The Vancouver Latin American Film Festival (VLAFF) is a charitable organization with the mission to exhibit and promote Latin American cinema in Canada. We showcase the works of both emerging and established independent filmmakers and media artists in a range of formats from fiction to experimental to documentary to hybrid narrative. We are dedicated to making space and supporting the works of underrepresented filmmakers.

Since 2003, every autumn we present our annual 11-day festival to explore and celebrate the art of contemporary Latin American, Latin-Canadian, and Indigenous filmmaking.

VLAFF provides audiences with the opportunity to experience a dynamic selection of contemporary Latin American cinema and interact with guest filmmakers from around the world.

Submissions for the 19th Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Aug 26 - Sept 5, 2021, will be open from FEBRUARY 15 - APRIL 30, 2021. Please note: Submission fees are quoted in US dollars.

Submissions for our Work in Progress forum will open in September 2021.

Awards & Prizes

Best New Director Award (first or second feature films) - $1000 (CAD)

Best Short Film Award (fiction, animation, and documentary shorts) - $500 (CAD)

Audience Award - The best award, the Vancouver's people choice!

Youth Choice Award - 20 students from Latin American and Canadian film schools.

Rules & Terms

The festival does not pay fees for its competition sections.

Films in competition must be Canadian premiere.

Can I submit a documentary? Yes!! VLAFF welcomes fiction, non-fiction, hybrid, and experimental films, and all options will be considered for all of its sections.

Can I submit a rough cut? Yes, but we will need to see the final version by June 15. Also, as we are a smaller festival, you may want to try for a premiere at a larger festival and then submit to us the following year.

For 2021, films may be screened online and/or in cinemas during the festival.

All films must be 2020-2021.
2 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
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Networking
  • Timothy Wolfer

    This festival packs a lot of punch. With a huge online following who are engaged along with a dedicated staff this has been one of the top festivals I have had the pleasure to be a part of. Really glad we entered The Right Girls and hope to work with them again in the future.

    September 2020
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  • David Bercovici

    This was an incredible opportunity to showcase the work of Latin American filmmakers. Excellent festival, AMAZING FILMS. I am not only happy to have been part of this festival, but I highly recommend it... Congratulations to VLAFF.

    September 2019
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