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The 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Winners
Norman Lear Writer's Award (Foundation Legacy Award): Ligiah Villalobos, "La Misma Luna”
Creative Achievement Award (Foundation Legacy Award): Rodrigo Garcia
Film-Best Picture: "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Actor: Adrian Alonso, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Actress: Kate del Castillo, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Supporting Actress: Leonor Varela, "Where God Left His Shoes"
Film Best Supporting Actor: Eungene Durbez, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Director: Patricia Riggen, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: "A Day at the Theatre"
TV Best Documentary: "Brown is the New Green"
TV Best Primetime Program: "Ugly Betty"
TV Best Actor: Carlos Mencia, "Mind of Mencia"
TV Best Actress: Christina Milian, "Snowglobe"
TV Best Supporting Actor: Tony Plana, "Ugly Betty"
TV Best Supporting Actress: Dania Ramirez, "Heroes"
TV Best Variety or Reality Show: "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan"
TV Best Children's Programming: "Go, Diego, Go"
TV Best Local Informational Programming: "Fox 11 News: Alter the Melee"
TV Best National Informational Programming: "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee Presents I'm American! They're Not!"
TV Best On Air Advertising: "MTV3 Tu Pride"
The Imagen Foundation works to enhance opportunities for Latinos in front of and behind the camera. Based in the Los Angeles area, the Imagen Foundation serves as a liaison between the industry and the Latino community by providing access, education and resources. Additional information regarding the Imagen Foundation is available at www.imagen.org.
LATINO ACTORS HONORED AT 23rd ANNUAL IMAGEN AWARDS
18 awards were presented in a diverse range of entertainment categories in addition to several Imagen Foundation legacy awards: Actor Tony Plana received the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award; HBO's In Treatment Producer/Director Rodrigo Garcia received the Creative Achievement Award; and Ligiah Villalobos, executive producer and writer of the feature film La Misma Luna, received the Foundation’s esteemed Norman Lear Writer's Award.
"This year we saw a massive increase in both the quantity and quality of exceptional submissions across categories," stated Helen Hernandez, Founder and President of The Imagen Foundation and creator of the pioneering Imagen Awards. "The A-list stars and luminaries this ceremony attracts each year from the world of Latino entertainment is truly reflective of the increased prevalence that we play in Hollywood, mainstream America, and throughout the world.”
The awards included presenters and coverage from LATV, the nation’s first bilingual entertainment/music network distributed via digital multicast, that will broadcast a one-hour special on their channel featuring Red Carpet arrivals and behind-the-scenes exclusives of nominated/winning Latinos from the 2008 Imagen Awards ceremony.
The Imagen Awards were established in 1985 to encourage and recognize the positive portrayal of Latinos in the media. The awards strive to increase Latino representation at all levels of the industry by proving recognition to emerging and established Latinos in the entertainment industry.
The winners are:
Norman Lear Writer's Award (Foundation Legacy Award): Ligiah Villalobos, "La Misma Luna”
Creative Achievement Award (Foundation Legacy Award): Rodrigo Garcia
Film-Best Picture: "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Actor: Adrian Alonso, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Actress: Kate del Castillo, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Supporting Actress: Leonor Varela, "Where God Left His Shoes"
Film Best Supporting Actor: Eungene Durbez, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Director: Patricia Riggen, "La Misma Luna"
Film Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: "A Day at the Theatre"
TV Best Documentary: "Brown is the New Green"
TV Best Primetime Program: "Ugly Betty"
TV Best Actor: Carlos Mencia, "Mind of Mencia"
TV Best Actress: Christina Milian, "Snowglobe"
TV Best Supporting Actor: Tony Plana, "Ugly Betty"
TV Best Supporting Actress: Dania Ramirez, "Heroes"
TV Best Variety or Reality Show: "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan"
TV Best Children's Programming: "Go, Diego, Go"
TV Best Local Informational Programming: "Fox 11 News: Alter the Melee"
TV Best National Informational Programming: "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee Presents I'm American! They're Not!"
TV Best On Air Advertising: "MTV3 Tu Pride"
Click here to view this year's nominees for the 2008 Imagen Awards.
IMAGEN FOUNDATION’S 23rd ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY HONORING SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS OF LATINOS IN THE INDUSTRY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - August 19, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
K. Forrest Beanum
(310) 804-2591
forrest@beanumgroup.com
WHAT:
23rd Annual Imagen Awards

SPECIAL FOUNDATION AWARD HONOREES:
- Tony Plana (Lifetime Achievement Award)
- Rodrigo Garcia (Creative Achievement Award)
- Ligiah Villalobos (Norman Lear Writer's Award)
WHEN:
Thursday, August 21st at 7:00 PM
PRE-SHOW AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT 5:00 - 5:30 PM
RED CARPET ARRIVALS: 5:30 - 6:45 PM
VIP MEDIA AWARDS ROOM (Open at 7:00 PM to Credentialed Media only)
WHERE:
The Beverly Hilton
9876 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverley Hills, CA 90210
PARKING:
Parking located on hotel premises - Partial validation available to ticketed/credentialed guests upon check-in.
