42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest

APPLICATION PROCESS FOR THE POSTER CONTEST IS NOW OPEN

The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago will present the 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival, April 16-27, 2026. 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-running and largest Latino film festival in the United States.

Every year, we invite artists from around the world to submit a poster concept in a competition. The winning design becomes the face of the Festival as it will be on the cover of newsprint programs, invitations, electronic ads, t-shirts, mugs, Festival trailer, social media platforms, 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, including its Programming Manager and Festival Publicist.

Every year, we invite artists from around the world to submit a poster concept in a competition. The winning design becomes the face of the Festival as it will be on the cover of newsprint programs, invitations, program books, electronic ads, t-shirts, Festival trailer, social media platforms and more.

WINNER RECEIVES $1,000!

GUIDELINES

Poster images should reflect the Festival’s core mission of presenting and celebrating Iberoamerica’s diverse cultures through film.
The number 42nd 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.
Avoid overt stereotypes and symbology. The design should be in good taste.
We want to see your creative genius—we will absolutely not accept any work produced with AI.
Contest is open to all artists. Entries will be accepted from individuals, collaborative teams, or design firms.
Deadline: Entries must be received by Monday, January 5, 2026
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.
Designer must be open to technical modifications.
We invite participants to look at past posters and to even look at last year’s program for inspiration (https://chicagolatinofilmfestival.org/).

SPECIFICATIONS

All artwork must incorporate:

42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival

April 16-27, 2026

Submissions must be:

JPEG or PNG format – A lower resolution will be accepted for easy viewing 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

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)

DISCLAIMER

Entrants must own full copyright to the design submitted, 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

(312) 431-1330

DEADLINE:

Entries must be received by Monday, January 5, 2026 (11:59 pm)

WINNER Announced:

Monday, January 19, 2026

Submission link:

Application Form