The 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival Announces Opening and Closing Night Selections and a Different Approach to Both Events

The 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival today announces the selections for its Opening and Closing night films as well as changes to the structure of both events.

The Festival opens on Thursday, April 16 with the Chicago premiere of Mariana Rondón’s and Marité Ugás’s dystopic vision of modern day Venezuela It Would Be Night in Caracas (Aún es de noche en Caracas). Both filmmakers will not only attend the event but will be presenting their previous collaboration, Zafari, on Friday, April 17 and Saturday April 18 at 8:15 p.m. 

The Festival will close on Monday, April 27 with the Chicago premiere of the Ecuadorean comedy The Dog, My Father and Us (Nosotros, mi papá y el perro) from director Pablo Arturo Suárez who will attend the screening. Closing Night is sponsored by Royal Prestige and the Consulate General of Ecuador in Chicago. 

Festival organizers this year made the strategic decision to move away from the traditional galas to ensure that the primary focus remains where it belongs: on the films and the stories they tell. Both Opening and Closing Night events will take place at the Landmark Century Centre Cinemas, 2828 N. Clark St., and will start at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the Cinemas’ Century Bar featuring appetizers, cash bar and DJ. The event proper will start at 7 p.m. with a welcome ceremony and conclude with a post-screening Q&A with the filmmakers. Tickets for both events are $35 general / $25 for ILCC members, students and seniors. Admission includes the film screening and party (food, drinks and live music). Business casual attire is strongly recommended. For tickets and more information, visit chicagolatinofilmfestival.org.

“This shift is a necessary response to a challenging financial landscape. With significant federal funding cuts impacting cultural organizations like the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago and the Chicago Latino Film Festival, we must be more intentional than ever with our resources. While these celebrations are a beloved tradition, the rising costs of hosting such events have become unsustainable in the current climate,” explained Pepe Vargas, Executive Director of the International Latino Cultural Center and founder of the Chicago Latino Film Festival.

“We have traditionally opened our Festival with a film that speaks to the moment or that introduces a little known chapter of our continental history to our audiences. Given recent events in Venezuela, we felt it was appropriate to kick things off with the latest film from the dynamic duo of Mariana Rondón and Marité Ugás. We also like to end the Festival on a celebratory note with a comedy or feel-good drama and Pablo Arturo’s latest film fits that bill,” added Vargas. 

The 42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival will present 51 features and 31 shorts exclusively at the Landmark Century Centre Cinemas,  April 16-27. The full schedule will be announced mid-late March; individual tickets go on sale Monday, March 23. Applications for Media Credentials open March 4, and close on April 6.

Festival passes (or passports) worth 10 admissions are currently at the bargain rate of $110, a $70 savings over the regular ticket price of $17. This special pre-festival sale ends on March 26.

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