Hey film friends! 👋 Looking for something beyond the usual blockbuster experience this summer? The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago is serving up major cultural immersion with their Reel Film Club Summer Lineup, and it’s giving everything a true Latino cinema enthusiast could want.
The Vibe Check
Picture this: Every last Tuesday of the month, you roll up to Facets Film Forum (1517 W Fullerton Ave, Chicago, IL 60614) for a curated film experience that goes way beyond just watching a movie. We’re talking pre-screening receptions with themed snacks based on the film’s country of origin (food + film = the perfect combo), cash bar if you’re 21+, and post-screening discussions with local film critics who’ll help you unpack everything you just witnessed.
The first of our events in this series will be a Short film showcase, highlighting the Audience Choice Awards from the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival – Chosen films in the Short, Feature Film and Documentary films will receive a special sculpture created by Mexican Artist David Camorlinga Tagle.
41st CLFF Audience Choice Awards
In addition to the Audience Choice Award statuette designed by Mexican sculptor David Camorlinga Tagle, the winners will receive Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve Studio post production software valued at $295. The software combines editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post production into one tool, allowing filmmakers to work with camera original quality images throughout the entire process. With worldwide offices across the USA, UK, Japan, Singapore and Australia, Blackmagic Design is one of the world’s leading innovators and manufacturers of creative video technology. With its long history in post-production editing and engineering, Blackmagic has created some of the most talked about products in the industry, including affordable high-end quality editing workstations.
For just $25 ($20 if you’re an ILCC member), you get access to groundbreaking Latino cinema that mainstream theaters won’t give you. And if you’re ready to commit to the full cultural experience through November, their $150 package deal running until June 2 is basically the streaming service subscription you’ll actually use.
The Film Lineup That’s About to Dominate Your Summer
May 27: Short Film Showcase That Hits Different
The summer kicks off with a fire shorts program featuring the 41st Chicago Latino Film Festival’s audience favorites. The main character energy belongs to “Paper Flower” directed by Joe Miñoso (yes, the actor from Chicago Fire), which snagged the Audience Choice Award for Best Short. It follows a 10-year-old Latino DREAMer caring for his little sister through immigration struggles using his imagination. Miñoso will literally be there to receive his award, so come through if you want to see directorial talent in person.
Other shorts dropping that night include “Arranca” about dementia and family bonds, “Unless We Dance” following young dancers escaping crime in Colombia, “Fever” documenting teen baseball dreams in the Dominican Republic, and the wordless but vibrating “Little Hot Water Bottle” from Argentina.
June 24: “Crocodiles” – When Journalism Gets Deadly
Mexico’s J. Xavier Velasco isn’t playing around with “Crocodiles,” a thriller about a young photojournalist investigating his mentor’s murder in Veracruz. With 141+ journalists killed in Mexico this century, this film dives into the real dangers media workers face when challenging power. It’s giving true crime meets social justice energy.
July 29: “Reinas” – Coming-of-Age Against Political Chaos
This award-winning Peruvian film from Klaudia Reynicke follows sister besties LucÃa and Aurora during Peru’s 1992 political crisis. Their mom wants to leave the country but needs their absent father’s permission first, unlocking family drama against a backdrop of government collapse. The film already snatched awards at Berlinale and the Festival de Lima.
August 26: “Dear Gentlemen” – Girl Power That Changed a Nation
Closing out summer is the 41st CLFF’s Audience Choice winner for Best Feature. Patricia Castañeda’s “Dear Gentlemen” throws us back to 1954 Colombia where a squad of revolutionary women fought for voting rights against the patriarchy. Led by one of Colombia’s first female lawyers, these women created a media storm that changed history. It’s basically the historical blueprint for today’s advocacy movements.
Why This Matters
The perception and representation of Latinos in the United States is under scrutiny from various segments, programs like the Reel Film Club offer authentic stories from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal that most streaming services won’t show you and their stories and narratives can broaden minds and educate us about the resilient people and their way of life that have a deep impact on our communal existence. These films aren’t just entertainment—they’re windows into cultures, movements, and realities that expand your worldview.
The International Latino Cultural Center has been building community through film since 1985, growing from 500 attendees to over 35,000+. Beyond the Reel Film Club, they’re also behind the Chicago Latino Film Festival, Chicago Latino Music Series, and Film in the Parks—all creating spaces where Latino culture gets the spotlight it deserves. You can follow all that we offer as an organization by visiting LatinoCulturalCenter.org.
The Bottom Line
Mark your calendar, set those reminders, and mosey on over to Facets Film Forum (1517 West Fullerton Ave.) for a summer film experience worth posting about. Whether you’re a film major, culture connoisseur, or just someone looking to expand your content diet beyond what the algorithm feeds you, the Reel Film Club is that rare space where cinema, culture, and community come together.
Drop a comment if you hit up any of these screenings—we want to hear your takes!
Practical Details:
- When: Last Tuesday each month (May 27, June 24, July 29, August 26)
- Where: Facets Film Forum, 1517 West Fullerton Ave., Chicago
- Cost: $25 regular/$20 members (includes reception with food + wine (21+) + screening + discussion)
- Season Pass: $150 for all screenings May-November (available for sale until June 2)
- Vibes: Reception at 6 PM, Screening at 7 PM
