The Latino Cultural Center is launching their newest programming: a film festival to celebrate Latino cinematic arts.

Provided by the Latino Cultural Center

This weekend, the city’s Latino Cultural Center (LCC) rolls out the red carpet and reels for the very first Dallas Latino Film Festival (DLFF), a two-day celebration of the Latino storytellers who have long shaped our screen, often without credit. On Sept. 4 and 5, the festival packs screenings, filmmaker conversations, hands-on workshops, industry panels, networking and an awards ceremony, all under one roof. Family film blocks share the schedule with documentaries, art-house selections and short films submitted from across the country.

For Gerardo Robles, general manager of the LCC, the timing is important.

“As we are in the 250th year of the formation of the United States, this was a great way to gather local communities to share their experiences and offer chances for independent artists to be involved,” he says. “We believe this is the right time to invest and offer a space for filmmakers of all backgrounds and support one another through art.”

The idea grew organically, sparked by LCC cultural programs coordinators Raul Rodriguez and Haide Vazquez and their “Cine Ahora” program, which spotlights modern films with real resonance monthly.

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“The demand of the community affirmed the need to host a film festival, to show that the LCC is an ally to filmmakers and film lovers,” Robles says.

That identity — rooted in Latino experiences, perspectives and artistic innovation — is exactly what sets the festival apart. Curated by Vazquez and Rodriguez, the program leans into short films that carry many backgrounds in a single frame. Robles believes it fills a gap in the local scene.

“Being able to expand our reach into spaces with people who haven’t had the push or chance to be involved can be a great stepping-stone for filmmakers of all backgrounds,” he says.

It’s a mission with municipal backing, too: dedicated creative space was a key priority in the 2018 Dallas Cultural Plan.

“We hope to spark an inspiration for local filmmakers to pursue their passion,” Robles says. “And see that there are resources available and that the facility serves as an educational hub that invests in the community to follow their dreams.”

A soundtrack to match the celebration

Because no proper film festival is complete without a little live music, Saturday’s schedule hands the stage to Ceci Ceci at 4:30 p.m. The Nicaraguan-born, Dallas-based singer-songwriter knows this room well.

“Performing at the LCC is always so special to me,” she tells us. “It brings together such a beautiful community of Latino creatives and artists, and there’s something really meaningful about being surrounded by people who share that same passion for art and culture. The fact that we can come together to celebrate and uplift Latino art means so much to me.”

The grand finale

Saturday builds toward a proper crescendo. After the finalists’ screening, the DLFF Awards ceremony at hands out hardware to the weekend’s standout storytellers. Then, the doors open for a closing mixer at 8 p.m., because the best conversations in film rarely happen on camera. They happen afterward, over a drink, when a director meets the producer who says yes to their next project.

That’s the essence of what this festival really is: less a lineup, more a gathering. Films on the screen, music in the air and a whole community of makers in the seats between them.

“Showing up is the best way to support our endeavors,” says Robles.

The festival runs Sept. 4 and 5 at the Latino Cultural Center (2600 Live Oak St.). Admission is completely free, with tickets available now online.