The Providence Latin American Film Festival was founded in Providence, RI in 1993, as a non-profit pan-cultural organization, to promote Latin-American culture and more specifically to provide Latin American film directors with an opportunity to exhibit in New England. The Festival organizes an annual week-long film festival presenting the best fiction, documentary, animated, and short films produced in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, and by North American Latino directors. Over the course of its history, the Festival has collaborated with national film institutes, film schools, distributors, producers, independent directors, and international film festivals to program more than 250 high quality films that would not otherwise be seen in New England.

The Festival has also presented art exhibits ("Castro’s Milagros" by Jose Toirac at the Rhode Island Foundation; "Selections from the Avellañeda Museum of International Children’s Art", etc.), musical performances (Lila Downs and Her Band; The Boston Brazilian Quintet, etc.), dance performances (Ginga Brasiliera, Tango Mujer, etc.) to celebrate the rich variety of Latin American culture.

The Best Film Award and The Fernando Birri Award for Best First Work. The jury also select Best Actor, Best Actress, Best First Feature, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.