The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) is dedicated to presenting the best Latino films made in the US, Spain, the Caribbean, and Latin America. LALIFF is spearheaded by co-founders Marlene L. Dermer, Executive Director and Programmer, and Edward James Olmos, the acclaimed actor, director, and community activist.

The Festival was launched in 1997, growing from 42 films and an overall attendance of 5,000 people, to last years Festival with 15,000 attendees viewing 130 films (features, documentaries, and shorts), attending 10 panels, many workshops, with major corporate sponsorships from nationally recognized organizations.

Additionally, the Festival presents the popular Writers Workshop, which presents the Desi Arnaz scholarship and a Latino Screenwriters Lab. The 2005 Festival is slated for October 21-30, 2005.

LALIFF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to support and promote the development and exhibition of independent and diverse visions by Latino filmmakers. In the process, LALIFF promotes awareness of the richness and diversity of Latin cultures, its artistry and countries through film, the most powerful medium in the world. LALIFF seeks to foster cultural harmony while serving as a springboard and catalyst for the promotion and distribution of Latino film.