BACKGROUND: The Imagen Awards, established 1985, encourages and recognizes positive portrayal of Latinos in all media and increases Latino representation at all levels in entertainment. The Imagen Awards Ceremony, attended by A-list stars and top entertainment industry executives, is recognized by the Latino community as the pioneer for accessing and developing all levels of talent and excellence. Awards are given in 18 categories.
Past Imagen Awards attendees have included, but are not limited to: Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Jimmy Smits, America Ferrera, George Lopez, Hector Elizondo, Mario Lopez, Melanie Griffith, Edward James Olmos, Wanda de Jesus, Danny Pino, Carlos Mencia, Constance Marie, and more...
For more information about tickets or media credentials, please visit www.imagen.org or call Forrest Beanum (310) 804-2591 with questions.
Please note: Absolutely no entry will be granted to individuals/crews who have not received prior media credential approvals.
HBO’S RODRIGO GARCIA, UGLY BETTY’S TONY PLANA AND WRITER LIGIAH VILLALOBOS OF LA MISMA LUNA TO RECEIVE TOP HONORS
Best Supporting Actress - Film
Danielle Polanco, Missy, Step Up 2 The Streets, Producer, Patrick Wachsberger & Erik Feig, Director, Jon M. Chu
Leonor Varela, Where God Left His Shoes, Written and Directed, Salvatore Stabile
Roselyn Sanchez, Game Plan, Producers Gordon Gray & mark Ciardi, Director, Andy Fickman
Best Actress - Television
America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, ABC Studios
Click here to view the 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Winners.
IMAGEN FOUNDATION TO ANNOUNCE NOMINEES, SPECIAL HONOREES FOR 23RD ANNUAL IMAGEN AWARDS
Expanded Event Set to Recognize Latino Excellence in Entertainment
WHAT: 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Announcement of the Nominees and recipients of the President’s Award, Lifetime Achievement, Norman Lear Writer’s Award, and Creative Achievement Award
WHO: Helen Hernandez - President and Founder, The Imagen Foundation
Pili Montilla - Host, LATV’s En la Zona (In the Zone)
Humberto Guida - Host, LATV’s Wáchale
WHEN: Friday, July 18, 2008, 9:30 AM
WHERE: Hilton Los Angeles/ Universal City, 555 Universal Terrace Parkway, Universal City, CA 91608-1001, ROOM: Salon # 5
PARKING: Parking structure on the premises.
BACKGROUND: The Imagen Awards was established in 1985 to encourage and recognize the positive portrayal of Latinos in all media and to increase Latino representation at all levels in entertainment.
The Imagen Awards Ceremony, attended by A-list stars and top entertainment industry executives, is recognized by the Latino community as the pioneer for accessing and developing all levels of talent and excellence. Awards are given in 18 categories.
Past attendees have included, but are not limited to: Andy Garcia, Rita Moreno, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, Jimmy Smits, America Ferrera, George Lopez, Hector Elizondo, Mario Lopez, Melanie Griffith, Edward James Olmos, Wanda de Jesus, Danny Pino, Carlos Mencia, Constance Marie, and more…
SAVE THE DATE: The 23rd Annual Imagen Awards, Thursday, August 21 at 7:00 PM, PST, Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA
Red Carpet arrivals: 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM
WEBSITE INFO: www.imagen.org
CONTACT:
Imagen Foundation
Ph. 626.836.6100
K. Forrest Beanum
Beanum Group
Ph. 310.804.2591
forrest@beanumgroup.com
Top Latina Leaders Celebrate Women’s History Month in Washington, DC
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Washington, DC- The Imagen Foundation, in cooperation with Honorary Chair Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA), hosted an event to celebrate Women's History Month by honoring the contributions that Latinas have made in their communities. Seven extraordinary Latinas and Latina Magazine were recognized for their leadership and work. They were joined by a prestigious Honorary Committee including Congresswomen Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).
"All of the women being honored tonight have had a positive impact on the Latina community and are an inspiration to countless young people nationwide," said Honorary Chair, Congresswoman Hilda Solis. "This dinner, being held at the Library of Congress, will give Latina leaders in business, government, media, and entertainment the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of these distinguished honorees."
