The 2012 Chicago Latino Film Festival is almost here! From April 13-26 2012, experience the best in Latin American film over two glorious weeks of nonstop film screenings.
Welcome / bienvenidos to the 28th Chicago Latino Film Festival! Another edition of the “biggest, oldest, and best Latino film festival in the United States” -according to Hispanic Magazine. We enjoy this kind of recognition and take the responsibility of organizing the Festival seriously. Every year, along with the Film Selection Committee, we strive to present the very best films we can secure from the hundreds of entries.
We know that film is a powerful medium with which we can share our life experiences, and because our Festival has an undisputable cultural presence in Chicago, I encourage people from all backgrounds to get immersed in our culture by watching as many films they can. And, most definitively plan to attend our special events, which include besides the Opening Night, a great Brazilian party and phenomenal Argentinean night to close the Festival. Also, the Special Premiere of “Mariachi Gringo” filmed partly in Illinois.
As customary, the Festival will showcase over 100 feature and short films from all over Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the United States; most of them accompany by their directors, who will share their insights at the Q&A post-screening sessions. The Festival represents the great diversity of themes and genres of Latino filmmaking from around the Latino diaspora. The Festival serves as a vehicle to break the barriers created and perpetuated by stereotypes and provoke the audience to challenge mainstream ideals of the Latino identity by showing through film that Latinos are defined by more than 20 different nationalities and come from all social and racial backgrounds.
The many highlights of this year’s Festival include the presence of director Ventura Pons who comes from Barcelona to receive the Career Achievement Award the “Gloria” –Gloria being the pinnacle of success and splendor, the highest recognition of excellence.
Cultural projects like our Film Festival aren’t always given importance during an economic crisis. But the Festival is possible because we count on the unwavering support of the public that looks forward to the Festival year after year, the financial assistance from corporations, educational institutions, foundations, government agencies and individuals who believe that without culture in our lives, the economic debacle would be unbearable. Still, the Festival could not be possible without the talent of our filmmakers.
This remains close to my heart: Knowing that I am doing something extremely important and absolutely necessary, makes me very optimistic. I am fortunate to lead a team of staff and more than 100 committed volunteers, including the Board of Directors, who work arduously to secure the existence and success of the Chicago Latino Film Festival. I am blessed with the opportunity and forever grateful!
I proudly invite everyone to enjoy the Festival. Nos vemos en el cine!
Pepe Vargas
Festival Director