Tenoch Huerta Earns NAACP Image Award for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Performance

Tenoch Huerta is an Image Award winner…

This year’s NAACP Image Awards winners have been announced, with the 42-year-old Mexican actor picking up a prize.

Tenoch HuertaHuerta, who recently earned two Critics Choice Super Awards nominations, was named Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which took the award for Outstanding Motion Picture.

Ivan Herrera’s drama Bantú Mama, acquired for distribution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand by Ava DuVernay’s Array Releasing, picked up an award.

The 45-year-old Dominican filmmaker’s drama was named Outstanding International Motion Picture.

Scott Mescudi, aka Kid Cudi, picked up the Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special award alongside Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams for Entergalactic.

Bruno Mars picked up the Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) award for his Silk Sonic track “Love’s Train.”

The weeklong event honors the achievements and performances of people of color in more than 80 categories.

Here’s a look at this year’s NAACP Image Awards winners:

Entertainer of the Year Angela Bassett
Outstanding Motion Picture Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Viola Davis – The Woman King
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Will Smith – Emancipation
Outstanding Comedy Series Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series Nicco Annan – P-Valley
Jackie Robinson Sports Award Serena Williams
Chairman’s Award Congressman Bennie G. Thompson
Social Justice Impact Award Benjamin Crump
President’s Award Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Tyler James Williams – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Janelle James – Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Cliff “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Loretta Devine – P-Valley
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Morris Chestnut – The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Niecy Nash-Betts  – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Outstanding Talk Series Sherri
Outstanding New Artist Coco Jones – ICU
Outstanding Jazz Album – Vocal Legacy – Adam Blackstone
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture The Inspection
Outstanding International Motion Picture Bantú Mama
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture Jalyn Hall – TILL
Outstanding Animated Motion Picture Wendell & Wild
Outstanding Documentary (Film) CIVIL
Outstanding Documentary (Television) Everything’s Gonna be All White
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole  – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Woman King
Outstanding Arts and Entertainment Podcast Two Funny Mamas
Outstanding Social Media Personality Kevon Stage
Outstanding Podcast – News and Information Beyond the Scenes, The Daily Show
Outstanding Podcast – Society and Culture LeVar Burton Reads
Outstanding Podcast – Lifestyle / Self-Help Therapy for Black Girls
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Brittani Nichols, Abbott Elementary – “Student Transfer”
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series Marissa Jo Cerar, Women of the Movement – Episode 101
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special, Scott Mescudi (Story By), Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams, Entergalactic
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Angela Barnes, Atlanta – “The Homeliest Little Horse”
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series, Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul – Season 6, Episode 6: “Axe and Grind”
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special Anton Cropper, Fantasy Football
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary Reginald Hudlin, Sidney
Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film) Camille Friend, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) Debi Young, Sandra Linn, Ngozi Olandu Young, Gina Bateman, We Own This City
Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) Ruth Carter, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Short-Form Series – Comedy or Drama “Between The Scenes,” The Daily Show
Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction Daring Simone Biles
Outstanding Short-Form (Live Action) Dear Mama…
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated) More Than I Want To Remember
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture Keke Palmer,
Lightyear
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) Kyla Pratt, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–series) Ja’Siah Young, Raising Dion
Outstanding Children’s Program Tab Time
Outstanding Animated Series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder
Outstanding Guest Performance Glynn Turman, Queen Sugar
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture) Ericka Nicole Malone, Remember Me The Mahalia Jackson Story
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Nia Long, The Best Man: The Final Chapters
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited–Series or Dramatic Special Keith David, From Scratch
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction, Take My Hand, Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction Finding Me, Viola Davis
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen, George McCalman
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Autobiography Scenes from My Life, Michael K. Williams, Jon Sternfeld
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration, Tracey Lewis-Giggetts
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry To the Realization of Perfect Helplessness, Robin Coste Lewis
Outstanding Literary Work – Children Stacey’s Remarkable Books, Stacey Abrams, Kitt Thomas
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens Cookies & Milk, Shawn Amos
Outstanding Variety or Game Show (Series or Special) The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble Tabitha Brown, Tab Time
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special) ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts
Outstanding International Song “No Woman No Cry” – Tems
Outstanding Jazz Album – Instrumental “JID014 (Jazz is Dead)” – Henry Franklin, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song “Positive” – Erica Campbell
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album “Kingdom Book One” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional) Silk Sonic – “Love’s Train”
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary) Chris Brown feat. Wizkid – “Call Me Every Day”
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album “Lift Me Up” – Rihanna
Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By – Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Dave Jordan
Outstanding Male Artist Chris Brown – “BREEZY” (Deluxe)
Outstanding Female Artist Beyoncé – “Renaissance”
Outstanding Soul/R&B Song Cuff It – “Beyoncé”
Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Song “Hotel Lobby” – Quavo, Takeoff
Outstanding Album “Renaissance” – Beyoncé

