Rodrigo Prieto to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at GuadaLAjara Film Festival

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Rodrigo Prieto is earning a special award…

The 57-year-old Mexican Oscar-nominated cinematographer will be honored with the 2023 Árbol de la Vida, a lifetime achievement award, at the 13th edition of the GuadaLAjara Film Festival on November 1.

Taking place at the Theater at the Ace Hotel in Downtown L.A., Prieto will be honored at the opening night gala celebration. Past honorees have included Oscar-winner Patricia Arquette, in addition to stars such as Xolo Maridueña, Rosario Dawson and Danny Trejo.

Prieto has garnered worldwide acclaim for his work on various feature films, collaborating with some of cinema’s most vital masters. He has picked up his three Oscar nods for Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain (2005) and two with Martin Scorsese — Silence (2016) and The Irishman (2019).

He’s teamed up with the iconic filmmaker again for Killers of the Flower Moon, the story of a group of men that murdered Osage tribe members in the 1920s. The Apple Original Films and Paramount Pictures co-distributed feature stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Lily Gladstone.

Prieto also lensed Greta Gerwig’s billion-dollar Mattel meta-comedy Barbie from Warner Bros — now the highest grossing release of 2023.

Curated with Latinx and BIPOC communities in mind, GLAFF’s programming is a mix of films that aim to attract cinephiles and art and culture enthusiasts. The 2023 program and official selection includes a special Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) centerpiece gala screening of the 1960s Mexican classic Macario from director Roberto Gavaldón. More films will be announced in the coming weeks.

“GLAFF continues its mission to be a bridge between Latin America and U.S.-based Latinx/BIPOC creators,” says Ximena Urrutia, festival director. “Being part of a festival run by Latina women, we strive to add to the efforts of ensuring domestically and internationally Latinx representation.”

The GuadaLAjara Film Festival is supported by the University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, the University of Guadalajara Foundation USA, the Grodman Legacy Family Foundation and the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG).

Carla Simón Receives Spain’s National Cinematography Award

Posted on September 25, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Carla Simón has received one of the highest honors bestowed by Spain’s Ministry of Culture.

The 36-year-old Spanish filmmaker, whose sophomore film Alcarràs clinched the 72md Berlinale Golden Bear last year, received the 2023 National Cinematography Award.

On hand to present the award in a ceremony held at the San Sebastian Film Festival was Miguel Iceta, Spain’s Minister of Culture and Sports, who first addressed Simón in Catalan before switching to Spanish: “With only two feature films, you have left your mark on the recent history of cinema in our country: a short but undisputed trajectory in terms of its strength and personality, recognized both nationally and internationally. A career that is nothing but the promise of a much longer and fruitful one.”

“This award, if you’ll allow me the audacity, is also for all the women who accompany you, for all your professional colleagues and peers, for all those women who, with your example and your struggle, are making the world of cinema a more equal, diverse, and better place,” said Iceta, who as an aside, also pointed out that Spain’s women’s soccer team, recently crowned world champions, had just won in Sweden.

However, out of the more than 40 times the award has been given out, no more than 14 women in the film industry have received the award. “We have some way to go before we achieve gender parity,” he noted.

The prize, granted by the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), an organization affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, comes with a prize of €30,000 ($31,800).

“Finally, there are more women involved in filmmaking, and we are witnessing a timid democratization of our profession. There are ways of working that are already considered obsolete and stories that had never been told before. However, at the same time, films and works are still being censored for political reasons, or we self-censor to be politically correct,” Simón stated in a highly applauded speech where she thanked her family, friends and all that have supported her in her brief but brilliant career.

Only 36 years old, Simón quickly caught the film world’s attention in 2017 with her autobiographical debut feature, Summer 1993, sweeping Berlin’s First Feature Award and Generation Kplus Grand Prix.

It went on to be selected to represent Spain in the Oscars, beating Pablo Berger’s Abracadabra and Salvador Calvo’s 1898, Our Last Men in the Philippines for the honor.

In her speech, Simón stressed the need to safeguard independent cinema, which she described as having “heart and daring,” emphasizing that it necessitates “time, nurturing, contemplation and precision.” She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the female filmmakers who blazed a trail in the industry, including notable figures such as the Belgian icons Agnès Varda and Chantal Akerman, as well as their Spanish counterparts Josefina Molina, Pilar Miró, Icíar Bollaín and Isabel Coixet.

