Editor

The 2010 San Diego Latino Film Festival will include expanded opportunities for participating filmmakers and their films/videos to take the spotlight. The following is just a taste of what filmmakers and attendees can experience by participating at the upcoming San Diego Latino Film Festival:

´ 155 feature and short films to be screened;
´ Over 120 guest filmmakers and actors;
´ SDLFF Awards Competition;                                  
´ Workshops/Seminars with industry representatives and filmmakers 
´ Cine'mation showcase;
´ SDLFF's "Top Ten to Watch";
´ Celebrity Guest Curator; 
´ "Tributes" to acclaimed filmmakers/actors;
´ Concerts @ the Fest;
´ Pre-Fest Launch Parties;
´ Opening, Centerpiece, and Closing Night Gala Celebrations;
´ The SDLFF Awards Ceremony;
´ Free Student Outreach Screenings;
´ "Meet the Filmmaker" Dialogues; and,
´ SDLFF's Annual "Border Vision" Sidebar.

Sixteen years ago, the San Diego Latino Film Festival was established as a student film festival focusing on works by Latinos and/or about the Latino Experience. Since that time, the San Diego Latino Film Festival has developed into one of the larger and most well respected Latino film festivals in the country. Over 182,000 people have attended during the past fifteen years, and 1,560 films/videos from across Latin America and the United States have been screened. Past festival guests have included such renowned individuals as Eduardo Verastegui, Barbara Mori, Alfonso Arau, Robert Young, Miguel Littin, Angelica Maria, Dayanara Torres, Demian Bichir, Kate del Castillo, America Ferrera, John Leguizamo, Bruno Baretto, Roselyn Sanchez, Alfonso Cuaron, Cecilia Suarez, Susana Zabaleta, Efren Ramirez, Hector Babenco, Lazaro Ramos, Julio Bracho, Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Carlos Carrera, Rodrigo Prieto, Alex Lora, Lupe Ontiveros, Bruno Bichir, Carmen Salinas, Luis Mandoki, Danny Trejo, Adal Ramones, Tony Plana, Elpidia Carrillo, Humberto Solas, Dennis Leoni, Arturo Ripstein, Paul Rodriguez, Patssi Valdez, Luis Valdez, Gregory Nava,   Edward James Olmos, Lourdes Portillo, Moctesuma Esparza, Ray Bradbury, Jacob Vargas, Patricia Velasquez, Fernando Sariñana, Lucia Murat, Nancy de los Santos, Vanessa Bauche,   and hundreds of other emerging and established Latino filmmakers.

The festival is seeking innovative works that are 'by', 'about' or 'for' the Latino community, that have been produced between 2007-2010. Work previously exhibited in the San Diego / Tijuana Border Region - whether theatrically at another local festival or broadcast on television, - are not eligible to apply. A panel of distinguished curators from the San Diego and Tijuana community will select the films and videos to be screened during the "Official Selection" of the festival. All entries will be pre-screened for eligibility by curators, however, not all entries will be programmed.