UPDATES
Features & Highlights, Announcements & LFI In the News
The Latino Film Institute (LFI) today announced the launch of the LFI Futuro XR: 360° Video Lab, a five-month fellowship designed to train storytellers in the art and technology of immersive 360° filmmaking while amplifying stories rooted in the Latino experience.
For the past couple of years, producer Simone Kirlew has been a steady creative force behind the Youth Cinema Project Alumni Fellowship films, serving as producer mentor for the program’s last two alumni productions while acting as a vital link between the Latino Film Institute and each production team. Beyond nurturing the fellows’ creative vision, she oversaw the coordination that allowed each film to come to life, managing logistics, schedules, and on-the-ground production needs with precision and care.
For Miguel Angel Caballero, storytelling has always been about community, both the one he comes from and the one he is helping build. As producer mentor for the 2026 YCP Alumni Fellowship, he brings more than 15 years of experience producing, writing, and directing films that move audiences while opening doors for others to step behind the camera.
The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF), founded by Edward James Olmos in 1997, will celebrate its milestone 25th edition from May 27 – May 31, 2026, in Hollywood, CA. Marking a quarter-century of elevating Latino voices, this year’s festival will introduce a new Best Feature Film Award and debut LALIFF Connect: Market & Creative Forum, expanding opportunities for filmmakers while continuing its Oscar®-qualifying recognition for short films.
Dr. Rachel Raimist has always understood the power of storytelling to shape lives. Long before she directed episodes for major networks or broke barriers within the Directors Guild of America, she experienced firsthand how filmmaking could uncover truth and inspire change.