She is currently preparing to shoot Romería, the third part of the trilogy she begun with Summer 1993, by next summer. She is next planning a flamenco musical for her fourth feature.

Ramón Rodríguez to Receive Spotlight Award at National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts’s Visibility Awards

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ramón Rodríguez is officially in the Spotlight…

The National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts is honoring three artists at its annual Visibility Awards in D.C. on Wednesday, including the 43-year-old Puerto Rican actor, at an event designed to advance Latino representation in film and television.

Rodríguez will receive the organization’s Spotlight Award for producing and starring in the adaptation of the Karin Slaughter crime novel Will Trent.

“Ramón has been a leading voice in continued efforts to open doors for Latino talent in the industry,” the foundation said.

Ángel Manuel Soto, director-producer of the Latino superhero movie Blue Beetle, is being recognized with the organization’s Raul Julia Award for Excellence.

“Ángel’s work advances the presence of Latinos in film and highlights studies demonstrating that Latino directors are more likely to bring Latino talent to their projects,” the foundation said.

Camila Morrone, honored with the Horizon Award, is starring with Willem Dafoe in Patricia Arquette’s, Gonzo Girl, based on Cheryl Della Pietra’s semi-autobiographical novel, based on her time as Hunter S. Thompson’s personal assistant.

The event and Noche Musical, to be held at the Mayflower Hotel, will follow the foundation’s 2023 Visioning Summit, Advancing Representation in Media, Arts, & Beyond. Felix Sanchez, the foundation’s chair and co-founder, said in a statement that the summit’s intent is to “rethink the landscape with images of the American Latino.”

Among those leading panel discussions at the event, to be held Wednesday morning at the National Press Club, will be CBS News’s Ed O’Keefe, CNN’s Jim Acosta, NBC News’ Monica Alba, and NPR’s Claudia Grisales.

Also scheduled to participate are Soto, Carla Dirlikov, senior advisor and envoy for cultural exchange at the National Endowment for the Arts; Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), actor and comedian Eugenio Derbez and producer Flavio Morales. The summit is free and open to the public.

Organizers said that the event will adhere to any modifications per SAG-AFTRA guidelines.

Salma Hayek to Receive Giving Tree Award at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Salma Hayek is being celebrated for her commitment to children in need…

The 57-year-old Mexican American actress/producer will receive this year’s Giving Tree Award at the 2023 Baby2Baby Gala taking place on November 11 in Los Angeles.

The Giving Tree Award is awarded annually to a public figure who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving the lives of children in need around the world.

Past honorees include Amy Adams, Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore, Vanessa Bryant, Jennifer Garner, Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Chrissy Teigen and Kerry Washington.

“I am so honored to be receiving the Giving Tree Award from Baby2Baby. My 39 years of involvement in supporting the wellbeing of women and children give me a deep appreciation and admiration for their heartfelt commitment and efficiency to get the job done. I am very am proud to share their mission and am eager to keep learning from these remarkable women,” said Hayek in a statement.

After lobbying Congress to extend the Violence Against Women Act, she co-founded The Kering Foundation, which leads initiatives aimed at liberating women around the world from sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Hayek later partnered with Gucci to create Chime For Change, a program advancing education, health, and justice of girls. In 2015, she visited Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon alongside UNICEF and mounted the “Chime for Education” campaign to raise money to educate refugee children.

In 2017, Hayek spearheaded fundraising efforts for earthquake victims in Mexico and helped raise nearly a million dollars for UNICEF. During the disaster relief effort, she also partnered with the PepsiCo. Foundation and Habitat for Humanity to deliver 180 houses for displaced victims of the earthquake. Hayek remains actively engaged in a range of pressing social justice issues and is a longtime supporter of multiple leading nonprofit organizations including Girl Effect, The Cameron Boyce Foundation and Fondo Semilla.

“It’s our honor to pay tribute to Salma Hayek Pinault with this year’s Giving Tree Award for her extensive work on behalf of vulnerable children and families,” shared Baby2Baby co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof. “From her commitment to combating social injustices and disaster relief efforts to her work supporting refugee children, Salma exemplifies everything that this award represents. We applaud how she has used her platform to increase resources and opportunities for women and girls, and we are thrilled to highlight her extraordinary commitment to these causes.”

