This Year’s Los Angeles Latino Film Festival Will Spotlight US Latino Directors

On July 9, actor Edward James Olmos announced the program that will be featured at the 2019 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). This year the festival, which includes 15 features, 17 shorts, five episodics, two special events, and two Latino podcasts live from the festival, will shine a spotlight on U.S.-born Latinx filmmakers like Cristina Ibarra, Alex Rivera, Rashaad Ernesto Green, Ben DeJesus, and Chelsea Hernandez among others. Which is to say, there’s plenty to check out at the largest Latinx film festival to be hosted in Los Angeles.

Reminding us that The Infiltrators is bound to be one of the most buzzed-about documentaries of the year, the Ibarra and Rivera-directed hybrid doc will open the five-day affair. “The Infiltrators represents everything LALIFF aspires to be — a film for our U.S. community by our U.S. community with international ramifications,” said LALIFF co-founder Olmos. “The film was made by a Latinx duo and focuses on the real-life story of undocumented youth that sacrificed everything to help others like them being held inside migrant detention centers. Nothing can be more timely.”

It’s a must-watch — as is every other project that will be screened during the fest. Nevertheless, we couldn’t help ourselves from choosing a select few that should definitely be at the top of your list. From a coming-of-age story set in Harlem, powerful real-life political victories, and an ode to one of the greatest Latino actors of his generation, you won’t want to miss any of our top picks. Read about them below.

LALIFF runs July 31 – August 4. For $2 off your ticket use the discount code REMEZCLA19