The Chicago Latino Film Festival returns this year with a diverse lineup of over 80 films, featuring both international and local productions that underline the richness and complexity of Latino and indigenous storytelling. Running from April 16 to 27 at the Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema in Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood, the festival aims to serve as a cultural bridge between Latin America and the United States, showcasing 51 feature-length and 31 short films.

Founded more than 40 years ago by Pepe Vargas, the festival is the longest-running event of its kind in the U.S. and seeks to foster connection and understanding amid a politically charged environment and heightened immigration enforcement. Vargas emphasizes the universal nature of the stories presented, inviting audiences to engage deeply with the narratives. Programming manager Sandra Bernal A. notes the inclusive nature of the festival, stressing that it is open to all and relies on community participation.

Among the festival highlights is “Soy Frankelda,” the first fully feature-length animated film made entirely in Mexico. Created by Mexican brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz and supported by Guillermo del Toro, the stop-motion dark fantasy features intricately crafted puppets and represents a significant milestone in Latin American animation. Another animated entry, “TheyDream,” by William D. Caballero, combines 2D and 3D animation, documentary footage, and personal narrative to explore grief and intergenerational relationships.

The festival also spotlights stories in indigenous languages. Peru’s documentary “Runa Simi” follows efforts to dub Disney’s “The Lion King” into Quechua, highlighting language preservation. Guatemala’s “Cordillera de Fuego,” directed by Jayro Bustamante, incorporates Kaqchikel and Tz’utujil languages to tell the story of volcanologists combating corruption amid a volcanic threat. Bustamante also contributes “Comparsa,” a documentary about Guatemalan sisters using art to heal their community after a tragic government-run safe house incident.

Reflecting linguistic diversity beyond Spanish, the lineup includes films in Haitian Creole, French, and Portuguese. “Melodrama,” a Haitian-Dominican production, addresses issues facing undocumented Haitians in the Dominican Republic. Portuguese-language films range from biographical works to documentaries about the Moroccan Jewish community in the Amazon. Several films focus on Afro-Asian-Latino intersections, such as “Barrio Chino Havana,” which explores Cuba’s fading Chinatown and Chinese heritage.

Local filmmakers are represented by four Chicago-made films, illustrating the challenges independent artists face in the city’s competitive production landscape dominated by well-funded television projects. Among the local selections are “Abel,” a biographical film by DePaul professor Brian Zahm about a photographer’s life after sudden blindness; “Sorda,” inspired by a Spanish director’s family story; “Lluvia,” a youth thriller addressing workplace microaggressions; and “Cake,” a short film inspired by a director’s childhood birthday.

Tickets are priced at $17, with discounts available on certain days and for students, seniors, and members. All films feature English subtitles, facilitating broader accessibility. The festival organizers encourage audiences to explore as many films as possible, viewing the event as an opportunity to challenge perspectives and foster transformation through storytelling.