President of The Imagen Foundation Helen Hernandez said, "The Imagen Foundation's early mission to recognize and celebrate positive portrayals of Latinas in television and film has been expanded. This year's honorees include Latinas from many different professional fields, all of whom are making positive contributions to our country's overall social fabric." Hernandez continued, "This event provides the Latina community with the chance to honor those who have made phenomenal progress in their professional careers, as well as teach young Latina women that they can truly make a difference."
The honorees include Univision Television talk show host, Cristina Saralegui, former CNN reporter Maria Hinojosa, Latina Magazine, LULAC national President Rosa Rosales, national health care advocate Gloria Rodriguez, and environmental justice youth advocates from New York's UPROSE Jennifer Casamayor, Crystal Castro, and Judith Cardenas.
Cristina Saralegui, Univision's award-winning talk show host and an honoree tonight for her work in television said, "I am deeply honored to receive this award from The Imagen Foundation recognizing my efforts in what is most important to me, championing the needs of our community," Saralegui continued, "I commend the Foundation for their work in ensuring that the industry promotes positive portrayals of the Hispanic culture and salute Congresswoman Hilda Solis for her leadership and commitment to improving the lives of our community across the U.S."
The Nielsen Company is the presenting sponsor of the Latina Leaders-Celebrating Our Voices Dinner. Grifols, Inc. is the major sponsor of the evening, with several other corporations joining as sponsors including AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Arbitron and El Proyecto Del Barrio.
The Imagen Foundation, best known for its annual Imagen Awards which honors positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino cultures in television and film, was established in 1985. Imagen provides access, education, and resources to Latinos in the industry and those looking for careers in entertainment. Imagen has expanded its Awards to include events that profile positive and successful Latino/as as a way to share with the nation their positive influence on society and insight into the U.S. Latino experience.
Top Latina Leaders to Celebrate Women’s History Month in Washington DC
Washington, DC- The Imagen Foundation, in cooperation with Honorary Chair Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA), will host an event to celebrate the contributions that Latinas have made in their communities. At this year's inaugural dinner, seven extraordinary Latinas and Latina Magazine will be honored for their leadership and work. They will be joined by a prestigious Honorary Committee including Congresswomen Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).
The Nielsen Company is the lead sponsor of the evening. Several other major corporations have also joined in sponsoring this event including AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Grifols, Inc., and El Proyecto Del Barrio.
The Imagen Foundation, best known for its annual Imagen Awards which honors positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino cultures in television and film, was established in 1985. Imagen provides access, education, and resources to Latinos in the industry and those looking for careers in entertainment. Imagen has expanded its Awards to include events that profile positive and successful Latino/as as a way to share with the nation their positive influence on society and insight into the U.S. Latino experience.
What: Latina Leaders-Celebrating our Voices Dinner
Who: Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-CA), Honorary Chairperson
Award Winners:
- Univision Television talk show host, Cristina Saralegui
- NPR/PBS host and former CNN reporter, Maria Hinojosa
- Latina Magazine
- LULAC national President, Rosa Rosales
- National health care advocate, Gloria Rodriguez
- Environmental justice youth advocates from New York's UPROSE, Jennifer Cassamayor, Crystal Castro, and Judith Cardenas
Where: Library of Congress
James Madison Building, Montpelier Room
101 Independence Ave. SE
When: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
6:00 p.m.
CONTACT: Samantha Lasky
PHONE: 202-257-5327
***REP. SOLIS IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS BEGINNING MARCH 5. PLEASE CONTACT SONIA MELENDEZ AT (202) 225-5464 TO SCHEDULE A TIME.***
Winners of 24th Annual Imagen Awards Announced at Gala
Disney’s “Beverly Hills Chihuahua,” Lifetime’s “Little Girl Lost,” Maya’s “Maldeamores” and ABC’s “Ugly Betty” Score Multiple Wins at Event Honoring Latino Talent and Projects in Television, Film and Live Theater
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. Winners of the 24th Annual Imagen Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture in entertainment, were announced tonight at a star-studded black-tie gala held in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The awards were handed out in front of an audience of over five hundred attendees representing the entertainment industry and Latino community. Among the celebrities in attendance were Andy Garcia, Benjamin Bratt, Jimmy Smits, Edward James Olmos, Nadine Velazquez, Judy Reyes and Paul Rodriguez, among many others.
In addition to winners in twenty-one different categories from film and television, as well as live stage productions, special honors were presented to veteran motion picture agent Emanuel Nunez (Lifetime Achievement), television executive producer and writer Silvio Horta (Creative Achievement), screenwriter Roberto Orci (Norman Lear Writer’s Award), and Latino community leader Dolores Huerta (President’s Award).
