When Denver's Holiday and Santa Fe theaters closed in the late 1970s, Denver's access to Spanish-language films on the big screen (aside from the occasional art house run) essentially vanished.

Sensing the need of a growing Spanish-speaking and bilingual community to see themselves on screen and to hear their stories told, Su Teatro started the Chicano Independent Filmmaker's Festival in 1999.

Now, in it's 24th year, the XicanIndie FilmFest has surpassed its original inception, reaching over 500 patrons annually. Although the festival still highlights the work of local and national Chicano independent filmmakers, the four-day event also includes Mexican classics and cutting edge new films from throughout Latin America.