The 23rd edition of the Chicago Latino Film Festival will take place April 13- 25, 2007. The Festival showcases approximately 100 feature, short films and videos that reflect Latino culture in Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the United States. Films from other countries will be considered if the director is of Ibero-American descent, or the subject matter is related to Latino culture. The Festival screens short and full feature films from all genres and forms of filmmaking including narrative, animation, documentaries, experimental, etc.

There are several special segments within the Chicago Latino Film Festival. The Festival will again present its special Student Segment, which brings the works of budding filmmakers to the big screen. This program is a collaborative effort in conjunction with Latino Art Beat and Columbia College Chicago’s Latino Affairs Department, but also includes student works from other organizations and universities in the United States and Latin America. The Festival continues to celebrate the contributions of women in the film industry with the Women in Film series; and also continues its Gay/Lesbian Film series acknowledging the culture and the tradition of gay/lesbian cinema.

Along with film screenings, the Festival offers a series of exciting special events. These Festival special events have included the Gloria Lifetime Achievement Award which is presented to a prominent Latino personality. In past years, recipients have included salsera, Celia Cruz; director, Humberto Solás; director, Arturo Ripstein; actor, Federico Luppi; actress Rita Moreno, and artist Leonardo Nierman. Last year the Gloria was awarded to actress China Zorilla.