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The 30th Chicago Latino Film Festival, April 3-17 will showcase 74 features and 42 shorts, including three from Chicago directors, plus 11 Latino films that are Foreign Language Oscar winners or nominees.
Over the past five decades, Pepe Vargas has lived on two continents, fled a military dictatorship, earned a law degree, worked as a busboy, and founded the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) and the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC). Along the way, he not only learned to appreciate multiculturalism, art, and politics, but … Continue reading “Chi Latino Fest’s Vargas on cinema, culture, and the wall”
The emphasis of the April 1-14 Chicago Latino International Film Festival “is on new talent, with more than 20 features made by first time directors,” says Pepe Vargas, founder and executive director of the world-acclaimed event, now in its 27th year.
An estimated audience of 30,000 is expected to attend the 24th International Latino Film Festival, April 4-16 ? the nation’s largest cultural event, says founder Pepe Vargas.
Opening night spotlights the Spanish film, “El Prado de las Estrella” (“The Field of Stars”), at the AMC River East 21 Theaters, followed by a party at the River East Art Center.
The 38th Chicago Latino Film Festival announced today the winners and runners-up for its Audience Choice Awards. The slate of 50 features and 36 shorts from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States, included an array of premieres, stories of underrepresented communities, and an increase in LGBTQIA+ films. Even though the festival is a non-competitive … Continue reading “Two feature debuts take top honors at Chicago Latino Film Festival”
The 38th Chicago Latino Film Festival announced two special screenings at Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio St.: Nicolás Postioglione’s feature debut Immersion on Sunday, April 24th and the U.S. Premiere of Javier Espada’s new documentary Buñuel, a Surrealist Filmmaker on Thursday, April 28th. Both events start at 6 p.m. with a reception preceding the screening … Continue reading “38th Chicago Latino Film Festival screens two films at Instituto Cervantes”
The 38th Chicago Latino Film Festival, presented by Corona Extra, announced today its selections for their Opening Night and Centerpiece screenings at ChiTown Movies Drive-In, 2343 S. Throop St. The Festival opens Thursday, April 21st with Abner Benaim’s heartbreaking tale about Panama’s class and racial divides, Plaza Catedral. The Festival’s Centerpiece selection, Ángeles Cruz’s feature … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Festival Opening Night and Centerpiece screenings”
The 38th Chicago Latino Film Festival, presented by Corona Extra, announced its selections for their Closing and Late Night screenings at ChiTown Movies Drive-In, 2343 S. Throop St., Saturday, April 30th. The Festival closes with the Midwest premiere of Chilean director Francisca Alegría’s feature debut The Cow who Sang a Song into the Future starring … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Festival late night screenings and closing film”
38th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) April 21 – May 1, announces the first wave of titles from close to 100 feature and short length films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States confirmed for the event. This first round of titles includes two films fresh out of the Sundance Film Festival: Eva … Continue reading “38th Chicago Latino Film Festival announces first wave of titles”
The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) announced today that Polish graphic artist Dominika Czerniak-Chojnacka, winner of the 2017 Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest, is the artist behind the design of the official poster for its 38th edition. The poster will be the face of the Festival, as it will be on the cover of … Continue reading “38th Chicago Latino Film Festival poster contest winner is revealed”
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), producer of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) and the Chicago Latino Music Series, and its Executive Director Pepe Vargas today announce the appointment of Mateo Mulcahy to the recently created position of Deputy Executive Director. In this new role, Mulcahy will be in charge of promoting … Continue reading “Mateo Mulcahy appointed Deputy ED of ILCC & Chicago Latino Film Fest”
The 37th Chicago Latino Film Festival announces the winners and runners-up for the Audience Choice Awards. The Audience Choice Award for Best Feature went to The Heist of the Century, Argentinian director Ariel Winograd’s heist comedy about the most famous and audacious bank robbery in Argentina’s history starring Guillermo Francella (The Secret in Their Eyes) … Continue reading “37th Chicago Latino Film Audience Choice Award wins”
The 37th Chicago Latino Film Festival, presented by Corona Extra, announced today its Centerpiece presentation of Mariem Pérez Riera’s Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It at ChiTown Movies Drive-In, 2343 S. Throop St. on Monday, April 12. The gates open at 6:00 pm with the film scheduled to start at 7:30 pm. A virtual screening of this no holds … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Fest adds Riera’s film Rita Moreno”
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago announced today the winners and runner-ups for the AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS of the 36th Chicago Latino Film Festival. The festival was held virtually from Sept. 18 to Sept. 27 in Chicago and throughout the State of Illinois. In total, the Festival presented 44 feature and 38 shorts. Even though CLFF is … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Fest announces audience choice wins”
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago announced that the 36th Chicago Latino Film Festival will shift to a virtual format and will take place from September 18-27. The Festival was originally scheduled for April 16-30 at the AMC River East 21 Theatres, but was postponed on March 13th when Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot ordered … Continue reading “The 36th Chicago Latino Film Festival goes virtual”
Pepe Vargas, the Founder and Executive Director of the Chicago Latino Film Festival sadly announced the postponement of the 36th annual festival. Due to the concerns for the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the festival originally scheduled to open on April 16 through April 30 at AMC River East 21 Theatres, will be pushed to … Continue reading “SEE UPDATE: the Chicago Latino Film Fest is postponed”
