Schedule for 2024, May 29-June 2, at the iconic TCL Chinese Theaters in Hollywood, CA.
By Andreína Longoria.
Tijuana.- Latino Film Institute (LFI) will present a large film lineup for the 23rd Los Angeles International Latino Film Festival (LALIFF), which will take place from May 29 to June 2, 2024 at the iconic TCL Chinese theaters from Hollywood, CA. This year, the festival expands with the creation of a new section, LALIFF Eastside, showcasing films by Los Angeles-based filmmakers at the Regal L.A. Live.
The festival will open with the critically acclaimed “In the Summers,” directed by Alessandra Lacorazza and starring René Pérez Joglar (Resident), Sasha Calle, Lío Mehiel and Leslie Grace, and will close with the world premiere of “Grassland,” written and directed by William Bermúdez and Sam Friedman and starring Mía Maestro, Jeff Kober, Quincy Isaiah, Ravi Cabot-Conyers and Sean Convery.
The full lineup includes feature films, short films, episodic works, animation, master classes, panels, networking sessions, musical performances and LALIFF’s first film market. Tickets are now available for purchase on the festival site.
In the Summers tells the story of Violeta and Eva who, every summer, visit their loving but reckless father Vicente, who attempts to atone for the past by creating a wonderful world for them to experience. But old wounds don’t heal easily.
Grassland explores the failures of the criminal justice system through the lens of a single Latina mother whose illegal marijuana business is jeopardized when her young son befriends her new neighbors. The film celebrates its world premiere at the festival.
“LALIFF serves as a platform to elevate and highlight the notable contributions of Latino creators in film and television, and as the annual culmination of programs under the umbrella of our institute. As we expand our presence, we will continue to be driven by a simple but powerful goal: excellence,” said Edward James Olmos, co-founder of LALIFF.
“This is an incredible opportunity for Latinx studios, education professionals and the arts community to come together,” said Axel Caballero, executive director of LFI.
LALIFF 2024 will offer diverse programming across a wide variety of genres, including highly anticipated world premieres as well as films from Latin America that have been praised at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, portraying a wide range of themes through cuts. Avant-garde films of current Latin cinema.
Feature films from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela make up the program of 22 films, seven of which will present their world premieres.
Some of these films have received praise from film critics and audiences at key international film festivals, such as the Cannes Film Festival, the Berlinale and the Toronto International Film Festival.
LALIFF EASTSIDE: In an effort to amplify its impact and embrace the essence of Los Angeles, LALIFF 2024 presents an additional program focused on Los Angeles-based filmmakers.
The selection of short films includes 36 live action shorts and 12 animated shorts from more than 11 countries. Of the general selection, 31 are led by American Latinos.