The Imagen (pronounced ee-mah-hen, Spanish for “image”) Awards program was established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. Later, as The Imagen Foundation, it expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos both in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment. Major sponsors of the Imagen Awards event included Nielsen, The Walt Disney Company, ABC, The Lear Family Foundation, CBS, Warner Bros., Paramount, Latino Public Broadcasting, The Hollywood Reporter, Fox, CAA, A&E, ABC7, GSN, NBC/Telemundo and Variety.
Winners were selected by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. Following are the winners for this year’s Imagen Awards in their respective categories. [Please note that the categories of Best Actress/Feature Film and Best Supporting Actress/Feature Film did not meet the minimum number of entries required for award consideration and therefore were eliminated from contention.]
Best Primetime Television Program: Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime);
Best Actor/Television: Hector Bustamante, Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story (Lifetime);
Best Actress/ Television: America Ferrera, Ugly Betty (ABC);
Best Supporting Actor/Television: Raymond Cruz, The Closer (TNT);
Best Supporting Actress/Television: Ana Ortiz, Ugly Betty (ABC);
Best Children’s Programming: Dora The Explorer (Nickelodeon);
Best Documentary/ Television: A Class Apart (Latino Public Broadcasting);
Best National Informational Program: Despierta America – De Lava Platos a Chef (Univision);
Best Local Informational Program: Vista L.A. (KABC);
Best On-Air Advertising: FSE Strings (Fox Sports en Español);
Best On-Air Advertising (PSA’s): University Health Systems – Child in Injury (Creative Civilization);
Best Variety or Reality Show: Quiero Mis Quinces –Cristina (MTV Tr3s);
Best Feature Film: Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures);
Best Actor/Feature Film: Luis Guzman, Maldeamores (Maya Entertainment);
Best Supporting Actor/Feature Film: Manolo Cardona, Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures);
Best Director/Feature Film: Carlitos Ruiz, Maldeamores (Maya Entertainment);
Best Feature Documentary: Beisbol (Winston Davis Assoc.);
Best Theatrical Short: St. Paul (Varona Prods.);
Best Live Theatrical Production: 8 Ways to Say I Love My Life and Mean It!
More information on the The Imagen Foundation organization as well as more details of the event can be found at www.imagen.org, on Twitter at twitter.com/imagenfound, as well as on Facebook.
24th Annual Imagen Awards Special Honorees Announced
CAA's Emanuel Nunez, "Ugly Betty" Ex. Prod. Silvio Horta, "Transformers" and "Star Trek" Screenwriter Roberto Orci, and Latino Community Icon Dolores Huerta Set to Be Honored August 21st at Beverly Hilton Event
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Imagen Foundation has named their special honorees for the 24th Annual Imagen (Spanish for "image") Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture in entertainment, it was announced today by Imagen Foundation president and founder, Helen Hernandez.
Set to be honored by the entertainment industry advocacy organization are veteran motion picture agent Emanuel Nunez, television executive producer and writer Silvio Horta, screenwriter Roberto Orci, and Latino community leader Dolores Huerta.
Nunez, who will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, has been an agent in the motion picture department at CAA since 1991, focusing on financial opportunities for the agency's clients in emerging global markets. Horta, an executive producer and head writer of ABC's award-winning hit series "Ugly Betty," is set to receive the organization's Creative Achievement honor. The Norman Lear Writer's Award, named in honor of the veteran television producer and Imagen co-founder, will be bestowed upon Orci, whose screenwriting credits include this year's blockbuster "Star Trek" and "Transformers" films, among many others. Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union with Cesar Chavez and is revered throughout the Latino community, will be receiving the prestigious President's Award.
"This year's selection of special honorees is indicative of the strides that Latinos have made, and continue to make, throughout the entertainment industry," said Hernandez. "These incredibly talented individuals are a source of inspiration for all, regardless of background, and we look forward to honoring them and their achievements at this year's Imagen Awards gala."
The 24th Annual Imagen Awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner on Friday, August 21st, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Major sponsors of the event include Nielsen, The Walt Disney Company, Disney/ABC Television Group, The Lear Family Foundation, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS, NBC, Warner Bros, A&E, Latino Public Broadcasting, Lifetime and Game Show Network.
Nominees for 24th Annual Imagen Awards Announced
Black-tie Event Scheduled for August 21st at Beverly Hilton Hotel to Honor Latino Talent and Projects in Television, Film and Live Theater
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Imagen Foundation has announced the nominees for the 24th Annual Imagen (Spanish for “image”) Awards, honoring positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino culture in entertainment. The awards will be presented at a black-tie dinner gala on Friday, August 21st, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Major sponsors of the event include Nielsen, The Walt Disney Company, Disney/ABC Television Group, The Lear Family Foundation and Latino Public Broadcasting.
