We celebrate the artistry and diversity of Latin American cinema – stories born from creativity, courage, and a rich sense of identity.
At the London Latino Film Festival™, we don’t believe in passive viewing. We make Latin American stories impossible to ignore – amplifying voices too often overlooked, confronting audiences with truth and beauty, and turning film into an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
Our cause is to elevate the stories and perspectives that define Latin America – its creativity, its complexity, its humanity. We celebrate cinematic heritage while championing bold new voices, creating a space in London where audiences connect with the richness of Latin American culture through film.
1. Authenticity
We present films that reflect the true heart of Latin America – its triumphs, struggles, and contradictions – without dilution or gloss.
2. Cultural Legacy
We honour Latin America’s cinematic history while connecting it with the present, ensuring classics and contemporary works coexist in dialogue.
3. Pragmatic Excellence
We deliver the very best Latin American films to London audiences with rigour, care, and attention to the realities of production, exhibition, and storytelling.
4. Generosity of Culture
We bring London the richness of Latin American cinema—sharing its stories, creativity, and heritage as a cultural gift to the city.
5. Courageous Curating
We take bold programming decisions, championing underrepresented voices and challenging audiences to engage with difficult, provocative, or unseen perspectives.
6. Boundary-Breaking Impact (Diversity & Inclusion)
We don’t just screen films; we disrupt the cultural landscape by creating space for Latin American people & stories that are overlooked, ignored, or undervalued – we do not conform to tokenistic or superficial diversity agendas.
Jorge Perugorría is a Cuban actor, director, and cultural advocate, internationally acclaimed for his role in Strawberry and Chocolate, the first Cuban film to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Over his career, he has appeared in more than 60 films across Latin America and Europe, and has directed notable works including Amor Crónico and Se Vende. He is also the founder of the Isla Verde International Film and Environment Festival, and is widely respected for his dedication to promoting Latin American culture and cinema.
Charles McDougall is a British television director and producer renowned for his work on critically acclaimed series including The Office (U.S.), House of Cards, The Good Wife, Parks and Recreation, Sex and the City, Queer as Folk, and The Tudors. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the Desperate Housewives pilot in 2005 and a BAFTA for the drama Hillsborough. His recent projects include directing and executive producing the HBO Max series Julia and the mini-series Three Little Birds. Charles McDougall has taught for several consecutive years at the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión (EICTV) in San Antonio de los Baños, Havana, where he has shared his expertise in directing and visual storytelling with emerging filmmakers. His ongoing involvement with the EICTV has made him a valued contributor to the school’s international faculty and creative training programmes.
Trained at the National Theatre School of Havana, Ketty Rodriguez is a Latina actress, dubbing director, and narrator with experience in film, television, and voice projects. She has stood out as casting director and supervisor of the Latin American Spanish dubbing for Hollywood films such as Robin Hood, Winchester, and Father Figures, among others, and for directing the legendary actress Rita Moreno in the Spanish-language version of the first season of the Netflix series One Day at a Time.
Her most recent project includes the Cuban film Performance, in which she plays the lead role, a film which is currently in post-production. Ketty is also a voice-over actress and the narrator of the audiobook Everyone Leaves by Wendy Guerra.
Javier Torres is a Cuban-born cultural leader, creative producer, and advocate for Latin talent in the UK. With more than two decades working across international performing arts and creative sectors, he has built his career on elevating dance voices, developing talent, and strengthening cultural visibility on global stages.
Today, Javier serves as Managing Director of the Carlos Acosta Dance Foundation and Acosta Dance Centre in London, where he leads skills development programmes, artist training initiatives, and community engagement that empower the next generation of creative leaders. His work champions equitable access to cultural education and pathways into the creative industries, particularly for young Londoners of Latin heritage.
A committed cultural strategist, Javier holds an MBA specialising in creative leadership and a UNITAR–ICD Executive Diploma in Cultural Diplomacy. As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and member of UNESCO’s International Dance Council (CID), he contributes to shaping policies that promote diversity, artistic innovation, and civic participation in the arts.
Javier brings to the London Latino Film Festival™ CIC a powerful combination of international vision, community focus, and sector experience, ensuring the festival not only entertains but influences culture, opens doors, and amplifies the voices that London needs to hear.
As an actress and storyteller, I’ve always believed in the power of cinema to bridge cultures and celebrate identity. The London Latino Film Festival was born from a desire to showcase the richness, diversity, and passion of Latin American voices on screen right here in the heart of London.
The festival is a space for filmmakers, audiences, and communities to come together — to share stories that move us, challenge us, and remind us of how deeply connected we are through art and experience.
— Ketty Rodriguez
As a Cuban and advocate for Latin American culture, I’ve always believed in the power of film to unite our community and strengthen our shared identity. The London Latino Film Festival was created to be a celebration and gathering point for the Latino community in London, a vibrant space where our voices, stories, and rhythms come alive.
The festival stands as a cultural home and representation of our people, a joyful and empowering celebration that honours who we are, connects us through cinema, and reminds us of the strength and beauty of our community.
— Javier Torres
