Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias Win Big at the Billboard Latin Music Awards

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias have plenty of reason to celebrate…

The 35-year-old Puerto Rican and Dominican American singer/songwriter and 40-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter were the big winners of the 2016 Billboard Latin Music Awards, propelled by their global hit “El Perdón.”

Nicky Jam and Iglesias collected six trophies each, including Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event, Airplay Song of the Year, Digital Song of the Year, Streaming Song of the Year and Latin Rhythm Song of the Year. Additionally, Iglesias won Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo, while Nicky Jam won Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo.

After thanking God, his genre Latina, Billboard and the people of Colombia and Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam gave a shout-out to his father, who he was separated from for much of his childhood. “I never brought home to you a medal from school,” he said. “But here is your medal, Papi.”

Right behind in the trophy haul was Mexican singer/songwriter Juan Gabriel, a comeback success story who won Tour of the Year and whose album of duets, Los Duo, won for Top Latin Album of the Year and Latin Pop Album of the Year. Gabriel also won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male and Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, solo, and was honored with the special Billboard Star Award.

“This doesn’t seem real,” said a giddy Juan Gabriel, the first winner of the night. “I’m amazed. I’m surprised. I am very happy to be here for the first time.”

Other top winners of the evening included Romeo Santos, who won Artist of the Year, Mana, who won Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group, and Shakira, who won Social Artist of the Year.

Here’s a look at the night’s winners:

Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Male: Juan Gabriel
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Gente de Zona
Hot Latin Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Tropical Song of the Year: Gente de Zona Feat. Marc Anthony, “La Gozadera”
Top Latin Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tropical Album of the Year: Victor Manuelle, Que Suenen Los Tambores
Regional Mexican Album of the Year: Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Nicky Jam
Latin Rhythm Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Airplay Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Streaming Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizarraga
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Banda Sinaloense MS de Sergio Lizárraga
Latin Rhythm Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Zion & Lennox
Latin Pop Album of the Year: Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo
Tour of the Year: Juan Gabriel
Artist of the Year: Romeo Santos
Artist of the Year, New: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Social Artist of the Year: Shakira
Crossover Artist of the Year: Justin Bieber
Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Event: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Male: Romeo Santos
Hot Latin Songs Artist of the Year, Female: Shakira
Digital Song of the Year: Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdón”
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Female: Selena
Top Latin Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Latin Pop Song of the Year: Maná Feat. Shakira, “Mi Verdad”
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Enrique Iglesias
Latin Pop Songs Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Mana
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Juan Gabriel
Latin Pop Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Maná
Tropical Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Romeo Santos
Tropical Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Buena Vista Social Club
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Regional Mexican Songs Artist of the Year, Solo: El Komander
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Joan Sebastian
Regional Mexican Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Julión Álvarez y Su Norteño Banda
Latin Rhythm Album of the Year: Pitbull, Dale
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Solo: Pitbull
Latin Rhythm Albums Artist of the Year, Duo or Group: Plan B
Songwriter of the Year: Anthony “Romeo” Santos
Producer of the Year: Saga WhiteBlack

Mitre’s “Paulina” Wins Top Prize at the Beijing International Film Festival

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Santiago Mitre is earning acclaim in China…

The 35-year-old Argentinian filmmaker’s latest thriller Paulina (aka La Patota) has won the Tiantan Award at the closing ceremony of the Beijing International Film Festival, which took place from April 16-23.

The film centers on Paulina, who after moving back home to teach in a suburban high school, must deal with the disapproval of the people around her when she returns to work after being brutally assaulted by a gang.

The film, directed by Mitre, also picked up the best screenplay and best actress (Dolores Fonzi) awards at a ceremony held on Saturday night.

The best director award went to Denmark’s Christina Rosendahl for her film, The Idealist. Louis Hofman was named best actor for his role in another Danish film Land of Mine (aka Under Sandet.) China’s “Go Away, Mr Tumor” was given the best visual effects award.

The competitive section was announced only days before the festival began. It came as a surprise, as many in the industry had been led to believe that the BJIFF had become a non-competitive festival. The jury was headed by Brett Ratner.

The sixth edition of the festival again included a film market, a conference series and a project pitching section. The popularity of the pitching sessions continued to boom with the number of projects submitted increasing by half to 674.

Mitre, whose credits include The Student and Carancho, picked up four prizes for Paulina at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and two prizes at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

Manzano to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Sonia Manzano is getting her Emmy moment…

The 65-year-old Puerto Rican actress and writer will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ 43rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards on May 1 in Los Angeles.

Manzano is best known for playing Maria on Sesame Street from 1971 until her retirement in 2015.

During her 45 years on Sesame Street, Manzano picked up 15 Emmys for her work as a writer on the groundbreaking public television show.

