43rd Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest

The Chicago Latino Film Festival poster contest chooses the official image of one of the longest-running Latino film festivals in the United States, organised by the International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago. For the 43rd festival, held from 15 to 26 April 2027, artists, teams and design firms anywhere in the world can submit up to three poster concepts. The winner receives $1,000 and sees their design used across the whole festival. Entry is free and the deadline is 1 December 2026 at 11:59pm.

The winning poster is more than a single print. It becomes the festival's identity: the programme, website, invitations, digital ads, merchandise, the festival trailer, social media and animations. The brief asks for a design that adapts easily to all of these.

The festival gives preference to artists from Illinois and the Midwest and to Latino artists wherever they live, but the contest is open to everyone.

Who Can Enter the Chicago Latino Film Festival Poster Contest?

The contest is open to artists worldwide, as individuals, collaborative teams or design firms. Each entrant may submit up to three designs.

It is particularly relevant to:

• Poster designers and illustrators
• Latino and Latin American artists anywhere
• Designers in Chicago and the Midwest
• Studios that want a high-visibility cultural commission

What Can You Enter?

An original poster concept for the 43rd Chicago Latino Film Festival. Entirely AI-generated works are not considered, and you must list the tools used to make the artwork.

File Specifications

• For entry: a JPEG or PNG preview, up to 100MB
• If selected: a vertical 18 × 24 inch file at 150 dpi, RGB, plus layered editable files, a short visual style guide and a signature for the design

Entry Fees

Entry is free.

What Does the Winner Receive?

• $1,000
• The festival identity: the poster used on print, web, merchandise, the trailer and social media
• Visibility with the festival's audiences and partners in Chicago and online

Submission Requirements

Complete the online application form linked from the official contest page and upload your poster. If uploads fail, the organisers ask entrants to email the design team with smaller preview files.

Why Enter?

Film festival posters are among the few commissions where an illustrator or designer's work is seen everywhere at once, on streets, screens and merchandise. Free entry and a clear prize make this a low-risk opportunity, and the festival's long history gives the winning work a strong portfolio story.

About the Festival

The Chicago Latino Film Festival has been showing films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Latino communities in the United States for more than four decades. Each April it brings feature films, documentaries and shorts to cinemas across Chicago, with filmmakers, talks and events for a wide audience. The poster is the festival's most visible piece of design each year. A strong entry captures the energy of Latino cinema and culture while staying simple enough to work at every size.

Things to Consider

• Design for many formats. Test your idea as a square social post, a web banner and a T-shirt, not only as a poster.
• Think about cinema. Strong festival posters suggest film, story and community without showing a single movie.
• Keep text space. Festival dates and sponsor logos will be added.
• Use your three entries well. Submit different ideas rather than three versions of one.
• Prepare editable files now. If you win, you will need layered files and a style guide quickly.

Enter the Competition

Interested in submitting your work?

Enter the poster contest

For the full rules and application form, visit the official Chicago Latino Film Festival website.

Looking for more open calls? Browse all competitions and opportunities on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 16, 2026