced and directed by Latinos
Kiss of the Spider Woman (2025)
Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Diego Luna and Tonantiuh.
Synopsis: Musical-drama adaptation of the musical (and Manuel Puig novel) about the bond between two prisoners — a political activist and a flamboyant window dresser — intercut with the window dresser’s Hollywood musical fantasies. This new 2025 adaptation is a lush screen musical reworking.
Director/Writer/Screenwriter: Bill Condon; Key producers / companies: Barry Josephson, Tom Kirdahy, Greg Yolen, with Jennifer Lopez executive producing via Nuyorican Productions and Artists Equity involvement (Ben Affleck / Matt Damon attached as EPs/financiers in some coverage). Choreography: Sergio Trujillo and others.
Release Date: World premiere Oct 10, 2025 Wikipedia+2Deadline+2
Brownsville Bred (2025)
Synopsis: A coming-of-age drama inspired by Elaine Del Valle’s own life. Set in 1980s Brownsville, Brooklyn, the film traces a young Latina, Elaine, as she grapples with family fractures, identity, and her path to find resilience in her cultural roots. yahoo.com+3HispanicAd+3PRWeb+3
Director / Writer / Producer: Elaine Del Valle (also casting director); Producers: Adrienne Acevedo Lovette, Leslie V. Cohen, Debbie Perez, Ana Luz Medina-Shammah
Released: September 19, 2025 in New York Streaming coming
The Dreamer Cinderella
Synopsis: The Cinderella story of Xochitl, a Mexican-American fruit vendor, who is offered a life-changing opportunity by a powerful film director, when a rival challenges him. What follows is a collision of cultures with unexpected consequences.
Cast: AnaKaren Chable, Tara Reid,
Co-Directors: Jose-Luis Ruiz | Alfredo Widman, Writer: Jose Luis Ruiz, Composer: Sid De La Cruz
Film Release: The Dreamer Cinderella is schedule to release January 2026
Say a Little Prayer
Synopsis: Three best friends recite an ancient prayer to the patron saint of “all things lost” to find their true loves. Their experiment unleashes unexpected turns that test their friendships. www.sayalittleprayer.com
Cast: Vannessa Vasquez, Luis Fonsi, Jacquie Cruz, Vivian Lomeli
Director: Patrick Perez Vidauri; Producers: Cristina Nava, Nancy De Los Santos-Reza
Currently streaming: CHECKHERE
Following is a list of films that are currently streaming or getting ready to release theatrically. If you want to see Latino stories, check these projects out.
The Unexpecteds
Cast: Alejandro Montoya Marín, Chelsea Rendon, Sonya Smith, Matt Walsh, Francisco Ramos
Synopsis: Gary and his best friends seek revenge against a social media influencer who has scammed them of their life savings.
Producer/Director/ Writer: Alejando Montoya Marin Co-Producer: Jasmin Espada; Story by: Aaron Horwitz
Release Date: October 14, 2025
COMING SOON
Ugly Little Monkeys (Documentary)
Synopsis: Follows the remarkable story of Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson, a youth mariachi group from the barrios of Tucson, Arizona, who rose to international recognition through music, perseverance, and cultural identity. uglylittlemonkeys.com+1
Co-Director/Producers: David E. Valdez & Enrique Castillo
Festival Screenings: Screening at the HollywoodPark Film Festival I did not locate reliable public sources listing a director, full producer credits, or a formal release date.
Selena y Los Dinos (Documentary, 2025)
Archival-driven documentary about Selena Quintanilla and the family band Selena y Los Dinos, featuring never-before-seen family footage chronicling the rise of the Tejano star.
Director: Isabel Castro. Producers: Executive-produced with the support of the Quintanilla family; archival storytelling was a major focus of critics’ coverage
Premiered at the Sundance film festival, where it won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award. Waiting on a release date. Come back on Latin Heat
20 Pounds of Happiness
A full figured Latina must gain 20 pounds in order to qualify for gastro-bypass surgery so she can finally be happy with her body, but falls in love with a man who doesn’t want her to have the surgery, disappointing the other big and beautiful ladies who were getting the surgery as a group deal.
Produced& Written by: Josefina Lopez (Real Women Have Curves); Directed/Produced/Starring: Yelyna de Leon
Recently screened at the New York Latino International Film Festival Waiting for a release date.
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