OLA of Eastern Long Island presents its 23rd Annual Latino Film Festival of the Hamptons, returning September 17 to 20 with award-winning films that embody this year’s theme of Courage and Truth while exploring belonging, migration, memory, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection.
Timed to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, the festival once again brings internationally recognized Latino and Latin American filmmakers and compelling stories to audiences across the East End through a multi-venue celebration of cinema and conversation. All films will be presented in Spanish with English subtitles unless otherwise noted.
Now in its twenty-third year, the festival continues OLA’s commitment to arts and culture as a catalyst for dialogue and understanding. Through carefully curated premieres, filmmaker conversations, and community partnerships, the festival invites audiences to experience stories that transcend borders while celebrating the richness and diversity of the Latino diaspora.
“Every year, this festival reminds us that storytelling has the power to transform communities. These films invite us to see ourselves in one another, to recognize the dignity of every journey, and to celebrate the beauty and complexity of Latino experiences. For twenty-three years, the Latino Film Festival of the Hamptons has created space for empathy, conversation, and cultural pride, and we are honored to continue that tradition with audiences across the East End,” said Minerva Perez, Executive Director of OLA. “We are excited this year to feature the New York premiere of two award-winning films—one from Mexico, the other from the US—as well as the Long Island premiere of a moving documentary about Cuban migration.”
For the second year in a row, the festival opens at Southampton Playhouse with the New York Premiere of the 2026 award-winning Mexican film “Moscas” (“Flies”) by acclaimed director Fernando Eimbcke on September 17. A quiet and deeply human drama, the film follows Olga, whose decision to rent a room unexpectedly leads to an unlikely bond with a young boy that changes both of their lives. This film won the Ecumenical Jury Prize at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival and the Berliner Morgenpost Reader Award. The evening culminates in a conversation with co-writer Vanesa Garnica. An opening reception will start at 6:30 PM with the screening at 7 PM. Visit southamptonplayhouse.com.
On Saturday, September 19, at 8 PM at Sag Harbor Cinema, the evening begins with the New York Premiere of “Alma truncada” (“Truncated Soul”), Pedro Pérez Núñez’s award-winning short exploring regret, memory, and redemption in the moments between life and death. It is followed by the Long Island Premiere of “Isla de los sueños” (“Island of Dreams”), director Álvaro Jiménez’s documentary examining the heartbreaking choices surrounding migration from Cuba. A live conversation with the director will follow the screening. Visit sagharborcinema.org.
On Sunday, September 20, at 2 PM, the festival concludes at North Fork Arts Center, Sapan Greenport Theatre, with a family-friendly screening of the 2025 film “Dora y la búsqueda del sol dorado” (“Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado”), directed by Alberto Belli, inviting audiences of all ages on an adventure through the Amazon with Dora, Diego, and friends in search of a legendary treasure.
For more info, visit olaofeasternlongisland.org.