Cine Las Americas began in 1997 as a Cuban film retrospective sponsored by the Mexic-Arte Museum. While programming the initial festival, the organization realized that although Austin was building a reputation as a film Mecca, films made by and about Latinos were largely absent from the community’s cultural landscape. The overwhelming success of the first festival proved that there was an audience for these underserved voices. With community support, Cine Las Americas made a commitment to become a vehicle for the inclusion of films from all of the Americas. Since 1998, the annual Cine Las Americas International Film Festival has steadily grown to become an internationally recognized event that brings Latin American and indigenous films and filmmakers to Austin, creating business opportunities for industry professionals and a rich cultural experience for statewide audiences. In 2001, Cine Las Americas was determined by IRS to be an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Soon after, Cine Las Americas partnered with the Austin Independent School District and moved its offices to Johnston High School in East Austin where it established a Media Arts Center, implementing educational and mentoring programs that support the District’s Dropout Prevention Campaign. From 2001 to 2005, Cine Las Americas offered Johnston High School students hands-on bilingual opportunities in multi-media production, event production, and non-profit organization management. Currently, the Cine Las Americas International Film Festival has established itself as one of the most prestigious in the country, consistently growing its sponsorship and audience base, and offering artistic excellence, business opportunities and cultural exchange to audiences and film professionals alike. Cine Las Americas has also expanded its bilingual media arts curriculum to underserved student populations in various High Schools and Middle Schools in Austin, serving over 100 Hispanic and African American students.

This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and in part by the City of Austin Economic Growth & Redevelopment Services Office/Cultural Arts Division believing an investment in the Arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com.