The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), producer of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF), is proud to announce Turkish artist and graphic designer Yağmur Genç as the winner of the 36th Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest. The ILCC received 928 submissions for this year’s contest from Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Jamaica, Mexico, The … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Festival unveils 2020 poster”
CLFFMÁS will initially feature short films chosen from the last five years of the Festival, with more added every month The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), producer of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) among other events, announced today the launch of their streaming platform CLFFmás. Created in partnership with BTEC, an organization … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Fest launches streaming platform”
Dominican “Broken Island” and Chilean “Petit Frère” represent Haiti and its role in Latino culture, cinema, and politics. Last weekend, the 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) screened a pair of films that focus on the Haitian experience, the Dominican Republic’s La isla rota (Broken Island) and the Chilean Petiè Frère. Reel Chicago sat down … Continue reading “Haiti in focus at Chicago Latino Film Fest”
The two-week event launches on March 28 with Icían Bollaín’s “Yuli” followed by a “Noche Cubana” celebration The 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) will take place March 28-April 11 at the AMC River East 21, 322 E. Illinois St. and will feature over 100 feature-length and short films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and … Continue reading “The 35th annual Chicago Latino Film Festival”
Rome-based Polish artist Michal Tadeusz Golanski’s design celebrates women’s contribution to the art form The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), producer of the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF), is proud to announce the winner of the 35th Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest: Rome-based Polish graphic artist Michal Tadeusz Golanski. A graduate … Continue reading “Chicago Latino Film Fest unveils poster for 35th run”
The number of big stories from 2018 is far too great to fit into one article, thankfully. But we’ve tried. Using a combination of Google analytics, social media engagement, and our own thumbs-up button, Reel Chicago has compiled a list of the most widely read stories from the last twelve months. To get a taste … Continue reading “A look back at the stories that defined 2018”
The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) will launch its 34th annual celebration with a “Night of Puerto Rico” gala on Thursday, April 5. The event begins with a pair of highly anticipated film premieres at AMC River East and continues with a cocktail reception at nearby Chez, 247 E. Ontario. Raúl Marchand Sánchez’s new comedy, … Continue reading “CLFF launches April 5 with “Night of Puerto Rico””
The 34th annual Chicago Latino Film Festival poster is a testament to the universal power of art. Featuring a strip of film that runs like a sidewalk through a broken wall in a mountainous desert, the poster’s fresco style illustration communicates the same message that the event has made obvious for decades: Latin culture rocks. … Continue reading “Latino film fest poster is an artistic breakthrough”
NEW DISTRIBUTOR GRASSHOPPER FILM of LA has picked up VOD, digital and non-traditional rights to Maria Finitzo’s Kartemquin-produced feature doc, “In the Game.”
Chicago-based illustrator, 25-year old Morgan Ramberg won the $1,000 cash prize from the 20th Annual Official Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest and her poster will become the face of the festival, April 8-21.
The 31st Chicago Latino Film Festival’s Thursday, April 9, Opening Night / Night of Venezuela film marks the only US theatrical run for “The Liberator,” a rousing epic about Simon Bolivar, who fought for Latin America’s independence against the Spanish Empire.
The International Latino Cultural Center, which produces the Chicago Latino Film Festival, has partnered with Comcast to launch the Chicago Latino Filmmaker Program.
Last Friday, Comcast on Demand began carrying four-to-five-minute sample reels from six local filmmakers, all of them veterans of the festival and chosen by a selection committee of ILCC staff and board members.
MALACHI LEOPOLD IS BOUND FOR THE SUDAN, thanks to a $10,000 grant he received in order to make the expenses of the trip. He departs April 5 for a full month of shooting a documentary centered on one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, who returns to his native village after a 22 year separation from his parents.
Leopold received the $10,000 check April 1 from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees based in Geneva, Switzerland.
He will be accompanied by DP Ian Issitt and two New York producers.
The highly touted Task Force for the film industry that DCEO director Jack Lavin assured would help lead filmmaking to new heights has been named. As a matter of fact, two weekly meetings at the State of Illinois building have already been held and committees formed.
It’s difficult, however, to determine the rationale for the appointment of some of the 22-members of the Task Force. While each has expertise in his own field ? few can top the credentials of AFL-CIO president Margaret Blackshere, for instance ?
HIGH POWERED COO TO DK. New COO at Digital Kitchen is Bruce Hanson, formerly in sales and business development at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and considered a very visible high-tech expert. Hanson will be responsible for the business side of this very creative company, in charge of financial, accounting, legal, marketing and strategic alliances.
Chicago’s Yelyna De Leon produced, acted in, and wrote the script for a teen slasher that will screen at the 34th Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF). Titled Murder in the Woods, the English-language, U.S.-produced film was directed and produced by Mexican-born filmmaker Luis Iga. A Latin American film Murder in the woods has … Continue reading ““Murder in the Woods” at Chicago Latino Film Fest”
