LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS was made with the intention of creating a new scenario for independent filmmakers from Latin America and all around the world.

The festival, just like the films, is completely independent. We do not have any kind of sponsorship or assistance from any government, and therefore registration is charged. It's the only way to keep the festival alive and at a high level.

The films will be evaluated monthly by competent and awarded cinema professionals.

Winners will be notified on the 30th of each month.

Dates can be changed if necessary.

Films submitted after the 25th of each month will be evaluated for the following month's competition.

All selected films receive an official selection laurel.

Winning films will receive high quality laurel(s) and certificate(s).

We are very supportive of independent cinema and it will be a great pleasure to get to know your work.

Please read the rules carefully before submitting.

(Updated with rule XIII regarding the Award-Winning Certificates)

MANDATORY CATEGORY:

Best Short Film
Best Short Documentary
Best Experimental Film
Best Short Latin Film

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:

Best Director Short Film
Best Actress Short Film
Best Actor Short Film
Best Cinematography Short Film
Best Screenplay Short Film
Best Visual Effects Short Film
Best Editing Short Film
Best Sound Design Short Film
Best Soundtrack Short Film
Best Makeup/Hairstyling Short Film
Best Costume Design Short Film
Best Production Design Short Film

Best Director of Short Documentary
Best Cinematography Short Documentary
Best Screenplay Short Documentary
Best Editing Short Documentary
Best Sound Design Short Documentary
Best Soundtrack Short Documentary

Best Director of Experimental Short
Best Actress Experimental Short
Best Actor Experimental Short
Best Cinematography Experimental Short
Best Screenplay Experimental Short
Best Visual Effects Experimental Short
Best Editing Experimental Short
Best Sound Design Experimental Short
Best Soundtrack Experimental Short
Best Makeup/Hairstyling Experimental Short
Best Costume Design Experimental Short
Best Production Design Experimental Short

Best Director Animation Short Film
Best Cinematography Animation Short Film
Best Screenplay Animation Short Film
Best Visual Effects Animation Short Film
Best Editing Animation Short Film
Best Sound Design Animation Short Film
Best Soundtrack Animation Short Film
Best Production Design Short Film

I. All films not in English MUST have English language subtitles.

II. All entry fees are non-refundable. To register in the special and / or individual categories, the registrant MUST submit his project in one of the main categories, otherwise, the submission will be INVALIDATED.

III. Multiple entries from the same submitter are accepted, with separated submission and separated entry fee that will accompany each entry. However, in repeated entries of the same project, only the last entry will be considered.

IV. The decisions of the festival selection committee and jury will be final and indisputable.

V. Films that are submitted MUST BE the entrant’s original work, and SHALL NOT infringe on any copyrights or any other rights of any third parties. Contestants agree that they have obtained all required copyright permission, regarding music, sound, images and etc. presented in their film. Therefore filmmakers MUST have all rights associated with their films and allow “LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS” to use clips for publicity purposes, including uploading a clip, trailer, Poster, Image online.

VI. By Submitting your project to LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS, you allow our Festival to use press materials from the film (such as still photos, posters, trailers and clips) for promotional purposes in our website and social media. Therefore, all films selected for the Festival grant to LATIN FILM AWARDS the rights to use press materials from the films for promotional purposes.

VII. The burden of obtaining copyright and all proprietary interests for the submitted material rests solely on the applicant.

VIII. LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS organizers reserve the rights to change, cancel or re-schedule the dates, awards & categories without prior consent or information to contestants.

IX. The organizers reserve the right not to award any or all of the prizes.

X. The LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS will not publish the full-length film without the permission of the submitter.

XI. We do not require premiere status.

XII. Film must be submitted in the correct category or else it will be directly disqualified.

XIII. After receiving several comments and messages regarding our certificates, the organizers of Latin America Film Awards decided to provide for the award winners the layout for the certificates, thus the award winners can have their certificates as soon as they receive the email informing they have won.

COPYRIGHTS
By submitting your film to our festival you agree that your piece of work (full film, trailer) can be uploaded/embed on our website. The filmmaker/institution that is submitting the film must own the rights to do so and is responsible for the content they are providing. By submitting, the filmmaker allows LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS to create a page for their film without infringing the copyright of any kind of form. Filmmakers can make a request via email to remove the film link at any time.

DISCLAIMER
The applicant agrees to have read and accepted the rules & regulations for participation in the LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS.
The applicant confirms that he/she has the requisite authority or has obtained the requisite authority from the producer/right holder to enter this film in the LATIN AMERICA FILM AWARDS and make available the print for screening. Under NO circumstance, the authorities of LATIN FILM AWARDS will entertain or be answerable to anyone else apart from the applicant.

NOTIFICATIONS
After a film has been selected for the film competition, the filmmaker is notified via email only. The selected films will be published on the festival website. All films which are selected/nominated for the competition will be informed only by emails, social media & listed on the festival website. No inquiries or arguments will be entertained regarding non-selected films. The decision of the selection committee and jury will be final and indisputable.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Brent Heise

    Thank you for making The Girl Who Faded Away an Official Selection. On behalf of Executive Producer George Daly, the cast and the crew, I extend our heartfelt appreciation. I highly recommend this festival.

    August 2025
  • It was a great experience, and I'm very happy that "Ofelia" was an Official Selection on your Festival! Thank you for supporting films with important messages and strong performances!

    August 2025
  • Alexander Senicki

    We really appreciate our official selection and definitely plan to submit part two of EMR in the future. Kudos to LAFA for hosting an independent festival for independent filmmakers!

    January 2024
  • Très heureuse d’avoir participé à ce festival.
    Je vous remercie pour les prix gagnés.
    À très bientôt ☺️😉

    January 2024
  • Andrew Clough

    The recognition from the Festival for our first documentary was a wonderful incentive to continue our journey in the world of film. The organisers of the Latin American Film awards were both timely and encouraging with their communication. We give this festival 5 stars and encourage any aspiring or seasoned film makers to submit their work to this festival.

    January 2024