Karol G to Receive Spirit of Hope Award at This Year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Karol G has real spirit…

The 32-year-old Colombian singer/songwriter will be honored with the Spirit of Hope award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards.

The special award — which was established in 1996 in honor of the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla — will recognize Karol G for her exceptional commitment to civic, community and humanitarian causes beyond her artistic success.

“I am grateful for this special recognition,” Karol G said in a statement. “My commitment with Con Cora Foundation is a fundamental part of my life and I am proud to be able to help the women who need it most.”

The “Provenza” singer’s impact extends beyond music.

In 2022, Karol G founded the Con Cora Foundation, which aims to support the economic, social, psychological and artistic development of underprivileged women.

Her philanthropic work will be recognized with the Billboard Spirit of Hope Award at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will broadcast live on Telemundo on October 5 at 7:00 pm ET.

Con Cora Foundation has partnered with She Is Foundation, dedicated to empowering women and girls through education in science, technology and entrepreneurship. Together, they aim to help one million women and girls by 2030.

In addition, Karol G’s foundation has teamed up with Fundación Acción Interna to offer scholarships — which provide skills and knowledge necessary to secure employment and reintegrate into society — to older female inmates in Bogotá and to female family members of those inmates.

A 13-time finalist at the 2023 Billboard Latin Music Awards, earlier this year Karol G made history with Mañana Será Bonito, becoming the first woman to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with an all Spanish-language album. Currently, she’s on her U.S. stadium tour, which wraps up September 28 in Boston.

This year, Peso Pluma leads the list of finalists with 21 nods across 15 categories, including artist of the year, songwriter of the year, Global 200 Latin artist of the year, and Top Latin Album of the year.

Ice Spice Named Best New Artist at MTV Video Music Awards

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ice Spice is celebrating another award…

The MTV Video Music Awards have been handed out, with the 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation taking home one of the top prizes.

Ice Spice beat out the likes of Peso Pluma, Renee Rapp, GloRilla, Kaliii and PinkPantheress for the Best New Artist award.

It’s the first MTV VMAs award of her young career. She joins previous Latinx Best New Artist winners Cardi B (2018) and Fifth Harmony with Latina members Camila Cabello, Lauren Jauregui and Ashley Brooke (2014).

Shakira, who was awarded the Video Vanguard Award, and Karol G picked up the award for Best Collaboration for the music video for their hit single “TQG.” It’s Shakira’s second win in the category following her win alongside Beyonce in 2007 for “Beautiful Liar.”

Anitta won the Best Latin award for her “Funk Rave” music video. It’s her second consecutive win in the category after winning last year for “Envolver.”

Selena Gomez and Rema took home the Best Afrobeats prize for the hit single “Calm Down.”

The awards show was broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, on Tuesday, September 12, for the milestone 40th annual awards show.

Here’s the full list of 2023 MTV VMAs winners:

Video Vanguard Award
Shakira

Global Icon Award
Diddy

Video of the Year
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

Song of the Year
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

Artist of the Year
Taylor Swift

Best New Artist
Ice Spice

Push Performance of the Year
Tomorrow X Together – “Sugar Rush Ride”

Best Collaboration
Karol G and Shakira – “TQG”

Best Pop
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero”

Best Hip-Hop
Nicki Minaj – “Super Freaky Girl”

Best R&B
SZA – “Shirt”

Best K-Pop
Stray Kids – “S-Class”

Best Latin
Anitta – “Funk Rave”

Best Rock
Måneskin – “The Loneliest”

Best Alternative
Lana Del Rey (featuring Jon Batiste) – “Candy Necklace”

Best Afrobeats
Rema and Selena Gomez – “Calm Down”

Video for Good
Dove Cameron – “Breakfast”

Show of the Summer
Taylor Swift

Group of the Year
Blackpink

Album of the Year
Taylor Swift – Midnights

Song of Summer
Jungkook (featuring Latto) – “Seven”

Best Direction
Taylor Swift – “Anti-Hero” (Director: Taylor Swift)

Pablo Larrain Claims Best Screenplay Award at Venice Film Festival for “El Conde”

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Pablo Larrain has the write stuff…

The 80th Venice Film Festival has handed out its awards, with the 47-year-old Chilean Oscar-nominated filmmaker claiming a prize alongside co-writer Guillermo Calderón.

