The New York Latino Film Festival concluded its 2026 edition Saturday, presenting its top jury and audience awards at a closing ceremony in Manhattan. The festival, backed by HBO and Warner Bros. Discovery, spotlighted Latino storytelling across the United States and Latin America.

Founded in 2000 and revived under new ownership in recent years, the festival has grown into one of the largest showcases of Latino cinema in the country. Organisers promoted this year's lineup as particularly strong, with the event drawing considerable buzz among industry attendees.

Saturday's ceremony recognised winners across categories including Best Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short Film, alongside audience-choice honours that carry weight for smaller titles seeking distribution. The festival also spotlights emerging directors and screenwriters through its industry and mentorship programmes.

Organisers positioned the awards as a platform for Latino filmmakers seeking wider theatrical and streaming deals, part of a broader push to expand Latino representation in mainstream entertainment. The festival's ties to Warner Bros. Discovery give winning titles a potential route to larger audiences.

A festival spokesperson said the closing event capped a record turnout, underscoring demand for Latino stories in the US market and the festival's ambition to rival larger Hispanic-focused showcases.