Luis Fonsi's indie romantic comedy “Say a Little Prayer” has signed a distribution deal with AMC Theaters that will see the film released in 100 theaters in major U.S. markets over the Thanksgiving holiday.
AMC, the country’s largest streaming service, has signed a direct-to-video deal with New Cadence Productions, the producer of “Say A Little Prayer.” The film marks the feature film debut of Fonsi, the Latin music star best known for his 2017 global hit “Despacito.”
The deal is another example of exhibitors breaking the mold and striking distribution deals directly with independent producers. The film will be promoted through a theatrical trailer with support from Spanish-language media company SBS Broadcasting.
“Supporting Say A Little Prayer was a natural fit for us, as Luis Fonsi’s music is already a staple on our stations,” said Raul Alarcon, CEO of SBS. SBS has leading radio stations in Miami, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico.
Producer Cristina Nava noted that her company, Migrant Filmworks, “has traditionally taken the traditional distribution route with our films, but the results have often been disappointing.”
New Cadence, a film and television company headed by entrepreneur Jeff Valdez and veteran Saul Trujillo, has been working for several years to build independent distribution channels for Latino-themed content for Latino audiences in the United States.
“When New Cadence proposed a data-driven, everyone-centered approach, we knew it was the right direction — not just for this film but for a more equitable future in film distribution,” Nava said.
Details of the agreement with AMC Theatres will be discussed on Sept. 14 when Fonsi and others participate in a panel discussion at the annual L’Attitude conference in San Diego. The event highlights Latino leaders and entrepreneurs across a range of business sectors. Fonsi is scheduled to perform at the conference to accompany the premiere of “Say A Little Prayer” that evening.
“Say A Little Prayer” stars Angelica Maria (“Rosalinda”), Vanessa Vasquez (“Divorce Bait”), Jackie Cruz (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Vivian Lamoli (“East Lose High”). The film follows three friends who “recite an ancient prayer in their quest for true love. However, their desires lead them to unexpected and hilarious outcomes as they try to navigate relationships with the wrong partners,” according to the storyline.
The romantic comedy is directed by Patrick Perez Vidauri, written by Nancy de los Santos and produced by Nava for Migrant Filmworks. New Cadence Productions is executive producing and distributing the film.