The Imagen (pronounced ee-mah-hen) Awards program was established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. Later, as The Imagen Foundation, it expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos both in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment. More information on the organization as well as details of the event can be found at www.imagen.org, click here to visit our Facebook fan page, or www.twitter.com/imagenfound.
Winners will be selected by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. Following are the finalists for this year’s Imagen Awards in their respective categories. [Please note that two categories did not meet the minimum number of entries required for award consideration and therefore have been eliminated from contention: Best Actress/Feature Film and Best Supporting Actress/Feature Film.]
Click here for the full release and a list of the nominees...
Latino Hollywood Insiders Honored for Accomplishments in 2008
November 6, 2008 – BEVERLY HILLS CA. A veritable “who’s who” of Latinos in the entertainment industry was honored today at the 2nd Annual “Most Powerful & Influential” Latinos in Entertainment Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
Presented by The Imagen Foundation and Inside Latino Entertainment magazine, the ceremony honored over forty industry producers, directors, and senior executives from film and television who have distinguished themselves this past year (see complete list attached). Among those honored was Kenny Ortega, executive producer/director of the very popular Disney “High School Musical” franchise, including the current boxoffice hit “High School Musical 3.” More...
The Imagen Foundation would like to thank this year's
“Most Powerful & Influential” Latinos in Entertainment Luncheon Sponsors:
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The 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Winners
BEVERLY HILLS – August 22, 2008 – The Hollywood stars were out last night in full force as nearly 1000 actors, entertainment industry executives, film and television studios and supporters attended the 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Gala ceremony at the nearly sold-out Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Actors John Leguizamo, Edward James Olmos, Lupe Ontiveros, Eva La Rue and Cesar Millan, Leonor Varela, Carlos Mencia, Dania Ramirez and many more could be seen gracing the Gala’s Red Carpet as fans, media, and the general public flocked to the hotel’s lobby and ballrooms for a glimpse.
18 awards were presented in a diverse range of entertainment categories in addition to several Imagen Foundation legacy awards: Actor Tony Plana received the Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award; HBO's In Treatment Producer/Director Rodrigo Garcia received the Creative Achievement Award; and Ligiah Villalobos, executive producer and writer of the feature film La Misma Luna, received the Foundation’s esteemed Norman Lear Writer's Award. MORE...
Click here to view the 23rd Annual Imagen Awards Winners.
Click here to view this year's nominees for the 2008 Imagen Awards.
Top Latina Leaders Celebrate Women’s History Month in Washington, DC
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Washington, DC- The Imagen Foundation, in cooperation with Honorary Chair Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA), hosted an event to celebrate Women's History Month by honoring the contributions that Latinas have made in their communities. Seven extraordinary Latinas and Latina Magazine were recognized for their leadership and work. They were joined by a prestigious Honorary Committee including Congresswomen Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).
"All of the women being honored tonight have had a positive impact on the Latina community and are an inspiration to countless young people nationwide," said Honorary Chair, Congresswoman Hilda Solis. "This dinner, being held at the Library of Congress, will give Latina leaders in business, government, media, and entertainment the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of these distinguished honorees."
President of The Imagen Foundation Helen Hernandez said, "The Imagen Foundation's early mission to recognize and celebrate positive portrayals of Latinas in television and film has been expanded. This year's honorees include Latinas from many different professional fields, all of whom are making positive contributions to our country's overall social fabric." Hernandez continued, "This event provides the Latina community with the chance to honor those who have made phenomenal progress in their professional careers, as well as teach young Latina women that they can truly make a difference." More...
