The festival has a dual purpose of not only educating its audiences but also providing support and exposure for its featured filmmakers.

“It is a window for filmmakers to sell their work,” says Barriga, noting that a number of producers are attending this year’s screenings.

Barriga argues that American film producers have not traditionally sought after the Latino market.

The festival included a panel last Saturday on the current status of the Latino film market in the U.S., and Barriga hopes strong attendance will demonstrate widespread interest in Latino films.

But the festival’s ability to expand is contingent on its organizers’ ability to increase funding for the event—and to date, Barriga says, the budget has been meager.

He and the other organizers have received funding from Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for both festivals they have held and are working to expand the ranks of their financial supporters through this week’s events. While the New York and L.A. Latino Film Festivals have budgets of over $200,000, the Cambridge Latino Film festival survived this year on less than $5,000.

Certain luxuries, such as hotel rooms and transportation for filmmakers, are expected at other festivals but aren’t even a possibility in this one.

“I have a director from Mexico sleeping in my house,” Barriga says.

The lack of money has been a bit of a problem this year, but Barriga has already received sponsorship offers from several banks and Fox’s Latino film division.

Barriga says he hopes the Massachusetts festival will be as big as its L.A. and New York counterparts within five years.