Add it to your watchlist, stream it on release day, and tell your friends. Let’s make some noise for this joyful rom-com and show the industry that Latino voices, Latino love stories, and Latina creators belong front and center in Hollywood.

A Dream Decades in the Making

This is not just another rom-com. Say a Little Prayer is one of the very few romantic comedies written and produced by Latina women—a long-awaited project that writer-producer Nancy De Los Santos has been working to bring to life for over 20 years. Inspired by her grandmother’s advice to pray to St. Anthony, the patron saint of lost things, because her “husband was lost” when she was still unmarried at 35, the film mixes humor, heart, and tradition into a story that feels both timeless and fresh.

For De Los Santos, this premiere is the culmination of persistence and passion. Latina romantic comedies are still a rarity in Hollywood, making this wide release especially meaningful. Produced by Cristina Nava of Migrant Filmworks, with Edward James Olmos and Luis Fonsi also on board as executive producers, the film delivers a joyful, authentic Latina perspective rarely seen in mainstream rom-coms.

Directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri, the film follows three inseparable best friends—Adela (Vannessa Vásquez), Ruby (Jackie Cruz), and Cristina (Vivian Lamolli)—who recite an ancient prayer to St. Anthony in their quest for true love. But what begins as a playful ritual turns into a whirlwind of unexpected events that test their friendships and transform their lives.

“Romantic Comedies are making a comeback,” said director Vidauri. “Audiences want to see beautiful people falling in love. Especially in a place as cinematic as San Antonio, with it’s one-of-a-kind Tejano culture.”

Adding star power and musical magic, Say a Little Prayer also marks the acting debut of Grammy Award–winning superstar Luis Fonsi (“Despacito”), who not only stars in the film but also contributes the original song “Prayer in Your Eyes,” co-written with Grammy-winning songwriter Josh Kear. The ensemble cast includes Mexican acting legend Angélica María (House of Flowers), Tatanka Means (Killers of the Flower Moon), and Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live).

For the filmmakers and Latino audiences, this is more than just a movie—it’s proof that audiences want diverse stories on screen. But it will take audiences who love rom-com movies and who want to see Latinas on screen to watch the film and make sure to share and to support Say a Little Prayer. This is a powerful way to support Latina storytellers and open the door for more projects like this to be made.

Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned, and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces, and distributes innovative feature films.

The post With A ‘Prayer’ and Luis Fonsi This Rom-Com Hits Streamers and VOD Sept 26th first appeared on .

De Los Santos and Nava, both members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA), are the writer and producer, respectively, of Say a Little Prayer, with an all-Latino lead cast,including Luis Fonsi, Vannessa Vasquez, Jackie Cruz, Vivian Lamolli, and Angélica María, capturing the rich and diverse experiences of Latinx communities, making a profound impact on the film landscape. 

Nancy De Los Santos was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago and headed for trouble. She left Catholic high school for public high school and joined a Latina girl gang. One thing led to another, and she turned her life around, graduating from UT Austin and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Nancy began her career in Chicago as producer of Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel’s film review program At The Movies. With her production guidance, the show was nominated for two national Emmy Awards.

She’s worked as Associate Producer on the iconic Latino features My Family and Selena, and written for television shows Resurrection Blvd., American Family, and East Los High. Nancy was invited to Equinox, the Sundance of Europe, where her feature script Answer To My Prayer (Which ultimately became Say a Little Prayer) was work-shopped with writer Nora Ephron. Nora invited Nancy to submit for the theatre production “Love, Loss, and What I Wore”. Nancy’s personal story about her old gang sweater was accepted for the play, which has been staged in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and Mexico City, proving the adage… “It all comes around…”

As the first Latina elected to the Board of Directors at the WGA, De Los Santos’ contributions to the industry have not gone unnoticed. The Mexican American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF) will honor her with the prestigious “Trailblazer in Screenwriting Illustrious Award” for her pioneering work, talent, and commitment to helping the Latino community exemplify those who are changing the narrative. The award ceremony is scheduled for April 27, 2025, during the 2025 Mexican-American Film and Television Festival and Awards to be held at the Harmony Gold Theater in Hollywood.

Nava is a producer, screenwriter, and director who made her directorial debut with the award-winning film Free Lunch in 2024. She also collaborates with her husband, Patrick Perez Vidauri, at Migrant Filmworks, which they founded in 2011. They are dedicated to producing innovative content for the growing U.S. Latino market. Additionally, they are founding members of a collective of mid-career filmmakers based in the U.S. committed to advancing, accelerating, and amplifying Latino-American storytelling.

Cristina Nava is co-founder of Migrant Filmworks overseeing development and production. A veteran screenwriter and producer of film and television, she has supervised massive international television series, as well as intimate feature films. She has produced shows for Nickelodeon, Telemundo, and many more.  As a member of the Writers Guild of America,  Cristina enjoys the challenge of adapting client’s ideas into fully formed screenplays.  In 2020 Cristina took the client’s original concept and developed,  wrote and produced the romantic comedy  Divorce Bait starring Vannessa Vazquez (East Los High) and Justin Berti (Secret Lives of Housewives). This movie was acquired by the Samuel Goldwyn Company after a bidding war with Lionsgate.

Two visionary filmmakers whose innovative projects inspire audiences and are redefining cinematic storytelling that includes Latinos.

The post Recognizing Filmmakers Nancy de Los Santos and Cristina Nava on Women History Month first appeared on .