IMAGEN HONORS ENTERTAINMENT’S LATINO INFLUENTIALS FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Beverly Hills, CA.-October 15, 2007 More than 60 individuals from creative and business executives as well as talent were honored today by The Imagen Foundation in celebration of Hispanic Heritage month. This inaugural event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills marked the final day of this month’s long national celebration. Here are the honorees:
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ANTOINETTE ALFONSO ZEL Sr. Executive Vice President NBC Universal/Telemundo/Mun2 Zel serves as senior executive vice president, Network Strategy for Telemundo Network, a division of NBC Universal and General Electric, at its headquarters in Hialeah, Fla. She is responsible for leading seven key strategic areas of the company’s operations and managing over 20% of Telemundo’s total employees, both at the company’s headquarters and at its satellite office in Los Angeles. During her two-year tenure, Zel has been a catalyst in Telemundo’s recent resurgence in market position, brand profile and new strategic alliances and businesses. She has been effective in turning around formerly non-performing assets and areas to positions of strength and revenue generation. She is a vocal advocate of the need to elevate the identity of the Hispanic population with quality digital and broadcast content, music, and marketing solutions. |
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CHRISTINA DAVIS Senior Vice President, Drama Development CBS Entertainment Christina Davis grew up in Petaluma, Calif. and moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA as a political science major. Since joining CBS, Christina has been involved in the development of CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Without a Trace, Cold Case, The Unit, Ghost Whisperer, Jericho and the new crop of dramas that debuted this fall: Cane, Viva Laughlin and Moonlight. Her greatest moment in entertainment has been working with her mentor Nina Tassler from whom she has learned so much in drama series development. |
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EDITH MENDOZA Vice President, Comedy Development CBS Entertainment At CBS, Mendoza is responsible for developing new comedies, which have recently included Two And a Half Men, How I Met Your Mother, Out of Practice, and Still Standing. Her previous positions at CBS include manager/comedy development, supervisor/comedy development, as well as a former assistant to executive vice president Wendi Trilling. She began her career as a CBS page while earning her Bachelor’s degree in communications from UCLA. |
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CYNTHIA CIDRE Writer Cidre, recipient of Imagen’s 2007 Norman Lear Award, is a writer-producer who is one of the most sought after and award-winning screenwriters of our time. A native of Cuba, Cidre’s career in the industry began when she won a nationwide search for new writing talent. Her film and television credits include The Mambo Kings, In Country, the Emmy-nominated A Killing in a Small Town, and most recently wrote the pilot for Cane, a Latino drama about a wealthy Cuban family with a rum and sugarcane empire in South Florida. |
SANTIAGO POZO CEO Arenas Entertainment Pozo is founder and chief executive officer of Arenas Entertainment. He is considered one of the foremost authorities on entertainment and film marketing to U.S. Latino audiences. Additionally, Arenas is also involved in the production and distribution of films targeting the Hispanic audience. Originally from Spain, Pozo graduated with a degree in history from the University of Madrid. He earned a Master’s degree from the Peter Stark Program at the University of Southern California School of Cinema/Television. |
DIEGO GUTIERREZ Writer Gutierrez of Flaco Films, was one of the writers for NBC’s Latino-themed Kingpin, a sixepisode mini-series that featured a mostly Latino cast and behind-the-camera creative team. Amid the controversy the mini-series received from Latino media watchdogs because of its drug trafficking premise, Gutierrez defended his stance that the show portrayed both sides of the human element—good and bad—and has opened the doors for Latinos in the industry by demonstrating that Latinos can entertain with great stories and superb acting. |
LUIS VALDEZ Founder & Artistic Director El Teatro Campesino Valdez is a playwright and film director who has been called the father of Chicano theater. El Teatro Campesino, a touring farm workers’ theater troupe, produced one-act plays, often without stage, script, or props, but which sparked the Chicano theater movement. He has written, co-written, and directed many plays depicting the Hispanic experience, among them Zoot Suit and the boxoffice hit movie La Bamba, which he directed. Among his numerous awards, the Delano, Calif., native, has received honorary doctorates from Columbia College, San Jose State University, and the California Institute of the Arts. |
LOURDES PORTILLO Director/Producer/Writer Portillo is a screenwriter and filmmaker whose award-winning films have been much studied and analyzed, particularly by scholars in the field of Chicano studies. Born in Mexico, Portillo was raised in the United States. She learned about documentary filmmaking while working for a company that made educational films in Los Angeles. After graduating from the San Francisco Art Institute, she began her career as a producer and director. |
PETER MURRIETA Writer/Producer Peter D. Murrieta is executive producer at It’s a Laugh Productions, the production company responsible for the live-action sitcoms on the Disney Channel. These include That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana and Cory in the House. Murrieta’s big break came with his first pilot, Greetings From Tucson, based on his life growing up in Tucson, Ariz. With a mostly Latino cast, critics applauded the show (which aired on The WB during the 2002-2003 season) as “a welcome addition to TV’s largely white landscape.” |
