Fifty feature films and 36 short films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States will be presented at the Chicago Latino Film Festival, one of the most important on the U.S. cinema calendar.

The event is held from this Thursday, April 21 to May 1. As at its previous edition, the Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) will have in-person screenings at the Landmark Century Center, 2828 N. Clark St., drive-in screenings at ChiTown Movies, 2343 S. Throop St., and virtual screenings, but these are restricted to those from Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana.

On the opening night, Abner Benaim's Plaza Catedral was shown, and tells the story of the racial and class divisions in Panama.

Films from Colombia

Among some Colombian productions that will be presented at this Latin Film Festival are: The city of wild beasts, The red tree, Songs that flood the river, Catching the white tuna, and the short films : Zarzal, Between you and Milagros, The intronaut, and War Animals.

More from LATAM

Other films that will  premiere at the CLFF are: Candela from the Dominican Republic, Carajita from the Dominican Republic and Argentina, Los Invisibles from Ecuador, La Última Gira from Puerto Rico, Yo y las bestias from Venezuela, Corazón de Luna from Peru, Altar from Cuba and Spain), Blood red ox, from Bolivia and the U.S.; Boreal from Paraguay and Mexico; Mujeres Borrosas from El Salvador, Buñuel, a surrealist filmmaker from Spain, El Resplandor Interior from Venezuela, Mía y Moi from Spain, My girlfriend is the revolution from Mexico, The red tree, a joint production of Colombia, Panama and France, and Zahorí of Argentina, Switzerland, Chile, France, among others.

What is the Chicago Latino Film Festival?

The Chicago Latino Film Festival (CLFF) occurs in April every year and is put on by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago (ILCC), a nonprofit organization.

The event seeks to promote and make visible the work of Latin American filmmakers, emphasizing all those productions that show the cultural richness in Latin America and also the United States.

The first edition of the festival was held in 1985. Currently, it is still a non-competitive festival, although since 1993, the public can vote for their favorite film in various categories. The winner of the Audience Choice award will be announced on May 4.