CHICAGO (April 22, 2025) – The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago proudly announces the winners of the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival’s Audience Choice Awards.
AWARD WINNERS
Best Feature Film
WINNER: “Dear Gentlemen” (Colombia) – Patricia Castañeda’s directorial debut about Colombia’s women’s suffrage movement in the 1950s, starring Julieth Restrepo (Netflix’s “Griselda” and “The Residence”).
RUNNERS-UP:
- 2nd Place: “Underdog/Correr para vivir” (Mexico)
- 3rd Place: “What Rhymes with Magdalena” (United States)
Best Documentary
WINNER: “Norita” (Argentina/USA) – Jayson McNamara and Andrea Tortonese’s documentary about Norita Cortiña, co-founder of the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo. Co-produced by Jane Fonda, Naomi Klein, and Gustavo Santaolalla.
RUNNERS-UP:
- 2nd Place: “The Most Beautiful Deaths in the World” (El Salvador/USA)
- 3rd Place: “I Am My Grandma’s Granddaughter” (Dominican Republic)
Best Short
WINNER: “Paper Flower” (USA) – Chicago Fire actor Joe Miñoso’s directorial debut about two children navigating their parents’ immigration struggles through imagination.
RUNNERS-UP:
- 2nd Place: “Arranca” (Puerto Rico/USA)
- 3rd Place: “Unless We Dance” (Colombia)
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Winners will receive the Audience Choice Award statuette designed by Mexican sculptor David Camorlinga Tagle, plus a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio Video Editing Software from Blackmagic Design.
About DaVinci Resolve Studio
DaVinci Resolve is the world’s only solution that combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post production all in one software tool! Its elegant, modern interface is fast to learn and easy for new users, yet powerful for professionals. DaVinci Resolve lets you work faster and at a higher quality because you don’t have to learn multiple apps or switch software for different tasks. That means you can work with camera original quality images throughout the entire process. It’s like having your own post production studio in a single app! Best of all, by learning DaVinci Resolve, you’re learning how to use the exact same tools used by Hollywood professionals!
High end professionals working on feature films and television shows use DaVinci Resolve more than any other solution! That’s because it’s known for incredible quality and creative tools that are light years beyond the competition. You get DaVinci’s Emmy™ award winning image technology with 32-bit float processing, patented YRGB color science and a massive wide gamut color space for the latest HDR workflows. You also get the legendary quality of Fairlight audio processing for the best sound in the industry! With DaVinci Resolve, you get the same tools professional colorists, editors, VFX artists and sound engineers use every day to finish your favorite films and streaming television shows!
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival saw its best post-pandemic attendance with a 44% increase in sales and attendance over last year. Out of 100 screenings, 32 were sold out or nearly sold out, and 2,000 students attended the Student Outreach Screenings.
LOOKING AHEAD
The 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival is scheduled for April 16-27, 2026. Submissions will open September 2, 2025.
UPCOMING ILCC EVENTS
- Chicago Latino Music Series: May-June 2025
- Levitt VIBE Chicago Music Series: June 14-August 16
- Reel Film Club at Facets: Monthly screenings
- Films in the Park: July 6-30
For more information on upcoming events, visit latinoculturalcenter.org.
SPONSORS
The 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival was sponsored by: Humboldt Park Health, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Illinois Film Office, Illinois Lottery, US Bank, Lopez & Co., The Whitehall Hotel, Wintrust Bank, Tristan & Cervantes, Consulate General of Chile in Chicago, Consulate General of Peru in Chicago, Prado & Renteria, Blackmagic Design and Instituto Cervantes.
ABOUT THE ILCC
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago is a pan-Latino, nonprofit, multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to developing, promoting, and increasing awareness of Latino cultures among Latinos and other communities by presenting a wide variety of art forms and education including film, music, dance, visual arts, comedy, theater, and culinary arts.
