LALIFF 2027 SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are open and close on Sunday, February 7, 2027 at 11:59pm (PT). Entries will be accepted in the following categories: U.S. Latino feature films, short films, and series, as well as international short films and series across all genres.
LALIFF is an international event dedicated to excellence in storytelling. Through film, television, new technologies, innovation and education, LALIFF offers a vibrant stage to celebrate the richness and diversity of Latino storytelling through distinct directorial voices and culturally significant narratives. LALIFF is an Academy Award® Qualifying Festival in two categories – Best U.S. Latino Live Action Short and Best U.S. Latino Animated Short.
Official Oscar® Rules/Eligibility here.
For the first time, LALIFF is expanding its eligibility to welcome filmmakers from Haiti and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana). Filmmakers from these regions, whether they live there or elsewhere in the diaspora, are now invited to submit to the Short Film and Series categories, and U.S.-based filmmakers with roots in Haiti and the Guianas are eligible for the U.S. Latino Feature Films category. We can’t wait to share these new voices with LALIFF audiences.
Filmmakers and producers are also invited to explore the LALIFF Connect: Market & Creative Forum, where creators connect with industry leaders, financiers, distributors, and film commissions from across the Americas. Whether you’re developing your next project, seeking partners, or looking to expand your network, the Market & Creative Forum is designed to help bring your stories to the next level.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
U.S. Latino Features:
Feature submissions are open to fiction and documentary films, live-action or animation of any genre with a running time of more than 50 minutes, made by U.S.-based filmmakers who identify as being of Latin American and/or Caribbean descent, including filmmakers with roots in Haiti and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana). Films must have had their world premiere on or after January 1, 2026. Films that have had commercial, theatrical, television, or online distribution in the United States are not eligible. All selected films must hold, at minimum, Los Angeles premiere status.
U.S. & International Latino Short Films:
Short film submissions are open to fiction and documentary films, live-action or animation of any genre with a running time of less than 30 minutes. Eligible filmmakers include Latino filmmakers residing in the United States, Latin America, Haiti, and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana), as well as filmmakers from these regions living elsewhere in the diaspora. Films must have had their world premiere on or after January 1, 2026. Films that have had commercial, theatrical, television, or online distribution in the United States are not eligible. All selected films must hold, at minimum, Los Angeles premiere status.
U.S. & International Latino Series:
Series submissions are open to scripted or non-scripted series, live-action or animation, of any genre made by Latino creatives residing in the United States, Latin America, Haiti, and the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana), as well as creatives from these regions living elsewhere in the diaspora. Applicants may submit a single episode or multiple episodes of the same project, as long as the total running time, including credits, does not exceed 90 minutes.
Multiple episodes should be submitted as one continuous video file. Individual episodes may not exceed 60 minutes in length. Open submissions in this category are not eligible for the Festival if the submitted content has been made available to the general public via any platform (broadcast television, Blu-ray, DVD, streaming, VOD, etc.) in the United States. If the submitted content is a continuation of an existing series, only new episodes are eligible for open submission to the Festival. The festival requires a minimum of a Los Angeles premiere status.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Early Submission Deadline: Friday, December 11, 2026
Regular Submission Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2027
Late Submission Deadline: Sunday, February 7, 2027
SUBMISSION FORMAT
Submissions shall be submitted through FilmFreeway or Hiike Independent. It is your responsibility to ensure that your online entry contains correct information and is properly submitted. Films not submitted through FilmFreeway or Hiike Independent will not be considered. Only one film per entry form. Multiple entries on one application will not be considered.
We only accept submissions via Vimeo web link. If your video is password protected please include the password and be sure to not change the password for the duration of the decision-making process. Non-English language films must have English language subtitles at the time of submission.
If selected, films must be available for projection in DCP and digital file.
A COMMITMENT TO FAIR REVIEW
LALIFF is committed to discovering the next generation of Latino storytellers through a fair and equitable selection process. Every film that meets all submission requirements is carefully reviewed and evaluated by multiple screeners and programmers.