Tenoch Huerta Earns Two Critics Choice Super Awards Nominations for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Performance

Tenoch Huerta is celebrating two super recognitions…

The nominations for the third annual Critics Choice Super Awards have been revealed, with the 42-year-old Mexican actor earning two nods.

Tenoch HuertaHuerta is nominated for Best Actor in a Superhero Movie and Best Villain in a Movie for his performance as Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Zoe Saldana is nominated in the Best Actress in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie for her performance in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water.

Oscar Isaac earned a nod in the Best Actor in a Superhero Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie category for starring in Disney+’s Moon Knight.

Harvey Guillén is nominated in the Best Actor in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie for his acclaimed work in FX’s What We Do in the Shadows.

Jenna Ortega continues earning raves for her work in Netflix’s Wednesday. This time the Puerto Rican and Mexican American actress is nominated for Best Actress in a Horror Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie.

Diego Luna is up for Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie for his work on Andor.

The Critics Choice Super Awards celebrate the year’s best across the superhero, sci-fi/fantasy, horror and action genres in film and on television.

This year’s winners will be revealed March 16.

Here’s the full list of nominees:

3rd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards

FILM NOMINATIONS

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Bullet Train
RRR
Top Gun: Maverick
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
The Woman King

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Nicolas Cage – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Ram Charan – RRR
Tom Cruise – Top Gun: Maverick
Brad Pitt – Bullet Train
N.T. Rama Rao Jr. – RRR

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Sandra Bullock – The Lost City
Jennifer Connelly – Top Gun: Maverick
Viola Davis – The Woman King
Joey King – Bullet Train
Joey King – The Princess

BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE*
The Batman
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
DC League of Super-Pets
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Thor: Love and Thunder

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE*
Benedict Cumberbatch – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Paul Dano – The Batman
Colin Farrell – The Batman
Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Robert Pattinson – The Batman

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO MOVIE*
Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Zoë Kravitz – The Batman
Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Natalie Portman – Thor: Love and Thunder
Letitia Wright – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

BEST HORROR MOVIE
Barbarian
The Black Phone
Pearl
Smile
Speak No Evil
X

BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR MOVIE
Ethan Hawke – The Black Phone
Fedja van Huêt – Speak No Evil
Ralph Fiennes – The Menu
Rory Kinnear – Men
Justin Long – Barbarian

BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR MOVIE
Jessie Buckley – Men
Aisha Dee – Sissy
Anna Diop – Nanny
Mia Goth – Pearl
Rebecca Hall – Resurrection

BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Avatar: The Way of Water
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Nope
The Northman
Prey

BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Colin Farrell – After Yang
Daniel Kaluuya – Nope
Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Ryan Reynolds – The Adam Project
Alexander Skarsgård – The Northman

BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY MOVIE
Karen Gillan – Dual
Stephanie Hsu – Everything Everywhere All at Once
Amber Midthunder – Prey
Keke Palmer – Nope
Zoe Saldana – Avatar: The Way of Water
Michelle Yeoh – Everything Everywhere All at Once

BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE
Paul Dano – The Batman
Mia Goth – Pearl
Tenoch Huerta – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Joey King – Bullet Train
Elizabeth Olsen – Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
Mark Rylance – Bones and All

TELEVISION NOMINATIONS

BEST ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
9-1-1
Cobra Kai
Kung Fu
Reacher
Tulsa King
Vikings: Valhalla

BEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Kevin Costner – Yellowstone
John Krasinski – Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Ralph Macchio – Cobra Kai
Alan Ritchson – Reacher
Sylvester Stallone – Tulsa King
William Zabka – Cobra Kai

BEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1
Queen Latifah – The Equalizer
Olivia Liang – Kung Fu
Katherine McNamara – Walker: Independence
Helen Mirren – 1923
Kelly Reilly – Yellowstone

