El Encueñtro Film Festival, brought to you by UNITAS, brings local Latino artists and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling through film.

With strong roots in Latino independent film, El Encueñtro is synonymous with creative expression and entertainment.

We champion emerging and established Latino voices, discover award-winning Latino talent, curate innovative experiences, and introduce new ideas through exclusive premieres, conversations, and live performances.

Last year’s El Encueñtro Film Festival was an incredible success with over 200 submissions and featuring 24 original short films from all over the US and Puerto Rico.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, we drew huge audiences and showcased the depth and diversity of Latino storytelling.

Submissions are welcome in the following categories:
– Best Film of the Festival (Narrative or Documentary) $250 Award
– Best Animated Film- $200 Award
– Best Local Film- $200 Award

Eligibility:
-Film director, animator, or screenwriter must be Latino.
-Accepting films from Latino filmmakers from the 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 submitted before August 23, 2024.
-Any films that violate copyright law will be disqualified.
-Films must be family friendly or PG or 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 subtitled.

Key Dates:-
-Regular Deadline: August 23, 2024
-Festival Dates: October 4-5, 202