Chicago, IL • Independent filmmakers from across Latin America, Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean, and the United States will soon have the opportunity to submit their work for one of the country’s longest-running showcases of Latino cinema.
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC) will open submissions Aug. 1 for the 43rd Chicago Latino Film Festival, scheduled for April 15-26, 2027. Entries will be accepted through FilmFreeway, with an early submission period offering discounted fees before the standard and late deadlines.
“We are glad to announce that for the first time our regular submission dates are moving up by one month. This early submission window aims to incentivize Latino members of Chicago’s film-making community to share their stories” Said newly appointed CLFF Director Sandra Bernal A.
The 2027 submission calendar includes three entry windows:
- Early Bird: Aug. 1-31, 2026
- Regular: Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2026
- Late: Nov. 1-Dec. 4, 2026
“We are also actively looking for features and short films directed, produced, or featuring a strong Latino Cast to be included in our 43rd edition. We want the Chicago Latino Film Festival to be a point of reference and community network for the Pan-Latino Film Industry in Chicago and the Midwest.” Bernal added.
The Early Bird period includes a 15% discount on standard submission fees. Feature films carry a regular submission fee of $50, while short films are $30. Late submissions increase to $70 for features and $50 for shorts.
For more than four decades, the Chicago Latino Film Festival has introduced audiences to emerging and established voices in Latino filmmaking, presenting narrative features, documentaries, shorts, animation, horror, science fiction and other genres. The Festival has become a destination for filmmakers looking to reach audiences interested in stories from across the Latino diaspora.
To be eligible, films must have their Chicago premiere during the Festival. Projects that have already screened publicly in the Chicago area, are currently streaming, have aired on U.S. television or are otherwise publicly available before or during the Festival dates are not eligible for consideration.
Unlike many festivals, the Chicago Latino Film Festival remains noncompetitive, instead recognizing audience favorites through Audience Choice Awards for narrative features, documentaries and short films.
The Festival also continues to emphasize programming for younger audiences, encouraging filmmakers to submit family-friendly works for inclusion in daytime student screenings.
“The submissions period is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting aspects of running a film festival.” Says Alejandro Riera CLFF’s newly appointed Publicity and Programming Manager.
“This is when the Festival’s programming team discovers tomorrow’s visionaries and storytellers from the hundreds of entries—for both shorts and features—submitted from across the globe.“
Founded more than 40 years ago, the Chicago Latino Film Festival has screened thousands of films while serving as a cultural bridge between filmmakers and audiences. Its programming reflects the diversity of Latino experiences and continues to introduce Chicago audiences to stories from across Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Latino communities throughout the United States.
For two weeks in April, the City of Chicago becomes a converging point for filmmakers, actors and producers presenting some of the world’s latest films. This is an amazing time of community building and cultural exchange for all attendees.
Filmmakers interested in submitting can do so beginning Aug. 1 through the Festival’s FilmFreeway portal. (link)