Larrain was awarded the Best Screenplay prize for co-writing El Conde with Guillermo Calderón.

The Spanish-language film, which Larrain directed, is a historical black comedy that revolves around former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet who is not dead but an aged vampire who, after 250 years in this world, has decided to die once and for all, due to ailments brought about by his dishonor and family conflicts.

In the Horizons category, Margarita Rosa De Francisco took home the Best Actress award for her work in El Paraiso, while Enrico Maria Artale took home the Best Screenplay award for El Paraiso.

Here’s the full list of winners:

VENICE 79
Golden Lion
Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos

Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize
Evil Does Not Exist, Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Silver Lion Best Director
Matteo Garrone, Io Capitano

Special Jury Prize
Green Border, Agnieszka Holland

Best Screenplay
Pablo Larrain and Guillermo Calderón, El Conde

Best Actress
Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla

Best Actor
Peter Sarsgaard, Memory

Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Young Actor or Actress
Seydou Sarr, Io Capitano

HORIZONS
Best Film
Explanation For Everything, Gábor Reisz

Best Director
Mika Gustafson, Paradise Is Burning

Special Jury Prize
Una Sterminata Domenica, Alain Parroni

Best Actress
Margarita Rosa De Francisco, El Paraiso

Best Actor
Tergel Bold-Erdene, City of Wind

Best Screenplay
El Paraiso, Enrico Maria Artale

Best Short Film
A Short Trip, Erenik Beqiri

Lion of the Future – Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film
Love Is A Gun, Lee Hong-Chi

HORIZONS EXTRA
Audience Award
FELICITÀ (HAPPINESS), Micaela Ramazzotti

VENICE CLASSICS

Best Documentary
Thank You Very Much, Alex Braverman

Best Restored Film
OHIKKOSHI (MOVING), Shinji Somai

VENICE IMMERSIVE

Grand Jury Prize
Songs For A Passerby, Celine Daemen

Special Jury Prize
Flow, Adriaan Lokman

Immersive Achievement Prize
Emperor, Marion Burger, Ilan Cohen

Ice Spice Receives BMI Impact Award at This Year’s BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Ice Spice is making an impact…

The 23-year-old half-Dominican American rap sensation has been awarded the BMI Impact Award from Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), during its 2023 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at LIV Nightclub Miami Beach.Ice Spice’s is the first time the Impact Award was given in the ceremony’s 23-year history.

The Bronx-based rapper/songwriter was recognized for her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision and impact on the future of music.

As one of the year’s biggest breakout stars, Ice Spice first exploded onto social media with her viral single “Munch.”

In just two years, she has had four Hot 100 Top 10 hits, and collaborated with the likes of Pink Pantheress, Nicki Minaj & Aqua and Taylor Swift, to name a few.

Ice Spice also has the most top-five singles on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart so far in 2023 and already collected numerous industry accolades.

The private event was hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

To see a complete list of winners, visit bmi.com/randbhiphop2023.

Selena Gomez Wins International Artiste of the Year at 2023 Headies Awards

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Selena Gomez is the headies of the international class…

The 2023 Headies Awards have been doled out, with the 31-year-old Mexican American singer claiming an award.

Gomez beat out Drake, Ed Sheeran, Future and Don Toliver to win International Artiste of the Year at the awards show, which celebrates Pan-African and Afrobeats talent.

In August 2022, Gomez teamed up with Rema, who won three awards, on the global hit “Calm Down.” The new version reached number one on both the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs for a record-setting 45 weeks and the Billboard Global Excl. US charts, and peaked at number three on the Global 200 chart. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Rema’s first top-ten hit and Gomez’s ninth.

In the US, it topped the Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and all-genre Radio Songs charts, becoming Rema’s first number one song on each chart and Gomez’s first number one on the latter two charts.

The 2023 Headies Awards were held on Sunday (Sept. 3) at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

In the past year, three major, all-genre music awards shows have introduced Afrobeats or African music categories. The American Music Awards were the first major music awards show to add such a category. They added favorite Afrobeats artist at the show that aired November 20, 2022. Wizkid was the inaugural winner, beating Burna Boy, CKay, Fireboy DML and Tems.

