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 event underscores the festival's enduring role as the nation's premier Latino cinematic platform, demonstrating the substantial growth and impact of Latino representation in media over the past quarter-century.
As part of its anniversary celebrations, NYLFF will present an encore screening of Karyn Kusama's Sundance-winning debut "Girlfight," followed by a post-screening Q&A and full cast reunion. Michelle Rodriguez, who made her screen debut in the film and won the Independent Spirit and Gotham Awards for Best Debut Performance, will receive NYLFF's Impact Award in recognition of her influential legacy and representation of Latinos in film. This recognition highlights how the festival has served as a launching pad for Latino talent that has significantly shaped mainstream cinema.
The festival opens with the Sundance Award-winning film "Mad Bills to Pay (or Destiny, Dile Que No Soy Malo)," a gritty Bronx tale of young love, hustle, and community directed by Joel Vargas and starring Juan Collado and Destiny Checo. Presented by Amazon MGM Studios, the celebration culminates with a free block party in Quisqueya Plaza featuring a live performance by 2x Latin Grammy nominee J Noa. The weeklong event represents the festival's continued commitment to showcasing diverse Latino voices and stories.
Warner Bros. Discovery returns as presenting sponsor, with Dennis Williams, SVP and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, stating: "WBD is proud to return to NYLFF as the presenting sponsor, especially in this milestone 25th anniversary year, and honored to have been the founding sponsor since day one." The festival also receives support from the NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, with Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman noting its role in "the city's celebration of Latino Heritage Month" through "rich and diverse slate of programming representing several countries."
Additional programming highlights include the pulse-pounding action drama "A Tiro Limpio" from the Dominican Republic, the salsa documentary "La Salsa Vive" supported by Warner Bros. Discovery's OneFifty and NYLFF Cinematics, and the Berlinale award-winning "The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box)" from Mexico. The FUTURO Digital Conference returns, presented by Audible and Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, with a day-long forum spotlighting top content creators and distributors targeting the Latino market. For more information, visit https://www.nylatinofilmfestival.com.
Founder Calixto Chinchilla reflected on the festival's significance: "Marking 25 years of NYLFF is profoundly personal for me. This milestone celebrates the people, stories, and culture that have shaped who we are. Since the beginning, we've fought to create a space where Latino voices are seen, heard, and valued." The festival's quarter-century journey demonstrates the evolving landscape of Latino representation in cinema and its critical role in shaping cultural narratives while providing essential platforms for emerging and established Latino filmmakers.
