UNITAS CENTER of Lowell, MA invites you to submit your short films as we set out on our second exciting production of "El Encuentro: The Latino Film Experience." Dates of the production will be October 13, 14, 2023, celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. We request short films of 3 mins to 15 mins in length. This festival will take place in person at The Richard and Nancy Donahue Theater at Middlesex Community College located in downtown Lowell, MA. Last year went beyond all expectations, with 187 submissions of terrific short films highlighting Hispanic filmmakers. Award money was recently sent out in the categories of Audience Choice, Best Film, Best editing, Best Cinematography, Best Animated Feature, and Best Documentary feature, chosen by our judges. For more information, go to our website at http://www.Unitascenter.org
"Art is the Handmaid of Human Good" is written on the seal of our city, Lowell, MA; the home of Jack Kerouac, Bette Davis, and James O'Neil Whistler. We have received generous funding from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, as well as support from local Merrimack Valley businesses.
Located just 45 minutes from Boston, MA on the banks of the Merrimack River, Lowell is a Mill City that has come alive with artistic zeal, and boasts one of the most diverse populations in all of Massachusetts. It is with great pride that we set out ion our second, and even bigger and better festival to highlight the achievements of Latino filmmakers, an underrepresented pool of talent that deserves to be seen and heard.
*All films in Spanish or Portuguese should be sub titled.

Congratulations to our 2022 Winners!!

Best Film $200 "Dreamer" Vergi Rodrguez
Best Documentary film $200. "Water, Land Air, Fire Kimberly Hernandez
Best Animated Film. $200 ""Crying En La Lavanderia". Clara Siliezar
Best Editing $150. "Sounds At Night" Aaron Garcia
Best Cinematography $150. "Helado: Ice Cream". Gabriel Duran
Audience Choice Award $200. "Silver Waters". Domenicca Isabella Botero

Film director, animator, or screenwriter must be Latino.
We are accepting films from Latino filmmakers from USA (and Puerto Rico) only!
No age limit, BUT children under the age of 18 must have consent from a parent or guardian
Films must be sent before September 1, 2023
Any films that violate copyright law will be disqualified
Films must be family friendly or PG o PG 13 in range
Submitters/ Filmmakers will be solely responsible for any copyright infringement on their submitted films
Films in Spanish or Portuguese must be sub titled.
By submitting content to "El Encuentro: The Latino Film Experience," you understand and agree that you are giving us a royalty free, irrevocable, non-exclusive and sublicenseable license to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, perform, display, and creative derivative works from any submission in whole or in part, in any form (including for promotional or marketing purposes.) You agree not to disparage, defame, otherwise seek to damage anyone or invade anyone's rights through any submitted content. El Encuentro: The Latino Film Experience reserves the right to update or modify any part of this festival at any time without prior notice.

TO SUBMIT YOUR FILM GO TO www.Unitascenter.org/film-festival

Overall Rating
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  • Aaron Garcia

    Great festival to be a part of. Though I was unable to attend. Festival director always kept in touch with me and gave me status on the festival. Worth the submission

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Aaron, your film was a huge hit! So cool to see my old acting buddy Sean at work, too! Please submit next year. Submissions begin on Jan 2nd.
    Jerry

  • Gabriel Duran

    Great festival! I love what they represent and how they approach the Latino Image! We need more festivals like this! Please keep pushing and making this festival grow!

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Gabriel!! I have an award check for you. Can you please send me your postal mailing address ? Great film! LOVED it so much!
    Jerry

  • Robert J Morgalo

    Fun festival. I recommend. Looking forward to next year’s festival. Will definitely submit again.

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Thanks, Robert! Submissions for next year begin on. Jan 2nd. We will have live Salsa performers before the shows next year. Bigger and better!

  • Monica Ocegueda

    Thank you for screening my short film What We Just Don’t Tell Our Girls

    October 2022
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    Response from festival:

    Monica, it was our pleasure. Our audience really enjoyed your film. We are gearing up for Festival number 2! Submissions to begin on Jan2nd.