The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) announced their honorees for their annual Impact Awards Gala taking place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Apple TV’s hit comedy The Studio will be honored with the Beyond the Lens Impact Award, Belissa Escobedo will be recognized with the Outstanding Actress Performance in a Series Award for NBC’s Happy’s Place, Beth de Araújo is being honored with the Visionary Impact Award for her feature film JOSEPHINE, and Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters co-writers, Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan will receive the Storytelling Impact Award and James Ortiz with the Artistic Excellence Impact Award for his exceptional voice performance and puppetry, bringing ‘Rocky’ in Project Hail Mary to life.
The Studio on Apple TV has quickly made a noticeable impact, both within the industry and among audiences, by offering a sharp, insider-driven satire of Hollywood. The creatives behind this project are supporting the expansion of Latino voices that are valued and championed. The Beyond the Lens Impact Award recipients will include Frida Perez (co-creator, writer, and co-executive producer), Keyla Monterroso Mejia (actor), Lorena Perez Batista (music editor), and Antonio Sanchez (composer). NHMC values their collective contribution to making The Studio an award-winning series.
Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan are receiving the Storytelling Impact Award for their collaboration on Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters, reflecting a shared creative vision that is both innovative and culturally resonant. Danya and Hannah pushed boundaries by blending genre storytelling with themes of identity, belonging, and self-expression. They are helping shape a future of storytelling that is inclusive and deeply reflective of the current world and closely aligns with NHMC’s mission to eliminate hate, discrimination, and racism toward marginalized communities.
Belissa Escobedo will be honored with the Outstanding Actress Performance in a Series Impact Award for her role as Isabella on NBC’s Happy’s Place, starring opposite Reba McEntire. As one of the few Latinas in lead roles on broadcast television, this award celebrates Escobedo's contribution to Latino visibility on screen and affirms that her impact within the industry is undeniable. She is also known for her roles in Blue Beetle, The Baker and the Beauty, and Hocus Pocus 2.
Writer and director Beth de Araújo is being honored with the Visionary Impact Award for her feature film JOSEPHINE, which premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival in U.S. Dramatic Competition and won the Audience Award and the Grand Jury Prize. Araújo’s talent has had international recognition taking JOSEPHINE to the main competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Bear.
James Ortiz will be honored with the Artistic Excellence Impact Award, celebrating his exceptional artistry and his pioneering contributions to performance and puppetry. Ortiz’s recent work in Project Hail Mary, where he brought the character Rocky to life, serves as a masterclass in transcending technical craft, elevating form through feeling and infusing an otherworldly character with depth, nuance, and humanity. As a queer Latino artist pushing the boundaries of a specialized field, his work is a testament to the power of representation and a source of inspiration for emerging creators.
“Latinos have been an integral part of Hollywood since its earliest days, building it, shaping it, fueling its creativity, and sustaining its culture,” said President and CEO Brenda Victoria Castillo. She continued, “This year’s honorees are the latest examples of our voices having an impact and leading their work into award and cultural recognition. We are honored to recognize this incredibly talented group.”
Additionally, NHMC announced today the list of star-studded presenters who join this year’s honorees at the annual gala, including Christopher Miller, Representative Joaquín Castro, Nick Pugliese, Phil Lord, HAPPY'S PLACE's Melissa Peterman and Pablo Castelblanco.
Additional attendees expected at the event include: Benito Martinez, Bobby Soto, Chelsea Rendon, Curly Velazquez, Daniella Pineda, Diana Maria Riva, Elsa Collins, Emilio Rivera, Gabriel Luna, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Isabella Gomez, Linda Yvette Chavez, Mayan Lopez, Mishel Prada, Ryan Guzman, Silvia Olivas, Wilmer Valderrama, and Yvett Merino.
The full list of honorees includes:
