The Intercultural Voices Film Festival - A Global Platform for Cinematic Storytelling

Join us for the Inaugural Edition of the Intercultural Voices Film Festival on May 31 - June 1, 2025 in Los Angeles and online worldwide! We invite filmmakers from across the globe to submit their films, share their voices, and connect with audiences who celebrate diverse, inclusive, and boundary-breaking storytelling.

The Intercultural Voices Film Festival is a global celebration of diverse cinematic storytelling, exploring cross-border cultural identities and experiences. We are committed to showcasing films that reflect the richness and complexity of human stories from around the world.

Our inaugural edition, scheduled for the weekend of May 31st, and June 1st of 2025, will feature in-person screenings with an awards closing ceremony, in addition to a year-round online platform that will be launched after the festival.

The Intercultural Voices Film Festival is a space for stories that transcend borders—cultural, geographic, or creative—reflecting the experiences that unite us as a global community.

The Intercultural Voices Film Festival will serve as a creative space where filmmakers and audiences can engage with powerful narratives about migration, social justice, cultural identity, and the experiences of underrepresented communities around the world.

We Welcome:

Films across all genres (narrative, documentary, experimental, animation, music-driven, and more).

Storytellers of every background, including emerging filmmakers, women, indigenous voices, LGBTQ+ perspectives, and creators exploring migration, social justice, identity, and beyond.

Event Type:
Film Festival / Awards ceremony.

The festival will present films mainly in English, but movies in Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous languages are encouraged to participate in order to showcase the diversity of voices from around the globe.

Mission Statement:
To provide a global platform where diverse voices, especially those exploring intercultural narratives, can flourish. Our mission is to celebrate cinematic storytelling around migration, borders, social justice, indigenous heritage, and global issues while encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and promoting social change.

Vision Statement:
To become a leading international film festival that champions films exploring intercultural narratives, serving as a bridge between diverse cultures and regions, specially between Latin America, the U.S. but not limited to those areas only. Through our hybrid model, we aim to foster global understanding, amplify diverse voices, and contribute to building a more inclusive film industry.

Festival Goals:

Highlight Cross-Border Narratives:
Showcase films that explore migration, cultural identity, and cross-border experiences from around the world.

Language Accessibility:
Offer bilingual (English & Spanish) programming, expanding to include Portuguese and indigenous languages to engage a broader audience.

Empower Marginalized Voices:
Promote films from emerging and established filmmakers from underrepresented communities, with a focus on women, indigenous people, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and storytellers from border regions.

Mentorship and Industry Connections:
Offer winners and participants access to networking opportunities, industry mentorship, and potential distribution partnerships.

Community Engagement:
Collaborate with local cultural organizations, universities, and community centers to organize screenings, workshops, and discussions.

Educational Programs: Special workshops and panel discussions will be organized in collaboration with local venues, community partners, and universities, with a focus on indigenous filmmaking and cross-border storytelling.

What are we looking for:

Narrative Feature Films from various genres that explore themes of migration, identity, and intercultural stories.

Documentary Feature Films exploring societal issues, human rights, and cultural identity.

Short Films capturing powerful stories with diverse, often underrepresented voices.

Social Impact Films addressing critical social issues, including environmental sustainability and human rights.

Music-driven films that showcase cultural and social dimensions through sound and imagery.

Experimental Films that push the boundaries of conventional storytelling.

Latinx Cinema, films reflecting on Latinx heritage and culture, Chicana/Chicano culture, diaspora, Hispanic Heritage, AfroLatin culture in all genres.

Filminuto Estudiantil: Short films offering fresh perspectives from future filmmakers.

Women in Film: Films by women, across all genres and formats, highlighting their unique contributions to filmmaking.

Crossroads Stories: Films examining the complexities of borders, migration, and resilience.
Indigenous Cinema: Films highlighting indigenous voices, cultures, and perspectives.

Audience Engagement & Side Events:

Live Awards Ceremony:
A special event celebrating the festival’s top films and the award winning filmmakers. This event will have live streaming for those who can't make it to LA.

Panels & Q&A Sessions:
Featuring filmmakers, social activists, and cultural experts.

Workshops:
Bilingual sessions on storytelling, indigenous filmmaking, and distribution strategies.

Networking Events:
Opportunities for filmmakers, producers, and industry professionals to connect.

Exclusive Interviews with selected filmmakers, critics, academics, and jury members, available on the festival’s YouTube channel.

Watch Parties: Online screenings with live discussions, fostering global interaction between filmmakers and audiences.

The Intercultural Voices Film Festival seeks to establish itself as a vital platform for cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, bridging the diverse stories of Latin America, the U.S., and beyond.

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Follow us for updates, filmmaker interviews, and highlights.

Together, let’s celebrate the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and change the world.

Awards & Recognition:

The festival will present the following awards:
Grand Jury Prize: Awarded to the best feature film.
Jury Prize: Awarded to the best short film.
Special Mention Awards: Awarded to films that demonstrate exceptional artistic merit or social impact.
Best US Feature Film (Narrative)
Best International Feature Film (Narrative)
Best Feature Film (Documentary)
Best Medium-Length Film
Best Narrative US Short Film
Best Narrative International Short Film
Best Documentary Short Film
Best Social Impact Film
Best Music Video
Audience Choice Award
Best LatinX Cinema Film
Best Student Short Film
Emerging Filmmaker Award
Best Experimental Film
Best Cinematography
Best Director
Inspiring LatinX Story Award
Women in Film Award (for outstanding contributions by female filmmakers)
Crossroad Stories Award (for films exploring narratives around geographical, political, and cultural borders)
Indigenous Cinema Award (for films highlighting indigenous voices, culture, and perspectives)

Submission Format:
All films must be submitted through FilmFreeway. No physical copies will be accepted.

Completion Date:
Films must have been completed after January 1, 2020.

Premiere Status:
Priority is given to films making their Southern California or online premiere, although this is not a strict requirement for the first edition.

Language:
Films in any language are accepted, but English subtitles are required for non-English films.
For English-language films, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles are encouraged.
Films in Spanish, Portuguese, or indigenous languages must include English subtitles.
The festival may provide Spanish and Portuguese subtitles for select online screenings.

Running Times:
Feature Films: Minimum 60 minutes
Medium-Length Films: 30-60 minutes (Includes TV Pilots)
Short Films: 1-30 minutes
Filminuto Estudiantil: Maximum 3:59 minutes

Deadline Dates:
Early Bird Deadline: February 7th, 2025
Regular Deadline: March 7th, 2025
Late Deadline: April 5th, 2025
Extended Deadline: April 30th, 2025

Submission Fees:
Fees will be reduced by 60% for the first edition to encourage participation.

Student filmmakers receive an additional discount, and fee waivers will be available for underrepresented filmmakers, especially those submitting in indigenous languages.

How to Submit:
Submissions will be accepted exclusively through FilmFreeway.

Selection Process:
Filmmakers will be notified by April 30th, 2025.

Films will be curated into thematic categories, and can be included in one or more categories.

Films will be evaluated based on the following:
Creativity and originality
Storytelling and narrative strength
Production quality
Alignment with the festival’s mission of exploring intercultural identity and social impact
Relevance to global issues and audience engagement

Jury:
A jury composed of filmmakers, academics, social activists, and film industry professionals from the U.S., Latin America, and beyond will judge the entries.

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Follow us for updates, filmmaker interviews, and highlights.

Together, let’s celebrate the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and change the world.