BEST SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE*
The Boys
Doom Patrol
Ms. Marvel
Peacemaker
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Werewolf by Night

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE*
John Cena – Peacemaker
Brendan Fraser – Doom Patrol
Grant Gustin – The Flash
Oscar Isaac – Moon Knight
Elliot Page – The Umbrella Academy
Antony Starr – The Boys

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPERHERO SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE*
Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker
Michelle Gomez – Doom Patrol
Caity Lotz – Legends of Tomorrow
Tatiana Maslany – She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Erin Moriarty – The Boys
Iman Vellani – Ms. Marvel

BEST HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire
Chucky
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Evil
The Walking Dead
Wednesday
What We Do in the Shadows

BEST ACTOR IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Jacob Anderson – Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire
Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows
Mike Colter – Evil
Harvey Guillén – What We Do in the Shadows
Evan Peters – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Sam Reid – Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire

BEST ACTRESS IN A HORROR SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Jennifer Coolidge – The Watcher
Natasia Demetriou – What We Do in the Shadows
Katja Herbers – Evil
Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Christina Ricci – Wednesday

BEST SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Andor
For All Mankind
House of the Dragon
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Stranger Things

BEST ACTOR IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Chiwetel Ejiofor – The Man Who Fell to Earth
Samuel L. Jackson – The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey
Diego Luna – Andor
Anson Mount – Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Adam Scott – Severance
Matt Smith – House of the Dragon

BEST ACTRESS IN A SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Milly Alcock – House of the Dragon
Patricia Arquette – Severance
Morfydd Clark – The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Moses Ingram – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Fiona Shaw – Andor
Sissy Spacek – Night Sky

BEST VILLAIN IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE
Ethan Hawke – Moon Knight
Brad Dourif – Chucky
Matt Smith – House of the Dragon
Hayden Christensen – Obi-Wan Kenobi
Antony Starr – The Boys
Michael Emerson – Evil
Jamie Campbell Bower – Stranger Things
Harriet Sansom Harris – Werewolf By Night

Alexis Gambis’ “Hijo de Monarcas” Wins 2021 Alfred P. Sloan Prize for Film

Alexis Gambis is celebrating a monarch moment…

The French Venezuelan filmmaker and biologist’s US-Mexico film Hijo de Monarcas has won the 2021 Alfred P. Sloan Prize for film.

Alexis Gambis

Gambis’ film, which stars Tenoch Huerta, Paulina Gaitan and William Mapother centers on a Mexican scientist (Huerta) living in New York, who returns to his hometown, nestled in the majestic butterfly forests of Michoacán. The journey forces him to confront past traumas and reflect on his hybrid identity, sparking a personal metamorphosis.

The annual award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation recognizes a film screening at the Sundance Film Festival that focuses on science or technology or portrays a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as a major character.

Tenoch Huerta, Hijo de Monarcas

Hijo de Monarcas is directed and written by Gambis and features a cast that includes Alexia Rasmussen, Lázaro Gabino Rodríguez and Noé Hernández.

Hijo de Monarcas, which was filmed in New York and Mexico in both English and Spanish, will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, with a second screening on January 31.

“As we celebrate the wonderful news for Son of Monarchs, I just wanted to take a minute to point at this injustice and call to action to save the endangered monarch butterfly,” posted Gambis on Facebook, referring to his movie’s selection for Sundance, before the award was announced. He highlights the risks and challenges now facing the butterflies in light of reported huge population declines in the past few years. “The monarch butterfly is threatened with extinction but will not come under federal protection because other species are a higher priority, federal officials announced Tuesday,” he added citing a New York Times article.

Gambis’ filmmaking mixes documentary and fiction, often honoring animal perspective. His artistic craft and scientific background led him to launch various projects like the Imagine Science Film Festival in 2008 and the science-focused streaming platform and online magazine Labocine. Eight years later, he directed his first narrative feature, The Fly Room, a biographical drama that also deals with science, in this case genetics.

The Alfred P. Sloan Prize has been handed out at the Sundance Film Festival since 2003. The winner receives a $20,000 cash award.

Tenoch Huerta to Star in “Madres,” One of Amazon Prime Video’s Final Four “Welcome to the Blumhouse” Films

Tenoch Huerta is heading to the Blumhouse

The next chapter of Welcome to the Blumhouse is ready to deliver thrills while highlighting some of today’s emerging and inclusive talent in front of and behind the camera, including the 39-year-old Mexican actor.