“My children and just about every child in America has grown up learning their ABC’s from the iconic character of Maria on Sesame Street played by Sonia Manzano,” said NATAS President Bob Mauro. “Sonia not only brought the life events of marriage, having a baby and being a mother to viewers young and old, she also brought a seldom-seen diversity, a Latin role model, unlike anything on television at the time.”

A borinqueña daughter of the South Bronx and graduate of NYC’s famed High School of the Performing Arts, Manzano made her professional debut in the original off-Broadway cast of Godspell before joining Sesame Street in 1971. Her own life — from teenager through growing up, marrying and becoming a mother — was integrated into the complex social fabric of Sesame Street, the Peyton Place of the pre-pubescent set.

A community activist, occasional stage actress and author, Manzano wrote a memoir, Becoming Maria: Love and Chaos in the South Bronx, that was published in August by Scholastic Press.

Gomez Earns Triple Threat Trophy at the iHeartRadio Music Awards

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Move over Jennifer Lopez… Selena Gomez is the new Triple Threat…

The 23-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress picked up the award for Biggest Triple Threat at this year’s iHeartRadio Music Awards, which were handed out Sunday night.

Gomez, heralded as a singer, actor and dancer, beat out Lady Gaga, Hailee Steinfeld, Jason Derulo, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Nick Jonas, Troye Sivan, Usher and Zendaya for the prize.

Bruno Mars continues to Funk things up. The 30-year-old part-Puerto Rican singer won the award for Best Collaboration for his smash hit single “Uptown Funk“ with Mark Ronson.

Meanwhile, Ally Brooke Hernadez, Camila Cabello and Lauren Jauregui and their fellow Fifth Harmony members, as well as 22-year-old half-Mexican American singer Jasmine V, picked up the award for Best Cover Song for Mars and Ronson’s “Uptown Funk.” They share the award with Jacob Whitesides and Mahogany Lox.

Other winners include Pitbull for Latin Artist of the Year, and Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias’ smash hit single “El Perdón“ for Latin Song of the Year.

The awards show aired live on TBS, TNT and truTV from the Forum in Inglewood, California. Jason Derulo served as the night’s host.

Here’s a look at this year’s Latino winners:

Triple Threat: Selena Gomez – Singer/Actor/Dancer
Best Collaboration: “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Best Cover Song: “Uptown Funk” – Fifth Harmony, Jasmine V, Jacob Whitesides and Mahogany Lox covering Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars
Latin Artist of the Year: Pitbull
Latin Song of the Year: “El Perdón” – Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias
Regional Mexican Artist of the Year: Banda Los Recoditos
Regional Mexican Song of the Year: “Levantando Polvadera” – Voz de Mando

Bedella Wins Olivier Award for His West End Performance in “In The Heights”

Posted on April 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

David Bedella’s career is reach new award-winning Heights…

The 53-year-old Mexican American television and musical stage actor took home the prize for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at last night’s Laurence Olivier Awards.

Bedella won the award for playing the role of Kevin Rosario in the Tony Award-winning musical In The Heights at the Kings Cross theatre in London.

It’s Bedella’s second Olivier award, following his win in the Best Actor in a Musical category for his performance in Jerry Springer – The Opera.

Meanwhile, the show’s star on Broadway Lin-Manuel Miranda won the Olivier Award for best score for the current London production of In the Heights — the show Miranda conceived, wrote, scored and starred in before doing the same for current musico-historico blockbuster Hamilton.

But that’s not all… In the Heights choreographer Drew McOnie won, as did Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, the show’s orchestrators and arrangers.

2016 Olivier Award winners featuring Latinos:
Outstanding Achievement in Music: In The Heights, music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, orchestrated and arranged by Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, at King’s Cross Theatre.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical: David Bedella, In The Heights.

Lovato to Receive Vanguard Award at This Year’s GLAAD Media Awards

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

There’s no denying Demi Lovato is a vanguard… And, now she’ll have the award to prove it.

The 23-year-old part-Mexican American actress will be honored with the Vanguard Award at this year’s GLAAD Media Awards.

Lovato is being feted for her commitment to supporting LGBT youth.

In 2013, the “Cool for the Summer” singer was the GLAAD ambassador for Spirit Day, part of their anti-bullying campaign. Additionally, Lovato’s was applauded for filming the official music video for her single “Really Don’t Care” at the annual L.A. Pride parade in West Hollywood.

Previous honorees have included Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Kerry Washington and others.

A few of this year’s nominees include Adam Lambert and Le1f for outstanding music artist; Caitlyn Jenner’s I Am Cait for outstanding reality series; and the documentary Mala Mala for outstanding documentary.

The 27th annual GLAAD Media Awards will be held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles on April 2.