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JUAN CARLOS COTO Writer/Producer Coto is a writer/producer whose television credits include Standoff, Invasion, Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Hotel, Spycraft: The Great Game, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, and The Dead Zone, among others. He also served as a consultant for the TV film, For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, was story editor for The Pretender and developer of Mortal Kombat: Conquest. |
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NATALIE CHAIDEZ Writer/Producer Chaidez’ illustrious credits include such television programs as Heist, Judging Amy, New York Undercover, Profiler and Emmynominated Heroes. Chaidez’ most significant moment that she credits with making a difference in her life is the full scholarship she received from the late Tichi Wilkerson Kassel, publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, which enbabled her to finish her last year at UCLA’s film school. |
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JOSEPH TOVARES Executive Producer Tovares, an executive producer at WGBH Boston, oversees a variety of multi-platform productions. A veteran documentary television producer and executive producer, Tovares currently serves as the executive producer of La Plaza, the Emmy Award-winning Latino production unit, in addition to supervising a number of other public affairs, arts, culture and science projects. A native of Texas, Tovares has worked for a number of media companies and has served as a consultant for a number of organizations. He is a graduate of Boston University with a degree in Broadcasting and Film. He then earned a Master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin (Radio/Television/Film). |
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NELY GALAN Creator/Producer Galán is a media entrepreneur who launched her company Galán Entertainment with the mandate of creating multi-platform content specializing in the Latino market. Her company has since successfully produced over 600 episodes of programming in both English and Spanish. Galán credits her success to the great mentorship of entertainment great Jerry Perenchio, owner of the radio station in New York where, at 23, she embarked on her career in entertainment as the nation’s youngest station manager and set her sights on a more entrepreneurial path. |
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PHIL ROMAN Phil Roman Entertainment Roman drew his way from a comic strip in the high school paper to become one of the top animators in the highly competitive field of animation. Far from the farmlands of Fresno, Calif., his most vivid memory is walking onto the Walt Disney Studio lot for the first time in May 1955, thus fulfilling a childhood dream. At his own company, Film Roman, Inc., he executive produced the Emmy-nominated Garfield & Friends, King of the Hill, and three-time Emmy winner The Simpsons. Under his new company, Phil Roman Entertainment, he has executive produced several TV specials and video series. Ever grateful to his mentors, Roman has established internship programs for high school students and young adults to work in the animation studio, giving them an opportunity to fulfill their own dream of being part of the industry. |
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VIBIANA MOLINA Vice President, Business Affairs Twentieth Century Fox Television Molina started her career as an entertainment lawyer with the prestigious Manatt, Phelps & Phillips law firm. She moved on to become VP of business affairs at Turner Network Television and then VP of business affairs for Gavin Polone’s Pariah Productions. Raised in Redondo Beach, she attended UCLA undergrad with a degree in political science and received her law degree from Columbia University. |
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JONATHAN D. AVILA Vice President—Counsel, Chief Privacy Officer The Walt Disney Co. Avila supervises data privacy law counseling and compliance for the domestic and international operations of Disney’s offline and online businesses. He has spoken publicly on a number of occasions on the subjects of data privacy and First Amendment rights. Avila graduated cum laude from Yale University with a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy and received a Juris Doctorate from the Harvard Law School. He also holds a diploma from the University of Salamanca in Spain. |
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PHIL GONZALES Vice President, Communications CBS Entertainment Gonzales oversees the network’s publicity efforts on behalf of its primetime series, specials, movies and mini-series as well as late night and daytime programming. In 1996, Gonzales was a senior member of the Warner Bros. TV marketing team that received the Publicists Guild Maxwell Weinberg Publicist Showmanship Award for best television campaign for their work on Friends. He is a graduate of Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor’s degree in Business. |
RICK RAMIREZ Vice President, Emerging Markets Fox Entertainment Group Soon after his arrival in California from Texas, Ramirez signed on with Phil Roman Entertainment and found a mentor in Roman, honing his skills in the areas of production, development, and business affairs. In his current position, Ramirez is involved in research, business development and strategic planning, along with some publicity and marketing aspects. Ramirez earned his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin and went on to the University of Texas’ Law School. |
