Chicago Latino Film Festival premieres April 9

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Chicago Latino Film Festival is back for its 31st year, and this year could be the best yet!

From April 9-23, the festival will feature more than 120 full-length and short films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the US. The Festival opens Thursday, April 9 with the Chicago premiere of Alberto Arvelo's rousing epic "The Liberator" at the AMC River East 21.

Festival highlights include:

• "Forgotten," Bolivia's official entry to the Best Foreign Language Oscar


• Fellipe Barbosa's debut feature "Casa Grande," or the "Ballad of Poor Jean," winner of the Audience Award at last year's Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival


• "Mateo," Maria Gamboa's drama about the power of art in a violence-ridden town of Colombia and that country's official entry to the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar


• The time-bending science-fiction thriller "The Incident" from Mexico


• "Bacuri's Eyes," a documentary about three generations of women who survived South America's brutal military dictatorships


• The Venezuelan thriller "The House at the End of Time," which smashed the country's box-office records when it was released in 2013


• The crime thriller "Cicada Moon" from Paraguay

All of the films will be shown in their original language with English subtitles (unless otherwise noted). The audience will also have the opportunity to participate in discussions with local and international filmmakers after most of the screenings.

Alejandro Riera from the Chicago Latino Film Festival and Carmenza Millan from AARP Illinois stopped by the ABC 7 studios to give us a preview of the festival.

31st Chicago Latino Film Festival

April 9-23

AMC River East 21 Theatres

322 E. Illinois St., Chicago

$12, general admission; $10 (with valid ID) for ILCC Members, AARP members, students and seniors

Saturday and Sunday matinees (first shows), $8