The early-bird deadline for filmmakers to submit their works is coming up soon for the 47th iteration of the festival. It begins on July.
SAN ANTONIO — Calling all filmmakers: CineFestival, the annual San Antonio event that touts itself as the longest-running Latino-centric film showcase in the country, is now taking submissions ahead of July screenings.
Feb. 6 is the early-bird deadline for the 47th iteration of the festival, which begins July 9. The regular deadline is April 17, and organizers have pegged the late deadline for May 8.
CineFestival, which partners with the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, is marching towards a milestone 50th festival of screening Latinx and indigenous stories in 2029. But Program Director Eugenio del Bosque said 2026 marks 50 years since the festival began.
“This is going to be a very special year for CineFestival,” del Bosque said in a press release. “We plan on honoring and celebrating the original Chicano Film Festival that was founded in 1976 by Adán Medrano.”
Nearly 95 films were selected for CineFestival 2025, the highlight of which was the San Antonio premiere of the documentary “Selena y Los Dinos,” which landed on Netflix over the holiday season. Of those 95 movies, 33 were from San Antonio filmmakers.
Recent years have also featured special anniversary screenings of the landmark Chicano film “Blood In Blood Out” and local premieres of hits from the Sundance Film Festival.
CineFestival historically screens at the Guadalupe Theater. But with ongoing renovations at the west-San-Antonio venue, the last two years have seen audiences gather with their popcorn at Alamo Drafthouse Park North, Carver Community Cultural Center and Santikos Mayan Palace.
In addition to screenings CineFestival features masterclasses, workshops and panels from industry professionals. It also incorporates a Youth Film showcase featuring work from young artists; a free-to-attend Family Day; and Senior Cinema screenings.
CineFestival 2026 runs July 9-12.