The MTV Video Music Awards added a new category this year — best Afrobeats. The front-runner is Rema & Gomez’s “Calm Down,” which is nominated in two other categories, best song and best collaboration.

The Grammys added a similar category, best African music performance, this year (for the awards that will be presented on February 4, 2024). Grammy nominations will be announced on November 10.

Here’s the full list of winners for the 2023 Headies Awards.

Hall of Fame: Youssou N’dour
Special Recognition: Sound Sultan
International Artiste Recognition Award: Sean “Love” Combs
International Artist of the Year: Selena Gomez
Album of the Year: Mr Money With the Vibe – Asake
Song of the Year: “Last Last” – Burna Boy
Best Female Artiste: Ayra Starr
Best Male Artiste: Rema
Rookie of the Year: Odumodublvck
Best Recording of the Year: “Soweto” – Victony & Tempoe
Producer of the Year: Rexxie – “Abracadabra” (Rexxie, Naira Marley, Skiibii & Wizkid)
Songwriter of the Year: Simi Kosoko, Godsfavour Chidozie, Kosoko Adekunle, Marcel Akunwata – “Loyal” (Simi)
Best R&B Single: “For My Hand” – Burna Boy Ft. Ed Sheeran
Best Rap Single: “Declan Rice” – Odumodublvck
Best Alternative Song: “Earth Song” – Wizard Chan
Best Vocal Performance (Female): Waje – “In Between“
Best Vocal Performance (Male): Wande Coal – “Kpe Paso”
Best Music Video: Director K – “Calm Down” (Rema)
Best Collaboration: Spyro Ft. Tiwa Savage – “Who’s Your Guy Remix”
Best Street-Hop Artiste: Seyi Vibez – “Chance (Na Ham)”
Afrobeats Single of the Year: “Last Last” – Burna Boy
Headies’ Viewers’ Choice: Victony & Tempoe – “Soweto”
Best West African Artiste of the Year: Black Sherif (Ghana)
Best East African Artiste of the Year: Diamond Platinumz
Best North African Artiste of the Year: El Grande Toto – Morocco
Best Southern African Artiste of the Year: Focalistic – South Africa
Best Central African Artiste of the Year: Libianca – Cameroon
Best R&B Album: The Brother’s Keeper – Chike
Best Alternative Album: Gbagada Express – BOJ
Best Rap Album: Young Preacher – Blaqbonez
Next Rated: Asake
African Artiste of the Year: Rema (Nigeria)
Lyricist on the Roll: Payper Corleone – “Fly Talk Only”
Best Inspirational Single: “Eze Ebube” – Neon Adejo
Digital Artiste of the Year: Rema

Mon Laferte Among This Year’s Latin Recording Academy Leading Ladies of Entertainment Honorees

Posted on September 3, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Mon Laferte earns a special Leading Lady designation…

The Latin Recording Academy has announced its 2023 Leading Ladies of Entertainment, with the 40-year-old Chilean-Mexican singer-songwriter among the honorees.

Laferte is a two-time Grammy nominee and four-time Latin Grammy winner, the most for a Chilean artist.

With over 1.5 million digital records sold in Latin America between albums and singles, she has established herself as the best-selling Chilean artist of the 21st century. Some of her hits include “Tormento“, “Amor completo“, “Si tú me quisieras“, “Tu falta de querer“, “Amárrame,” and “Mi buen amor.”

Other honorees include RondenePR founder Róndine Alcalá; Grammy-nominated engineer and vocal producer Simone Torres; and Ana Villacorta López, SVP of Marketing and Promotion at Sony Music México.

“This diverse group of outstanding and successful women have made great contributions to Latin music,” said Manuel Abud, CEO of The Latin Recording Academy, in a press release. “We are proud to celebrate them with this and other initiatives that seek to promote gender parity and honor the important role women play in the entertainment industry.”

The initiative was created in 2017 to recognize the “professional and socially conscious” ladies in the music field who have made “significant contributions and inspired the next generation of female leaders,” states the press release.

The accompanying luncheon and private ceremony will be held in Sevilla, Spain on Monday (Nov. 13) as part of Latin Grammy Week.

Hispanically Yours

Celebrating the Latino Influence

Category Archives: Awards