Poster Contest

The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC) will present the 43rd Chicago Latino Film Festival, April 15-26, 2027. For over four decades, the Festival has featured the most representative and diverse selection of films from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, and the United States. The Chicago Latino Film Festival is the longest continuously running Latino film festival in the United States.

We invite artists from Chicago, the Midwest, and around the world to submit a poster concept for our competition. Preference will be given to Illinois and Midwest-based artists, and to Latino artists worldwide. The winning design becomes the face of the Festival, appearing on newsprint programs, the Festival’s website, invitations, electronic ads, merchandise, trailers, social media, animations, and more 

The selection process is anonymous. The name of the artist IS NOT revealed to the selection committee until the winner has been selected. The selection committee is made up in its entirety of the Chicago Latino Film Festival’s core team.

WINNER RECEIVES $1,000!

GUIDELINES

  • All designs must incorporate the following:
    43rd Chicago Latino Film Festival
    April 15-26, 2027
  • Poster images should reflect the Festival’s core mission of presenting and celebrating Iberoamerica’s diverse cultures through film.
  • The number 43rd should be incorporated into the design. Entries can explore the many ways films are being made today.
  • Avoid referring to one country or to a specific cultural artifact or symbol or icon (including historical figures); the Festival represents a wide variety of countries and cultural traditions. The poster should reflect this multiplicity.
  • The theme/concept is “Latino Stories for Movie Lovers”. As such it should reflect the moviegoing experience.
  • Winning design should have the capacity to be adapted for animation.
  • Avoid overt stereotypes and symbology. The design should be in good taste.
  • We want to see your creative genius; as part of the submission process, you will be required to share the tools you used to create your artwork. Fully AI-produced works will not be considered.
  • Mock-ups of the rendered artwork as tee shirts, posters and merchandise is encouraged.
  • Entries will be accepted from individuals, collaborative teams, or design firms.
  • Deadline: Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Late entries will not be considered.
  • Limit 3 entries per person, team, or firm.
  • There is no cost to submit.
  • Only digital copies will be accepted.
  • Entries will be evaluated based on appeal, content, and marketability.
  • Design must be easily translated to a variety of mediums.
  • Minor design adjustments may be required.
  • Selected design will have to be able to be modified for different uses and print – file should be capable of animation and other treatments.
  • Submissions should be in .png, .jpeg, .jpg and be less than 5mb in the original submission

SPECIFICATIONS

Submissions must be:

JPEG or PNG format – A lower resolution will be accepted for easy viewing (100 MB max) however, once the poster is selected a high resolution will be needed:

18’’ wide x 24’’ high (Vertical)
150 DPI (RGB) 

All entries must be submitted via the form provided

The winning designer will be required to provide the following:

  • Artwork should be submitted in digitized layered files that can be edited and animated in image editing software. 
  • A visual style guide listing color matches, fonts and other information about your work.
  • To include artist signature in the design once selected.

SUBMIT

Please fill out the submission form on chicagolatinofilmfestival.org and upload your poster image. If you are having issues uploading your poster, please reach out to design@latinoculturalcenter.org, with your contact information (name, email, city/state/country). Please submit smaller sized files for preview (max 100MB).

DISCLAIMER

Entrants must own full copyright to the design submitted and any photographs or elements that may have been created by a third party, which they must be able to certify, upon request. By submitting your entry to this poster contest, all entrants hereby acknowledge and affirm that the Chicago Latino Film Festival will have the unlimited right to use or display entries submitted for this competition at any time and in any manner. Uses may include, but are not limited to, print or electronic publications, promotional brochures, posters, or other corporate communications materials.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.chicagolatinofilmfestival.org

DEADLINE

Entries must be received by Tuesday, December 1, 2026 (11:59 pm)

WINNER Announced

Late January 2027

APPLY HERE