The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) includes

feature film A feature film or feature-length film is a narrative film (motion picture or "movie") with a running time long enough to be considered the principal or sole presentation in a commercial entertainment program. The term ''feature film'' originall ...

documentaries A documentary film or documentary is a non-fictional motion-picture intended to "document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education or maintaining a historical record". Bill Nichols has characterized the documentary in term ...

, and

short film A short film is any motion picture that is short enough in running time not to be considered a feature film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes ...

s from the Spanish and Portuguese

diaspora A diaspora ( ) is a population that is scattered across regions which are separate from its geographic place of origin. Historically, the word was used first in reference to the dispersion of Greeks in the Hellenic world, and later Jews after ...

. The six-day festival was established in 1997. The festival was founded by Marlene Dermer (a native of

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = National seal , national_motto = "Firm and Happy f ...

) and

Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos (born February 24, 1947) is an American actor, director, producer, and activist. He is best known for his roles as Lieutenant Martin "Marty" Castillo in ''Miami Vice'' (1984–1989), ''American Me'' (1992) (which he also dir ...

. The 13th year of the festival in 2009 included 75 films such as a screening of Spanish director's

Pedro Almodóvar Pedro Almodóvar Caballero (; (often known simply as Almodóvar) born 25 September 1949) is a Spanish filmmaker. His films are marked by melodrama, irreverent humour, bold colour, glossy décor, quotations from popular culture, and complex narra ...

's ''

Broken Embraces ''Broken Embraces'' ( es, Los abrazos rotos, links=no) is a 2009 Spanish romantic thriller film written, produced, and directed by Pedro Almodóvar. Led by an ensemble cast consisting of many Almodóvar regulars, it stars Lluís Homar as a blind ...

'' at

Grauman's Chinese Theatre Grauman's Chinese Theatre (branded as TCL Chinese Theatre for naming rights reasons) is a movie palace on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. The original Chinese ...

. Almodóvar received the festival's Gabi lifetime Achievement Award. Other films screened at the 2009 even included Josh Crook's '' La Soga'' from Santiago in the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...

, '' Down for Life'' about a Latino gang leader in Los Angeles, '' Santos'' by

Nicholas Lopez Salvador Nicholas is a male given name and a surname. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Churches celebrate Saint Nicholas every year on December 6, which is the name day for "Nicholas". In Greece, the name and i ...

, Sebastian Gutierrez's ''

Women in Trouble ''Women in Trouble'' is a 2009 American comedy film written and directed by Sebastián Gutiérrez and starring Carla Gugino, Adrianne Palicki, Marley Shelton, Cameron Richardson, Connie Britton and Emmanuelle Chriqui. It was shot in 10 days for ...

'' from Venezuela and the documentary ''

La Vida Lova LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music * La (musical note), or A, the sixth note * "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figur ...

'' about gang war in

El Salvador El Salvador (; , meaning " The Saviour"), officially the Republic of El Salvador ( es, República de El Salvador), is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south ...

(where the movie's French director

Christian Poveda Christian Gregorio Poveda Ruiz (January 12, 1957 – September 2, 2009), known as Christian Poveda, was a Hispanic- French photojournalist and film director. He covered the world's conflict zones for more than 30 years. Poveda's documentary film ...

was murdered). The festival is also trying to expand opportunities for young filmmakers. Short films play a substantial role at the festival, allowing lower cost entries to take part.Reed Johnson La lucha continues for another year October 10, 2009 page D1, D6 Los Angeles Times The Academy Film Archive houses the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Collection.

References

Film festivals in Los Angeles Hispanic and Latino American culture in Los Angeles Latin American film festivals Portuguese-American culture in California Film festivals established in 1997 1997 establishments in California {{US-film-festival-stub