NESTOR BARRERO Vice President, Employment Counsel NBC Universal Barrero is actively involved in providing preventive legal advice and training for managers and advising on internal policies and procedures affecting the NBC Universal and Telemundo television stations. Prior to joining Universal in 1998, Barrero was Senior Counsel for Union Bank of California. Nestor received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA and his Juris Doctor degree from UC Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He is active in community organizations such as Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, UCLA Academic Program, the Latino Lawyers Association and the California Hispanic Corporate Council. |
MARLENE DERMER Executive Director Los Angeles Latino Film Festival Dermer is the executive director, programmer, and member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival which she co-founded with George Hernandez and Edward James Olmos. The first Festival was part of the 1997 Latino Heritage Month celebration in Los Angeles, showing 42 films during five days and an overall attendance of 5,000. It has since exceeded 27,000 attendees, showcased 130 films, 10 panels and workshops, and secured major corporate sponsorships. Dermer is also the co-founder and executive director of Latino Public Broadcasting and serves on its Board of Directors. |
ALEX NOGALES President & CEO National Hispanic Media Coalition With 39 years of experience in the industry, Nogales’ background includes that of an executive, producer, writer, and director in both television and film. A tireless advocate, Nogales has been involved in the signing of Memorandums of Understanding with ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and has helped integrate the employment, procurement, programming, governance and philanthropy in television. |
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JOSE RIOS Vice President, News KTTV and KCOP Rios is an award-winning broadcast journalist and vice president of news at KTTV/FOX 11 and KCOP 13, where he is responsible for all newscasts, news gathering and production. Since joining KTTV in 1992, Rios has expanded the daily newscasts, was instrumental in KTTV’s exclusive and unprecedented live gavel-to-gavel coverage of the Rodney King beating trial in Simi Valley, and also developed Los Angeles’ only full-time investigative news unit, the Emmy Awarding-winning Fox Undercover, among other accomplishments. Rios earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Tufts University in Medford, Mass. |
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GABRIEL REYES President and Founder Reyes Entertainment Reyes Entertainment is a leading communications firm specializing in public relations, marketing, and event production for the Latino media markets. A leading Hispanic market expert, Reyes specializes in bilingual campaigns in both Spanishand English-language media. Reyes was the founding publicist for Latina Magazine and remained its sole publicist for five years. One of Reyes’ strongest suits is his unparalleled network of contacts in the areas of entertainment, media, business, government, and community groups that allow him to offer his clients enhanced career visibility and opportunities. |
ALEXIS GARCIA Agent Endeavor Talent Agency Garcia's expertise is in independent and international film finance and sales. He earned his Bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in English and Theatre from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and his Juris Doctor from UCLA School of Law |
LUCINDA MARTINEZ-DESIR Vice President, Market Development HBO Martinez-Desir joined HBO in 2003. As director of Strategic Partnerships, she was responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of all network national subscriber acquisition efforts as it pertains to mobile and segment marketing. She was also instrumental in the launch of HBO en Español. During her tenure at Comedy Central, she was a key player in one of the industry’s most successful subscriber growth spurts for a basic cable network—from 48 million subscribers in 1998 to over 80 million by the end of 2002. Martinez-Desir is a graduate of Columbia University. |
VIVIANA PENDRILL Vice President, Targeted Marketing Warner Bros. Pictures Pendrill joined Warner Bros. in 2003. Her responsibilities include researching and developing motion picture marketing strategies for a variety of niche audiences, including Hispanic, urban and teen, among others. Pendrill founded and formerly co-owned the Hispanic advertising agency, Casanova Pendrill Publicidad, Inc., where she served as vice president and creative director and where her work garnered such awards as the Clio, Belding, and Se Habla Español. |



NINA TASSLER
CHRISTINA NORMAN
WALTER ULLOA
KENNY ORTEGA Director/Choreographer
BELINDA MENENDEZ
ALFONSO ARAU
ARMANDO NUNEZ, JR.
GUILLERMO DEL TORO Producer/Director/Writer
FRIDA TORRESBLANCO
LOURDES DIAZ
GUILLERMO ARRIAGA
JOSE RIVERA
DAVID VALDES
EMILIO KAUDERER
DARLENE CAAMANO LOQUET
REYNALDO VILLALOBOS Director/Cinematographer
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ INARRITU
MOCTESUMA ESPARZA
LEON ICHASO
CHEECH MARIN
SILVIO HORTA
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS
HECTOR ELIZONDO
MARTIN SHEEN
JIMMY SMITS
LUPE ONTIVEROS
JOHN LEGUIZAMO
ANTOINETTE ALFONSO ZEL
STEVE TELLEZ
CHRISTINA DAVIS
CARLOS CARRERAS
EDITH MENDOZA
JEFF VALDEZ
CYNTHIA CIDRE
SANTIAGO POZO
DIEGO GUTIERREZ
LUIS VALDEZ
LOURDES PORTILLO
PETER MURRIETA
JAVIER AVITIA
JUAN CARLOS COTO
RAUL DE QUESADA
NATALIE CHAIDEZ
ROBERT MENDEZ
JOSEPH TOVARES
JEAN FUENTES
NELY GALAN
GERALD ALCANTAR
PHIL ROMAN
HELEN HERNANDEZ
VIBIANA MOLINA
KATHRYN F. GALAN
JONATHAN D. AVILA
ESTEBAN TORRES
PHIL GONZALES
RICK RAMIREZ
NESTOR BARRERO
MARLENE DERMER
ALEX NOGALES
STEPHEN ESPINOZA
JOSE RIOS
JOSE MARTINEZ
GABRIEL REYES
ALEXIS GARCIA
LUCINDA MARTINEZ-DESIR
VIVIANA PENDRILL