When Denver's Holiday and Santa Fe theaters closed in the late 1970s, Denver's access to Spanish-language films on the big screen (aside from the occasional art house run) essentially vanished.

Sensing the need of a growing Spanish-speaking and bilingual community to see themselves on screen and to hear their stories told, Su Teatro started the Chicano Independent Filmmaker's Festival in 1999.

Now, in it's 27th year, the XicanIndie FilmFest has surpassed its original inception, reaching over 500 patrons annually. Although the festival still highlights the work of local and national Chicano independent filmmakers, the four-day event also includes Mexican classics and cutting edge new films from throughout Latin America.

Rules & Terms

Su Teatro is searching for new films for the Xicano Independent Filmmakers' Festival (XIFF) XXVII, filmmakers who tell authentic tales, that speak to the experience of the Latino World, document moving stories and life changing events, visually stimulate and engage the audience.

The XicanIndie seeks to give the filmmakers of tomorrow, the opportunity today, along with reaching filmmakers we just don't know yet, or already love. The festival focuses on films by and about Latinos.

If you have additional questions email: xicanindie@suteatro.org

8 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Gary Alvarez

    I rarely write reviews but felt compelled to share my experience with this festival for its lack of communication that ended with a screening of my film without my participation. I emailed the festival for details on the screening so that I could attend and they never responded. I missed the screening, which I was looking forward to, only to discover afterwards that they posted my film online. Please remove my film from your website. Feels like this festival took my submission money and ran with it. 👎🏽👎🏽

    May 2025
    Helpful
  • Jessy Vega

    I never received a proper mail from the festival and after I wrote them asking for the format they will use for the screenings, nobody answers me back. I DO NOT recommend it as a serious event. I don't know how they screen films if the prodcuers/directors don't know about the selection or about anything about the festival.

    April 2025
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  • David Llauger Meiselman

    I missed out on the Festival... No one told us we were in and I never authorized the viewing of my film... I blame FILM FREEWAY.... YOUR FAULT. 100%

    May 2024
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  • Alex Ramirez

    XicanIndie is a wonderful fest to screen at. I was thoroughly impressed with the programming and the hospitable manner. Easy to see why Su Teatro is so revered.

    May 2023
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  • Cynthia Bastidas

    I was incredibly honored to be included in this festival and then doubly so when our film received an award. Aside from that though, the organizers created a warm and supportive environment for all of us that were there. When I left, I felt that I was part of a larger community and I was more inspired to continue telling our Latine stories. In regards to the other films that I watched, I was delighted to see that films at all levels of production were included. Meaning that the festival was not all very well-produced work but it included work that was perhaps low on production value but very high on the story telling and content. That is so important for beginning filmmakers or filmmakers who don't have the resources that others have. In an industry where production value is so highly regarded, even more so than the story, XicanIndie validates those of us who are working with limited resources and encourages us to keep working. And sometimes, that's all we need. Thank you XicanIndie, Tony and Molly.

    July 2022
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