See more than 100 of the finest and most recent films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the United States during the Chicago Latino Film Festival, now in its 31st year. The festival, which stresses the importance of the artistic and educational value of film and represents the great diversity of themes and genres of Latino film making from around the world, runs from April 9 until April 23. You’ll also have the chance to participate in discussions with local and international filmmakers after many of the screenings. All films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles (unless otherwise noted). Some events also will take place at other locations.
The opening night gala on April 9 includes a screening of the feature film, The Liberator/Libertador. Directed by Alberto Arvelo, this film stars actor Edgar Ramirez (“Carlos”, “The Bourne Ultimatum”) as Simon Bolivar in this rousing epic selected by Venezuela as its official entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar. “The Liberator” follows Bolivar from his youth as a privileged member of Venezuela’s aristocracy to his transformation as leader of Latin America’s independence movement against Spain. Arvelo stunningly and elaborately recreates Bolivar’s key military campaigns against the Spanish forces (including the Battle of Boyaca for which Bolivar’s forces had to cross the Andes) as well as the political obstacles he faced as he tried to bring to life his vision of a unified Latin American continent. Featuring an international cast that includes Spanish actors Imanol Arias and María Valverde, Danny Huston and Iwan Rheon (Ramsey Snow in HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) and a score written by maestro Gustavo Dudamel. Tickets are $85, which includes film screening, appetizers, cocktails & live entertainment. Cocktail attire is strongly recommended.
The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) is produced every April by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), a pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting and increasing awareness of Latino culture among Latinos and other communities by presenting a wide variety of art forms. The Chicago Latino Film Festival began in 1985 with 14 films projected onto a concrete wall for 500 viewers, and has now grown into the ILCC, which was originally founded as Chicago Latino Cinema. The growth of the Festival from 500 attendees to more than 35,000 in 29 years is a clear evidence of the great demand for quality Latino arts programming in Chicago. During the festival, over 100 feature and shorts films from all over Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States are screened. The programming represents the great diversity of themes and genres of the Latino filmmaking. The two-week Festival also feature opportunities for the audiences to participate in discussions with the directors at the screenings as well as at series of special events highlighting the diversity of the Latino culture. 2015 will mark the 31st anniversary of the Chicago Latino Film Festival.
The Chicago Latino Film Festival is considered the largest, most comprehensive and best Latino film festival in the United States, and presents over 100 films of cultural and social significance from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the U.S. The Festival stresses the importance of the artistic and educational value of film. The Festival is non-competitive. However, the most popular feature, documentary and short are given the Audience Choice Award.
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC) produces events throughout the year including workshops, retrospectives and premieres. In addition, the ILCC maintains a cinema library as a resource for educators, filmmakers, distributors, television stations, and our members. The film library is composed of past participating Festival films and is used for educational and non-commercial purposes.
