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You’ve heard and read the story countless times of how one small festival started projecting a handful of films against a wall in St. Augustine College in front of a total audience of 500. Of how that small festival that celebrates Iberoamerican cinema in all its forms, today shows about five times the number of shorts and features to over 35,000 attendees. And of how that small festival led to the creation of a multidisciplinary organization, the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, that not only programs films, but also music, theater, dance, literary and culinary events, among many other cultural expressions. I myself have proudly told that story plenty of times.
And here we are, 40 years later. During these past four decades, the Chicago Latino Film Festival has introduced audiences to the new voices of Iberoamerican cinema and the latest works by its masters. It has also, in its own unique way, documented the history of this art form in our continent, with all its ups and downs. An arts festival is as good as the art created by its guest artists.
This year we received close to 725 submissions out of which we selected 50 features and 35 shorts. Those numbers reflect the abundance of offerings coming from our Pan-Latino diaspora and how difficult it is to select what will play at our Festival. Add those numbers to the many Iberoamerican films shown at other festivals or receiving a theatrical or streaming release and collectively we are barely showing the tip of the iceberg. This is a good problem to have.
Out of those 50 features, half are first features, which is another testament to the vitality and vibrancy of 21st Century Iberoamerican cinema. And yet, regrettably, many of these films go unremarked upon, not to mention ignored, by most critics in the United States. As a festival, we have an obligation to break through this wall of silence and we will continue to do so until they give our filmmakers and their work the attention they deserve.
I am deeply grateful to Mike Angell and the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation for partnering with us in this 40th anniversary celebration. Mike’s unwavering commitment to the arts in Chicago and his continued support of the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago has been vital in these challenging times.
I have always been blessed to receive the support of so many people and institutions who still believe in the role our Festival, the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago, and the arts play in our society. So, to our funders and sponsors, volunteers, staff, filmmakers, the Film Selection Committee members, our board of directors and, most important of all, you…THANK YOU!
See you at the movies!
Pepe Vargas
Founder and Executive Director
International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago
The Passport Book from the 40th Chicago Latino Film Festival is an excellent way to plan your festival attendance. With this 10 film pass, skip the lines and get your seats at some of the hottest Latino movies of the day. When you purchase a Passport Book you also save! Pick up one for you and another for a friend or family and enjoy the 40th Chicago Latino Film Festival!