LALIFF 2026 celebrates its 25th edition, marking a quarter-century of sharing stories from the Latino perspective and bringing culturally significant cinema to audiences in Los Angeles and beyond. This milestone reflects decades of commitment to nurturing talent, showcasing authentic voices, and connecting communities through the power of storytelling.
Now in its second year as an Academy Award®–qualifying festival, LALIFF offers winners of the Best U.S. Latino Live Action Short and Best U.S. Latino Animated Short categories eligibility for Oscar® consideration.
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Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival
LALIFF 2026 celebrates its 25th edition, marking a quarter-century of sharing stories from the Latino perspective and bringing culturally significant cinema to audiences in Los Angeles and beyond. This milestone reflects decades of commitment to nurturing talent, showcasing authentic voices, and connecting communities through the power of storytelling.
Now in its second year as an Academy Award®–qualifying festival, LALIFF offers winners of the Best U.S. Latino Live Action Short and Best U.S. Latino Animated Short categories eligibility for Oscar® consideration.
May 28th – June 1st, 2025
LALIFF HIGHLIGHTS
With a focus on financing, equity, co-production, content creation, and immersive storytelling, LALIFF Connect: Market & Creative Forum is a curated hub where producers and financiers discover fresh talent, explore cross-border opportunities, and forge partnerships that move projects forward.
Comedy Night
LALIFF Comedy Night is the festival’s most playful and high-energy celebration, showcasing the best in Latino comedic talent through stand-up, improv, and spontaneous live performances.
YCP@LALIFF, a branded “festival within a festival,” showcases short films and creative content from the Youth Cinema Project (YCP).
SOCIAL FEED
We’re continuing our spotlight on the visionary artists in the LFI Spark Animation Fellowship, featuring @angelamsanchez.writer and their animated short “Spin Cycle: The Change We Carry.” 🎞️
Angela M. Sánchez, a Xicanx writer from Los Angeles, whose action-adventure stories are often rooted in magic, found family, and beating the odds. That perspective is woven into “Spin Cycle: The Change We Carry,” which follows Mandy as she tries to do whatever she can to find fifty cents to finish her laundry in a Los Angeles strip mall full of unforgettable personalities. But beneath its setting and encounters, the film also aims to spark conversation around the unhoused, policy, and what it means for communities to truly support their neighbors.
We’re proud to spotlight Angela and the artists using animation to tell urgent, heartfelt stories that reflect the realities of our communities. The LFI Spark Animation Fellowship films will receive a special screening at the 2026 @laliff_ , May 27-31.
#LFI #LatinoFilmInstitute #SparkAnimationFellowship
Recognizing a rising talent shaping the future of the industry! ✨🎬
The LALIFF Next Gen Award goes to Paulina Chávez. A standout as Ariana in the hit series "Landman," she will be honored at Opening Night of LALIFF’s 25th edition. 🌟🌟
Get your tickets now 🎟️ link in bio.
#LALIFF #PaulinaChavez #LatinxTalent #WomenInFilm #latino
Honoring a global artist and entrepreneur! ✨🎬
Jennifer Lopez, whose career transcends music, film, television, and business, will be honored with the inaugural Adelante Award for Industry at the Opening Night of the 25th edition of LALIFF!
Get your tickets now 🎟️ link in bio.
#LALIFF #jenniferlopez #jlo #latino #womeninfilm
LALIFF matters to Julio Macias ❤️😊 Thank you for being part of our filmmaking community!
We can’t wait to celebrate and showcase incredible talent at LALIFF’s 25th edition, happening May 27 to 31, 2026 🎬✨ Grab your ticket bundles and passes now, link in bio!
#LALIFF #filmfestival #latino #JulioMacias #fyp
We’re excited to begin highlighting the artists part of LALIFF’s LFI Spark Animation Fellowship, starting with Angel Ruvalcaba and his animated short “¿Necesitas Ayuda?” 🎞️
Angel Ruvalcaba, a Mexican-American filmmaker from Sylmar, California and Mesa, Arizona with experience in both animation and live action. Angel has contributed to projects like “Encanto,” “Moana 2,” “Zootopia+”, and more, while remaining deeply committed to authentic representation in film and TV.
His project “¿Necesitas Ayuda?” follows Señora Concha, who is determined to get through the Tijuana airport alone, until her stubbornness clashes with an eager wheelchair attendant named Jorge, creating chaos for them both. Full of humor and heart, the short asks whether they’ll learn to meet each other halfway before Concha’s flight leaves her behind.
We’re proud to spotlight Angel and this new group of fellows as we celebrate Latino storytellers across film and animation. The LFI Spark Animation Fellowship films will receive a special screening at the 2026 Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival, May 27–31.
#LatinoAnimation #LatinoFilmmakers #Animation #TheMujerista #RepresentationMatters #LatinoCreatives #SupportLatinoCreators
2025 SPONSORS
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INTERESTED IN BECOMING A SPONSOR AT LALIFF 
Partnering with LALIFF connects your brand to engaged audiences and authentic cultural storytelling. Sponsors gain visibility across digital and in-person platforms, with exclusive access to screenings, events, and VIP experiences, creating meaningful connections with a dynamic and diverse community. Our partners invest because we deliver high retention, deep engagement, and visible results. By supporting the festival, brands align with a high-impact platform that amplifies Latino voices and showcases a wide range of narratives across multiple mediums, reflecting the richness and complexity of the community.
LALIFF 2025 RECAP
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Transforming the industry by empowering storytellers and creators. LFI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating infrastructure for education, advancement, and innovation in the entertainment, tech arts, and media industries.
LFI houses signature programs, such as: the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), the Youth Cinema Project (YCP), LFI Scholar and Policy, LFI Spotlight, and LFI Fellowships.
