Honorees Rita Moreno, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Father Gregory Boyle and Liz Imperio Receive Special Recognition

LOS ANGELES (August 22, 2015) – Winners of the 30th Annual Imagen (Spanish for “image”) Awards, premier Latino entertainment awards program to advance the positive portrayal and number of Latinos on screen, were announced last night at a star-studded special ceremony held in the Grand Hall of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.

The awards, with returning host comedian and actress Aida Rodriguez were presented to an audience of approximately six hundred attendees representing the entertainment industry and Latino community.

The Imagen Foundation honored legendary actress Rita Moreno with the Imagen Legacy Award; Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis with the President’s Award; Father Gregory Boyle, Founder and Director of Homeboy Industries with the President’s Award; World Renowned Choreographer and Director, Liz Imperio with the Creative Achievement Award. Among celebrities in attendance were America Ferrera, Paula Abdul, Edward James Olmos, Roselyn Sanchez, Esai Morales, Maria Canals-Barrera, Jon Seda, Melissa Fumero, Diogo Morgado, Rico Rodriguez, Sofia Carson, Danny Pino, Carlos Pratts and many other Latino performers. They were joined by legendary TV Producer and Imagen Founder Norman Lear and Kenny Ortega, a collaborating producer for this year’s special anniversary show.

“The people we recognized at last night’s event are distinguished leaders who have been at the forefront of advancing our community as a whole,” said Helen Hernandez, President and Founder of the Imagen Foundation which presents the Imagen Awards. “For 30 years we have had the honor of acknowledging the amazing Latino talent in front and behind the cameras, as well as those who tirelessly work behind the scenes on behalf of all Latinos.”

Imagen Awards 2015 winners were judged and selected in twenty-four categories by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latino community leaders. The television special will air on PBS SoCaL during Hispanic Heritage Month.

The complete list of 2015 Imagen Awards winners in their respective categories follows:

Best Picture: McFarland, USA (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Director: Sean McNamara, Spare Parts (Pantelion Films)

Best Actor – Feature Film: George Lopez, Spare Parts (Pantelion Films)

Best Actress – Feature Film: Zoe Saldana, The Book of Life (Reel FX/20th Century Fox)

Best Supporting Actor – Feature Film: Carlos Pratts, McFarland, USA (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)

Best Supporting Actress – Feature Film: Kate del Castillo, The Book of Life (Reel FX/20th Century Fox)

Best Primetime Television Program – Drama: Law and Order: SVU (Universal Television and Wolf Films)

Best Primetime Television Program – Comedy: Jane The Virgin (The CW)

Best Primetime Program: Special or Made-for-TV-Movie: American Crime (ABC Studios)

Best Actor – Television: Gael García Bernal, Mozart In The Jungle (Amazon Instant Video/Amazon Studios)

Best Actress – Television: Gina Rodriguez, Jane The Virgin (The CW)

Best Supporting Actor – Television: Danny Pino, Law and Order: SVU (Universal Television and Wolf Films)

Best Supporting Actress – Television: Andrea Navedo, Jane The Virgin (The CW)

Best Young Actor – Television: Rico Rodriguez, Modern Family (ABC/20th Century Fox Television)

Best Young Actress – Television: Lilimar Hernandez, Bella and the Bulldogs (Nickelodeon)

Best Variety or Reality Show: Vice (HBO)

Best Children’s Programming: Nick News with Linda Ellerbee (Nickelodeon)

Best Documentary/Film or Television: Children of Giant (PBS/Latino Public Broadcasting)

Best National Informational Program: America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa: The New Mad Men (The Futuro Media Group in association with PBS and the World Channel)

Best Local Informational Program: Life Connected: Hispanic Heritage Special (NBC4-Southern California)

Best On-Air Advertising: AARP (Alma Advertising Agency/The Cortez Brothers)

Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: Ni-Ni (American Film Institute)

Best Web Series: Comedy: Oh Noah! (Thirteen/WNET New York Public Media)

Best Web Series: Reality or Informational: Los Cowboys (Corral 360)

Event sponsors included Nielsen, The Walt Disney Company, Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, CBS, Lear Family Foundation, PBS SoCaL, AARP, ABC7, Latino Public Broadcasting, LATV, Paramount Pictures, Bank of the West, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, California State University-Los Angeles, University of Southern California and Campanario Entertainment. Broadcasting & Cable Magazine, the leading television business brand for more than 80 years, is the Official Media Partner.

About The Imagen Awards

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 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 online at www.imagen.org and its social media channels: Facebook and Twitter.