BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) honored
Cesar Chavez director Diego Luna, Academy Award-nominated Demian Bichir, legendary actor and filmmaker Edward James Olmos, actress Emily Rios,
American Hustle and
Nebraska executive producer George Parra, and Comcast NBCUniversal last night at the 17th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala at the historic Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Filly Brown star Gina Rodriguez and former Miss Universe and star in 2013 film
200 Cartas Dayanara Torres were the evening's masters of ceremonies.
Photographs from the 17th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala may be found immediately at www.wireimage.com or www.nhmc.org/impactawards. Video clips are now available at www.youtube.com/nhmcorg.
The
NHMC Impact Awards Gala recognizes the outstanding achievements and contributions to the positive portrayals of Latinos in media, and is one of the premiere Latino entertainment events in the country, hosting Hollywood's most influential figures.
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| Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
At the gala, Diane Kruger presented her
The Bridge co-star Demian Bichir with the Outstanding Performance in a Television Series award for his performance in the F/X series. Accepting the award, Bichir recognized the importance of fighting stereotypes, lauded the role of Latino arts leaders in developing Latino talent, and urged the Latino community to support Latino films, saying, "We need to go to the theaters, and fill up [those theaters], so everyone knows we are making those films." Bichir also affirmed his support to immigration reform advocates, saying "Count on me please." Bichir continued, "We are telling everyone in Congress that immigration reform is about...human things," reminding the country's lawmakers that immigration reform is about real people-the large and diverse immigrant community.
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| Diego Luna (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
Rosario Dawson, star in the upcoming
Cesar Chavez, presented the Outstanding Direction in a Motion Picture award to the film's director, Diego Luna. Luna accepted the award saying, "I feel honored," and dedicated it to those working for immigration reform, and who recognize "those who are feeding this country, who are building this country, who are working to make America what it is today."
Luna also dedicated the award to his two children, including his California-born son, who inspired him to make the film, saying "I realized how important it is to tell every kid in America who Cesar Chavez was, and what the farmworkers movement achieved in the 60s and 70s," and expressed his hope that viewers of his film leave the theater "thinking and asking themselves where their food comes from. If we do that, we've achieved something big." Luna also joined Bichir's call to the Latino community to support films like the upcoming
Cesar Chavez to "send the message that we want Latinos to be represented in films," including "the stories of our heroes."
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| Michael D. Olmos (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
Michael D. Olmos accepted the Lupe Ontiveros Indomitable Spirit Award on behalf of his father, Edward James Olmos. Inaugurated in 2013, the Lupe Ontiveros Indomitable Spirit Award is presented to media and entertainment leaders for their outspoken and relentless commitment to advocacy and increasing the visibility of the Latino community's achievements and contributions to this country.
In a message delivered via his son, Edward James Olmos thanked NHMC and said, "To my dear, passionate, fierce Lupe: I am humbled and proud to accept this award so correctly named after you, for you are and forever will be an indomitable spirit. I miss you my friend." In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Edward James Olmos expressed hope that more artists start to take action to support the Latino community, saying, "whenever the National Hispanic Media Coalition calls on you, you help them." Recalling past moments, Michael D. Olmos said that he learned that his father's courageous advocacy was based on his belief that "that is the way we should all live our lives, that we should be willing to sacrifice everything for those who need it the most, and that the Indomitable Spirit we're talking about starts at home."
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| Emily Rios (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
Matthew Lillard presented his
The Bridge co-star Emily Rios with the Outstanding Performance in a Television Series award for her performance in the F/X series. Rios accepted the award saying, "I understand our public responsibility in this industry, as a Latina," and recognized the "dignity" of the show's production and distribution company for breaking groun
d with its inclusion of bilingual dialogue.
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| George Parra (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
NHMC also honored George Parra, executive producer of
American Hustle and
Nebraska, with the Excellence in Motion Picture Producing award. In accepting his award, Parra acknowledged the difficulty he had as a Latino to achieving a firmly established 28 year-long career in the film industry, and affirmed that Latinos are in all facets of the media industry and "should be given equal opportunity and recognition." Parra, who also thanked his Colombian and Spanish immigrant parents, said he hopes that the evening's honorees are a "testament that there is a growth of Latinos in mainstream Hollywood."
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| David L. Cohen (Photo by: Brian Biery) |
NHMC also presented Comcast NBCUniversal with the Outstanding Diversity Practices award. NHMC recognized Comcast for its successful efforts to increase diversity in the workplace. David L. Cohen, Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation, accepted the award on behalf of the company.
[caption id="attachment_4059" align="alignleft" width="200"]
Dayanara Torres (Photo by Brian Biery)
Stylist/Fashionista: Angel Gonzalez @angelgonzlz
Designer: Wilfred Gerard @wilfredgerard[/caption]
Other special guests and presenters included:
Adam Rodriguez (
CSI: Miami);
Rosario Dawson (
Cesar Chavez);
Diane Kruger (
The Bridge);
Matthew Lillard (
The Bridge);
Judy Marte (
NYC 22);
Arturo Rodriguez, President of the United Farm Workers of America;
Sonny Skyhawk, veteran Hollywood actor and Founder & CEO at American Indians in Film & Television;
Nick Ontiveros, son of iconic actress Lupe Ontiveros;
Tony Hernandez, co-founder and executive producer of the Immigrant Archive Project, and recipient of the inaugural Lupe Ontiveros Indomitable Spirit Award; and NHMC President & CEO
Alex Nogales.
For more information about the 17
th Annual NHMC Impact Awards, visit:
www.nhmc.org/impactawards.
For the latest updates on the 17th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala, follow NHMC on Twitter @nhmc and hashtag #ImpactAwards.
The 17th Annual NHMC Impact Awards Gala was supported by The Walt Disney Company and Disney ABC Television Group. Other sponsors include Comcast NBCUniversal, Univision Communications, Inc., Entravision Communications Corporation, Davila Multicultural Insights, NUVOtv, CBS Corporation, A+E Networks, Bright House Networks,The Nielsen Company, Fox Audience Strategy | FX Networks, HBO, Edison International, SOS Global Express, RJ Medrano & Associates, Shine America, Sprint, Warner Bros. Entertainment, T-Mobile USA, Pepsi, and Moët & Chandon.
