10 Must-See Movies at the 2019 New York Latino Film Festival

Now in its 16th year, the New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF), presented by HBO, continues to champion the work of U.S. Latino and Latin American filmmakers alike. This year, the festival will feature more than 83 films representing 10 countries, spanning all genres including features, shorts, documentaries, web series, and experimental films starring, about and for the U.S. Latino community. Opening the fest is the Martin Sheen-starrer Princess of the Row. Director Van Maximilian Carlson’s film tells the inspiring tale of a runaway foster child who will stop at nothing to live with the only family she knows: her father – a homeless, mentally ill veteran fighting to survive on the streets of LA’s skid row.

The feature presentations – including an anniversary screening of Darnell Martin’s Bronx-set I Like It Like That –will get plenty of the spotlight. But NYLFF is committed to serving various other aspects of the Latino entertainment community. Along with Google and in an effort to support and promote the next generation of online content creators, NYLFF will present FUTURO, a one-day digital conference featuring conversations from top thought-leaders, executives, and influencers in the digital space. And partnering with HBO Latino, the fest will also present “Latinos Stand-Up,” a competition in search of the best Latino stand-up comedians around the country.

In case you’re curious to see what you should check out at the festival, we’ve combed the program and picked 10 features you can’t miss. From buzzy documentaries about current immigration policies to indie dramas starring familiar Riverdale or West Wing faces, find our top picks below.

The New York Latino Film Festival runs August 12 – 18, 2019.