The New York Latino Film Festival (NYLFF) celebrates its 25th anniversary September 13-21, 2025, with a weeklong showcase of film, music, and culture featuring 120 films from 15 countries. This milestone underscores the festival's critical role in creating space for Latino voices in an industry where representation remains disproportionately low. Founder Calixto Chinchilla emphasized the personal significance of this anniversary, stating it celebrates "the people, stories, and culture that have shaped who we are" and represents a testament to the community's "resilience, creativity, and power."
The festival's opening film, Sundance Award-winning Mad Bills to Pay directed by Joel Vargas, presents a gritty Bronx tale of young love and community, while the celebration includes an encore screening of Karyn Kusama's groundbreaking Girlfight featuring Michelle Rodriguez's debut performance. Rodriguez will receive NYLFF's Impact Award recognizing her influential legacy in Latino representation, highlighting how the festival has served as a launchpad for talent that has gone on to achieve global recognition.
Warner Bros. Discovery returns as presenting sponsor, with SVP Dennis Williams noting the company's pride in being "the founding sponsor since day one" and their commitment to "celebrating the richness of Latino filmmaking." The festival's significance extends beyond entertainment, with NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman acknowledging NYLFF's role in the city's celebration of Latino Heritage Month and its contribution to diverse programming representing multiple countries.
Additional programming includes the Futuro Digital Conference presented by Audible and Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, spotlighting content creators and technology leaders targeting the Latino market. The conference complements the festival's mission to strengthen industry connections and create opportunities for Latino professionals behind the camera as well as on screen.
The festival's expansion to include special presentations at United Palace and community events like the free block party in Quisqueya Plaza featuring Latin Grammy nominee J Noa demonstrates NYLFF's evolution from a film screening event to a comprehensive cultural celebration. This growth reflects the increasing commercial and cultural importance of Latino content, with major studios including Amazon MGM Studios, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, and additional industry support from the Motion Picture Association recognizing the value of engaging with Latino audiences and creators.
For ticket information and full programming details, visit www.nylatinofilmfestival.com.
