The Girl of Your Dreams (La Nina De Tus Ojos), directed by Oscar-winning Spanish director Fernando Trueba, will kick off the 16th Chicago Latino Film Festival which runs from March 31 to April 12.

Apart from screening more than 100 films from Latin America, Portugal, Spain and the US, the festival will introduce a new segment that features one visiting country - Italy this year - to present a selection of films.

Other sidebars include Noche Mexicana with the US debut of current Mexican hit Gimme Power (Todo El Poder); Solmares, a photo retrospective of the Mexican revolution by photo-journalist Agustin Casasola; two "Meet The Director" events and an exhibition of stills by Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa. In addition, the festival will present a "Made in America" sidebar featuring ground-breaking Latino films made in the US.

US cable channel HBO, which is a sponsor of the event again this year, will host a bash at the Museum of Contemporary Art and has plans to acquire films to include in its programming. It will also host a workshop for indie filmmakers.

The festival ends with a tribute to Argentinean actor Federico Luppi who will be presented with a Lifetime Achievement award for his 30-year career in cinema. He stars in the closing night film, Fading Memories.