The 24th annual San Diego Latino Film Festival opens on March 16 in Mission Valley and North Park and will run until March 26.

The film festival was originally created as an opportunity for film students to showcase their work focusing on the Latino culture and experience, but has now grown into a respected and large festival that takes over the AMC Theater at the Mission Valley Mall and the Digital Gym Cinema in North Park.

This year, the San Diego Latino Film Festival will showcase 160 films from 20 different countries. There will be 18 different showcases during the festival, including “Viva Mujeres,” “Frontera Filmmakers,” and the 12th annual “Cine Gay” LGBTQ showcase.

There will also be multiple special events, such as the opening night party on March 16, daily musical performances called Sonido Latino, and the closing night party on March 26.

The film festival is now put on by Media Arts Center San Diego, an organization created out of the festival that provides education for amateur cinematographers and exposure for films produced by marginalized filmmakers.

You can purchase your tickets online, there are also multiple packages available.

For a single movie, general admission costs $11.50.  For seniors, students, and military, tickets cost $9.50.

For $45 you can purchase a movie ticket package to five films of your choice. If you want to watch a few more films, you can purchase an 11 movie film pass that also includes VIP early seating. And if you want the whole experience, for $225 you can have access to all the movies you can watch, VIP seating and receptions, entrance into the after parties, and various discounts around the festival.

Visit the festival’s website (http://2017.sdlatinofilm.com/) to purchase tickets and for more information.