Tenoch Huerta

Amazon Prime Video has unveiled The ManorBlack as Night, Madres, starring Huerta, and Bingo as the final four films in the eight-film genre anthology. The quartet will debut on the streaming platform in 2021.

Welcome to the Blumhouse kicked off at the beginning of October with its first slate of films including The Lie from Veena SudBlack Box from up-and-coming writer-director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr., Evil Eye from emerging filmmakers Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani, and Nocturne from filmmaker Zu Quirke.

“Coming off the successful launch of the first four films of the program, which has surpassed our expectations, we are excited to reveal the next chapter coming in 2021,” said Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon Studios. “The spine-tingling, edge-of-your-seat thrills continues in this next collection of titles that will surely entertain, surprise and shock our global customers.”

“We’re thrilled to see how audiences around the world have responded to the films in the Welcome to the Blumhouse slate,” said Jeremy Gold, president of Blumhouse Television. “We couldn’t be prouder of the work of these talented filmmakers, cast and crew on all the movies…and we’re excited to introduce the next wave of films and the incredible filmmakers at their helm.”

The second round of thrillers continues the anthology’s original, elevated, genre storytelling that is a Blumhouse signature. Centered around unsettling themes of institutional horrors and personal phobias, the films tap into people’s deepest fears, presenting a distinctive vision and unique perspective.

Similar to the first four films of the program, the slate continues with a thruline, making it the first-ever program of Amazon Original movies on Prime Video that are thematically connected.

Here are details about the final four films and the talent behind them.

  • The Manor is written and directed by Axelle Carolyn, and stars Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett and Katie Amanda Keane. After suffering a stroke, Judith Albright moves into a historic nursing home, where she begins to suspect something supernatural is preying on the residents. In order to escape she’ll need to convince everyone around her that she doesn’t actually belong there after all. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sandy King and Richard J Bosner.
  • Black as Night is directed by Maritte Lee Go and written by Sherman Payne. The cast stars Asjha Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Craig Tate, Keith David, Mason Beauchamp, Abbie Gayle and Frankie Smith. A teenage girl with self-esteem issues finds confidence in the most unlikely way, by spending her summer battling vampires that prey on New Orleans’ disenfranchised with the help of her best friend, the boy she’s always pined for, and a peculiar rich girl. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Maggie Malina and Guy Stodel.
  • Madres is directed by first-time feature director Ryan Zaragoza and written by Marcella Ochoa & Mario Miscione. Starring Tenoch Huerta, Ariana Guerra, Evelyn Gonzalez, Kerry Cahill, and Elpidia Carrillo. A Mexican-American couple expecting their first child relocate to a migrant farming community in 1970’s California. When the wife begins to experience strange symptoms and terrifying visions, she tries to determine if it’s related to a legendary curse or something more nefarious. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sanjay Sharma and Matthew Myers.
  • Bingo is directed by Gigi Saul Guerrero and written by Shane McKenzie & Gigi Saul Guerrero, along with Perry Blackshear. In the Barrio of Oak Springs live a strong and stubborn group of elderly friends who refuse to be gentrified. Their leader, Lupita, keeps them together as a community, a family. But little did they know, their beloved Bingo hall is about to be sold to a much more powerful force than money itself. Executive produced by Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman and Raynor Shima.

Tenoch Huerta to Star in Amazon Studio’s Untitled Cortes/Moctezuma Series

Tenoch Huerta is exploringa whole new role…

The 39-year-old Mexican actor will star alongside Javier Bardem in the untitled Cortés and Moctezuma project from Amazon Studios and Amblin Television.

Tenoch Huerta

Yoshira Escárrega has also been cast in the project. 

The limited series will be a four-hour epic drama that maps the inexorable march and eventual clash between Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortésand Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II, leading to the annihilation of an empire and tragic downfall of a civilization that took centuries to build, but less than two years to destroy.

Oscarwinner Bardem was announced in the role of Cortés last year and will also serve as an executive producer on the project.

Huerta will play Moctezuma, the Emperor of the Aztecs. Escárrega will play Marina, strategic partner, translator and consort to Hernán Cortés.

