The nation’s original and longest running Latino film festival returns this summer with the 41st edition of CineFestival. Presented by the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio’s annual celebration of independent Latino cinema will take place July 11-14, 2019 at the historic Guadalupe Theater.
This year’s CineFestival will feature premiere screenings, master classes, receptions, after parties, and free community events. The festival will also include free Family Day screenings, a Youth Program showcasing San Antonio student filmmakers, and a Senior Screening for the area’s elderly film lovers. Featured programs include the Femme Frontera Filmmaker Showcase and the Texas Filmmaker’s Showcase.
For over four decades, CineFestival has hosted many of the industry’s pioneering U.S. Latino and Mexican films, actors, and directors. Highlights from past editions include appearances by Gina Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro, Edward James Olmos, Benjamin Bratt, Jesse Borrego, Esai Morales, Lourdes Portillo, Luis Valdez, Cheech Marin, Lalo Alcaraz, Miguel Arteta, Hector Galan, and some of the fresh voices in Latino film including Aurora Guerrero, Cruz Angeles, Alex Rivera and last year’s guest of honor Raúl Castillo.
Entries will be pre-screened for eligibility by a selection committee and not all entries will be programmed. Films must be submitted with English subtitles if dialogue is in a language other than English. Films must have been completed after January 2017.
Submissions will be notified of entry status by May 6, 2019. Decisions of the programmers are final.
A special panel will choose CineFestival’s Premio Mesquite Awards in the following categories:
Best Short Documentary
Best Short Narrative
Best Documentary Feature
Best Narrative Feature
Special Jury Award
Films to be considered for competition will be determined by CineFestival programmers.