LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 31, 2026 – The Latino Film Institute (LFI) is proud to announce the 2026 award winners of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), honoring outstanding talent and groundbreaking work across the U.S. Latino film, animation, and episodic content. The awards were presented on the festival’s closing day, May 31, during an intimate cocktail reception at the LALIFF Connect: Market & Creative Forum Lounge in Ovation Hollywood.
This year’s jury of esteemed industry professionals selected winners across key categories, spotlighting bold new voices, powerful storytelling, and exceptional craft. In addition to recognizing outstanding films and series from the festival’s Official Selection, LALIFF also presented awards through the LALIFF Market to support projects in development and post-production.
Now in its third edition, the LALIFF Market continues to serve as a platform for advancing Latino storytelling and connecting filmmakers with industry opportunities. This year, 10 projects were selected to participate in the Market, including five projects in development and five in post-production. As part of the program, participating filmmakers engaged with industry professionals, financiers, distributors, and buyers through curated meetings and networking opportunities designed to support the next stage of their projects.
This year marks the second edition of LALIFF as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival in the categories of Best U.S. Latino Animated Short and Best U.S. Latino Live-Action Short. The winners announced today will automatically qualify for consideration for the 2027 Academy Awards.
LALIFF 2026 Award Winners:
Best U.S. Episodic Short Award – Presented by Disney Entertainment
Jury: Aurelio Lopez (Director of Scripted Series at Onyx Collective), Chika Chukudebelu Igwilo (Senior Vice President of Development at FX Networks), Michelle Schultz (Manager of Drama for ABC & Hulu Originals) and Toni Gutierrez (Director of Content & Inclusion at Disney Branded Television).
Winner: Circo Gómez, by 3 Pas Studios and F3 Media – $2,000 USD cash prize. The award was received by Ornella Antista, co-director of the show, and writer Mariana Balsa
Award presented by: Bryan Bravo (Senior Manager of Outreach at CTDI at Disney Entertainment Television)
Best U.S. Latino Animated Short Film – Presented by Latino Film Institute
Jury: Rachel Richmond (producer) and Roy and Arturo Ambriz (acclaimed Mexican writers, directors, and producers)
Winner: Once in a Body, directed by María Cristina Pérez González and produced by Mauricio Cuervo Rincón and Mireia Vilanova – $3,000 USD cash prize
Best U.S. Latino Live Action Short – Presented by Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo
Jury: Luis Aldana (award-winning queer Chicano writer, actor, and producer), Olga Segura-Gall (film and television producer) and Patricia Riggen (one of America’s leading directors)
Winner: The Birthday Gift, directed by Arianna Ortiz and produced by Rachel Stander – $3,000 USD cash prize
Honorable Mention: Rag Dolls, directed by Amy Adler and produced by Valeria Lopez and Amy Adler
Award presented by: Luis Aldana
Best Feature Film – Presented by Latino Film Institute
Jury: Nava Mau (award-winning filmmaker, actress, and cultural worker), joined by Alejandra Márquez Abella (acclaimed writer-director), and Rodrigo Salem (film critic and media advocate)
Winner: Valentina, directed by Tatti Ribeiro and produced by Jack Pearkes, Noelle Forougi, Tatti Ribeiro, Tracey Nyberg, Jessica Alba and Keyla Monterroso Mejia – $4,000 USD cash prize
Honorable Mention: TheyDream, directed by William D. Caballero and produced by William D. Caballero, Brad Jones, Erin Ploss-Campoamor and Elaine Del Valle
Award presented by: Nava Mau
2026 LALIFF Connect: Market & Creative Forum Winners:
LFI Works in Progress – Sponsored by Amazon MGM Studios
The two winners will receive $20,000 USD each for post-production support:
- La Residencia, directed by Mariel Garcia and produced by Melanie Vizuete.
- DED, directed by Carlos Lopez Estrada and produced by Tanner Anderson. The award was received by Tanner Anderson.
LALIFF Development Award – Presented by Eleva Studios and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
The two winners will receive $5,000 USD sponsored by Eleva Studios, and an industry pass for TIFF The Market, sponsored by TIFF:
- One of Us, directed by Pasqual Gutierrez and produced by Laurel Thomson.
- Ines Unfortunately, directed by Anna Salinas and produced by Erix Arocha. The award was accepted by both Anna Salinas and Erix Arocha.
“Honoring this year’s award recipients highlights the strength of our storytelling and is one of the standout moments of our 25th edition, recognizing work that moved audiences, sparked conversation, and showcased the depth of talent across our community,” said Axel Caballero, CEO of the Latino Film Institute. “We congratulate each of them and look forward to supporting their continued success.”
Celebrating its milestone 25th edition, LALIFF took place May 27 – May 31, 2026, at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood and the Egyptian Theatre Hollywood. The festival opened with Valentina and closed with TheyDream, screening over 120 films—including 19 world premieres—and nearly 250 student films from the Youth Cinema Project.
As part of Opening Night festivities, Edward James Olmos presented the inaugural Adelante Award for Industry to Jennifer Lopez, honoring her for a career that transcends music, film, television, and business. Adding to the night’s special moments, Mr. Olmos presented Lopez with a painting by world-renowned Los Angeles artist Robert Vargas. Paulina Chávez received the Next Gen Award, recognizing her as an emerging talent shaping the future of the industry.
This year’s 25th edition programming also included a Centerpiece screening of Circo Gómez, as well as special presentations such as Suárez and I Am Frankelda, further highlighting the range of storytelling presented throughout the festival.
As LALIFF concluded its milestone 25th edition, we celebrate this year’s award winners and the filmmakers, artists, and creative teams whose work helped make this milestone year so memorable. Their films brought audiences together through stories that entertained, challenged, and resonated across cultures and generations. For 25 years, LALIFF has championed storytellers whose perspectives enrich the cinematic landscape, and we remain committed to supporting the next generation of creators because their voices, vision, and creativity will help define what comes next. The future es Latino.
Find the LALIFF 25th Media Kit here.
About Latino Film Institute (LFI)
The Latino Film Institute (LFI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to empowering storytellers and creators and advancing innovation in the entertainment, tech, arts, and media industries. Through its signature programs, including the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), the Youth Cinema Project (YCP), LFI Scholar & Policy, LFI Spotlight, and LFI Fellowships. LFI provides transformative opportunities and resources to foster Latino talent and voices in media.
For more information on LFI, visit www.latinofilm.org.
About Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF)
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) is an international event dedicated to excellence in filmmaking. Through film, television, music, and education, LALIFF offers a vibrant stage to celebrate the richness and diversity of Latino cinema through distinct directorial voices and culturally significant narratives.
For more information and updates on LALIFF visit www.laliff.org
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Media Contact:
Loraine Valverde – Latino Film Institute
VP of Communications