Sana Sana is a deeply personal short narrative film about the evolving relationship between a mother and daughter—a story rooted in love, memory, and the complexities of growing up. Inspired by my own experiences navigating adulthood, this film explores the nuanced and shifting dynamics of coming of age and identity.

The title Sana Sana comes from a childhood rhyme often whispered to soothe a child’s pain: “Sana sana, colita de rana...” As a child, I heard these words often—a small comfort in moments of hurt. In this film, those words take on a deeper meaning. They represent the quiet ache of growing up, the invisible wounds we carry, and our enduring desire to find healing and connection through memory, love, and understanding.

This film is my way of reaching back—toward home, toward my roots in Puerto Rico, and toward the women who shaped me. It's a love letter to the place that raised me, and to the feeling of being caught between two worlds: the innocence of youth and the realities of adulthood. It’s also an exploration of diasporic identity—the longing, the displacement, and the pull of “home” that never quite leaves you.

We are currently seeking funding to bring this vision to life. Your support will help us film on location in Puerto Rico, capture the emotional and visual landscapes of the story, and honor some of the real-life moments that inspired it. With your help, Sana Sana will not only tell my story, but speak to something bigger: the way we grow, and the delicate act of holding onto who we were while becoming who we are meant to be.

We invite you to join us on this journey—of healing, of memory, and of honoring the places and people that make us.

Shooting Sana Sana in Puerto Rico is more than a creative decision—it’s a conscious commitment to honoring the island’s complexity, its beauty, and its truth. Puerto Rico is not just a backdrop for this story; it is a central character. Its landscapes, rhythms, and realities shape every frame of this film, offering an authentic glimpse into a place too often romanticized or misunderstood.

Puerto Rico continues to grapple with the lasting effects of colonialism, natural disasters like Hurricane Maria, economic instability, and crumbling infrastructure. Power outages, water insecurity, and displacement are part of daily life. But within that instability lies extraordinary resilience, warmth, and cultural richness. These truths don’t need to be sensationalized—they are part of the everyday reality that forms the backdrop of Sana Sana.

Your support helps us tell this story authentically and bring more stories like this to the screen.

WRITER/DIRECTOR Lizannette Velasco de Jesús is a Puerto Rican filmmaker currently pursuing an MFA in Film Production at the University of Texas at Austin. With a foundation in Theater and Audiovisual Communications from the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras, Lizannette’s work explores themes of identity, memory, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships. Lizannette has produced and directed multiple short films, with her latest project, Sana Sana, being her sixth short film and thesis project. She is particularly interested in the collaborative nature of filmmaking, valuing the creative energy that emerges from working closely with other artists and storytellers. As she continues her artistic practice, she remains dedicated to exploring new forms of storytelling and the complexities of identity.

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Musila Munuve is a cinematographer and director from Nairobi, Kenya interested in stories about Blackness, freedom, love, and the elasticity of time. While completing his computer science degree at Stanford University he became interested in the power of images and storytelling. Since then has honed his craft by directing music videos, assisting on film sets, and continuing a photography practice. Now a third-year MFA student at the University of Texas at Austin, Musila has directed multiple films and worked as a director of photography (DP) on various projects. This is the second film he has shot for director Lizannette Velasco de Jesús, continuing their successful creative partnership. Musila is committed to pushing the limits of visual storytelling, drawing from his diverse experiences and unique perspective as a filmmaker and photographer.

PRODUCER Jay William Thomas is a 4th generation Appalachian, growing up in eastern, KY where the bluegrass kisses the mountains. Jay started telling stories around the campfire when he was little and began writing, acting, and directing while pursuing a BFA double major at Western Kentucky University. After almost a decade in New York acting, producing, and writing Jay began his filmmaking journey receiving Best Director awards for his short “Aquae Vitae”. Jay is currently an MFA candidate at the University of Texas at Austin in Film Production, looking to explore the intersection of southern culture in modernity.

PRODUCER Ana Paula Teixeira is a Puerto Rican-Brazilian filmmaker, producer, and photographer based between New York and Puerto Rico. Their work explores Caribbean identity, magical realism, and community narratives across film, photography, and creative direction. She has produced and directed music videos for artists including RaiNao, Princess Nokia, Oshun, Ana Macho, and her photography has been commissioned by Refinery29, Remezcla, Paper Magazine, Ladygunn, and Dove.   Teixeira's films and exhibitions have been presented internationally, with screenings and shows in New York, Paris, Berlin, CDMX, and Santo Domingo. In 2025, she completed her first solo exhibition “Era de Acuario” with support from Beta Local and the National Regranting Program of the Andy Warhol Foundation.

PRODUCER Edwin Anthony Cruz is a Puerto Rican director, cinematographer, and producer known for his work across documentary, fiction, and music videos. His bold visual style and storytelling reflect a deep connection to Caribbean culture and cinematic craft. His lens captures the intimate , blending technical precision with an artist’s eye for emotion and atmosphere.

We’re incredibly grateful to have received early support for Sana Sana through the Texas Moody Development Grant from the University of Texas at Austin and the CRC Family Charitable Foundation Scholarship. These contributions have provided a strong foundation and affirmed the importance of the story we’re telling.

We’re also proud to be fiscally sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance, which means all donations to the film can be tax-deductible (if the donor is interested) and go directly toward bringing this project to life.

We’re still facing a funding gap that we need to close in order to bring this film to life. Your support will directly help us cover essential production costs. We're aiming for an additional $15,000 to make our story possible.