From Amazon Studios and Amblin Television, the limited series is created for television and written by Academy Award-winner Steven Zaillian and based on the screenplay by Dalton Trumbo. The series is directed by Ciro Guerraand Cristina Gallego

Bardem will executive produce alongside Zaillian, Gael García BernalDiego Luna and more.

Huerta recently wrapped filming a starring role in the Blumhousefeature film, Borderline, the latest installment in the Purge franchise. He’s known for his role as the infamous Rafael Caro Quintero in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico, opposite Diego Luna and Michael Pena. He also appeared in a key role in the Paul Weitz-directed Bel Canto, which starred Julianne Mooreand Ken Watanabe

Escárrega is a film and theater actress born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa and a graduate of Escuela Nacional de Arte Teatral. Her latest work in television includes notable roles in Aquí en la Tierra directed by Gael García Bernal for Fox Premium Latinoaméricaand Dani Who for Paramount Channel Latinoamérica. She recently worked in films with acclaimed directors Alonso Ruiz Palaciosand Ximena Montemayor

Cinema Libre to Release Huerta’s “Days of Grace” in the U.S.

Tenoch Huerta’s work is heading north of the border…

Cinema Libre Studio has picked up Days of Grace, starring the Mexican actor, who is considered one of his country’s fast-rising stars.

Tenoch Huerta in Dias de Gracia

The feature debut of Mexican director Everardo Gout, who also wrote the script, is a tale of police and government corruption in Mexico City. The ambitious multi-threaded movie unfolds over a dozen years amid multiple kidnappings during successive World Cup tournaments. It centers on a cop, a hostage and a wife who fight to survive during the futbol events.

Days of Grace will go out day-and-date May 1 in U.S. theatres and on HBO, and via DVD/Blu-ray and On Demand starting May 5.

Dias de Gracia

The film took eight Ariel Awards including best first film, best actor and supporting actress following its April 2012 debut in its home country.

In addition to Huerta, the film also stars Dolores Heredia, Kristyan Ferrer, Carlos Bardem and Eileen Yañez.

Portes Named Best Director at Mexico’s Ariel Awards

It may be better to give than to receive… But Emilio Portes is receiving plenty of attention this weekend…

Emilio Portes

The Mexican writer-director’s sophomore film Pastorela picked up seven awards at Mexico’s 54th Ariel Awards, including best picture and best director.

In addition, Portes’ holiday-themed film also won best original screenplay at the Saturday awards ceremony in Mexico City.

But Pastorela wasn’t the only big winner…

Everardo Gout‘s high-octane thriller Dias de Gracia, a furiously paced portrait of violence in contemporary Mexico, nabbed eight statuettes, with best first work going to Gout and a best actor nod for rising star Tenoch Huerta.

Gerardo Naranjo‘s actioner Miss Bala, also in the running for best picture and director, walked away empty handed despite having been selected as Mexico’s foreign-language Oscar submission.

In the Ibero-American category, best picture went to Agusti Villaronga‘s Catalan-language wartime saga Pa Negre, winner of nine of Spain’s Goya Awards last year.

Tatiana Huezo‘s El Lugar Mas Pequeno won the Ariel for best documentary. A big hit on the festival circuit, the film focuses on a village that was decimated during El Salvador’s civil war of the 1980s.

During the ceremony, the academy paid homage to veteran actor Pedro Armendariz, who passed away late last year. In one of the final performances of his five decade career, Armendariz appeared in the Will Ferrell’s Spanish-language film Casa de mi Padre.

Here’s a Complete Look at the Winners:

BEST PICTURE

Pastorela

DIRECTOR

Pastorela (Emilio Portes)

ACTRESS

Martha (Magda Vizcaino)

ACTOR

Dias de Gracia (Tenoch Huerta)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Dias de Gracia (Eileen Yanez)

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Dias de Gracia (Carlos Cobos)

FIRST WORK

Dias de Gracia

DOCUMENTARY

El Lugar Mas Pequeno

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Pastorela

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Dias de Gracia

EDITING

Dias de Gracia

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

Dias de Gracia

SOUND

Dias de Gracia

ART DESIGN

Dias de Gracia

COSTUME DESIGN

Pastorela

MAKEUP

Pastorela

SPECIAL EFFECTS

Salvando al Soldado Perez

VISUAL EFFECTS

Pastorela

ANIMATED SHORT

Prita Noire

DOCUMENTARY SHORT

Yuban

FICTION SHORT

Mari Pepa