Delgado Wins First-Ever Costume Designers Guild Award

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Paco Delgado is this year’s period king…

The Spanish costume designer picked up his first Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Period Film, which was handed out at the Beverly Hilton.

Delgado, who previously earned a CDG nomination in the same category for his work on Les Misérables, won the award for his work on The Danish Girl, starring Eddie Redmayne as Lili Elbe, the first person to undergo gender confirmation surgery, in 1930s Germany.

“When I start doing the research into a new subject or a new model, I always try to see as much material as possible. In this case, because they were artists, we wanted to recreate this sort of artistic mold into the clothes,” says Delgado of his work. “Yes, we definitely did base a lot of ideas—we didn’t copy things completely except the dress that Gerda is painting of a portrait of Ulla as a ballerina. It was the only dress we copied completely. The rest, we tried much more to get the feeling of the painting. What sort of feelings they had in sense of color, in terms of sensuality, in terms of what materials Gerda was depicting. And trying to get that translated into what they were wearing at the time. But I mean, much of the research was made around the designers of the period.”

Delgado is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the same film.

Here’s the complete list of tonight’s winners:

Excellence in Fantasy Film: Mad Max: Fury Road, Jenny Beavan
Excellence in Period Film: The Danish Girl, Paco Delgado
Excellence in Contemporary Film: Beasts of No Nation, Jenny Eagan
Excellence in Short Form Design: Most Interesting Man in the World Wins on Land, Sea & Air, Dos Equis Commercial, Julie Vogel
Outstanding Fantasy Television Series: Game of Thrones, Michele Clapton
Outstanding Period Television Series: The Knick, Ellen Mirojnick
Outstanding Contemporary Television Series: American Horror Story: Hotel, Lou Eyrich

Alboran Wins Goya Award for Best Original Song

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Pablo Alborán now has the equivalent of an Oscar…

The 26-year-old Spanish pop star won the 2016 Goya Award for best original song at this weekends celebration of the awards frequently referred to as Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Alborán is also nominated for a Grammy in the Latin Pop category for his album Terral. He was on tour in the United States and Canada before returning to Spain to attend the Goya ceremonies in Madrid. He was the top-selling artist in Spain in 2014.

The 26-year-old sensation sings the track “Palmeras en la Nieve,” a collaboration with Lucas Vidal, who composed the soundtrack for the movie of the same name.

Vidal, who lives in Los Angeles, also took home the prize for best original score for another movie, Nadie Quiere la Noche, directed by Isabel Cloixet and starring Juliette Binoche.

The Spanish composer, a Berklee grad who has written scores for Fast & Furious 6, The Raven, and other Hollywood films, said in his acceptance speech that he hoped that his and Alborán’s wins would inspire young people to enter the music field.

Leyva and Her “Orange Is the New Black” Castmates Take Home Second Consecutive SAG Award

Posted on January 31, 2016 by Tom Castaneda

Life’s still a SAG for Selenis Leyva…

This weekend, the 43-year-old Cuban and Dominican actress and her fellow Orange Is the New Black castmates took home the award for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The Netflix series was nominated alongside CBS‘ The Big Bang Theory, Comedy Central‘s Key & Peele, ABC‘s Modern Family, Amazon‘s Transparent and HBO‘s Veep.

In addition to Leyva, other Latinas who form part of the ensemble cast include Jackie Cruz, Dianne Guerrero, Dascha Polanco and Elizabeth Rodriguez.

J.K. Simmons and Patricia Arquette presented the award to the OITNB cast, who won in the comedy ensemble category for the second consecutive year.

The 22nd Annual SAG Awards, honoring achievements in film and television, took place at the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles.

Here’s a complete look at this year’s winners.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Orange Is the New Black

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Alicia Vikander, The Danish Girl

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Queen Latifah, Bessie

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Idris Elba, Luther

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Spotlight

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Leonardo DiCaprio, The

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Brie Larson, Room

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Downton Abbey

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
Viola Davis, How to Get Away With Murder

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
Mad Max: Fury Road

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
Game of Thrones

Iglesias Wins Favorite Latin Artist at the American Music Awards

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Lucky No. 7 for Enrique Iglesias…

The 40-year-old Spanish singer-songwriter picked up his seventh AMA at Sunday night’s American Music Awards.

Iglesias beat out Ricky Martin and Romeo Santos for Favorite Latin Artist.

“I can’t belive its been 16 years since my first #AMA. Thank you to all my fans for making this possible,” he wrote in an Instagram post that accompanied a picture of the singer kissing his award. “I really couldn’t do this without you guys!!! Gracias a todos mis fans! I love you!”

Iglesias holds the record for the most Favorite Latin Artist AMAs.

Iglesias picked up his first trophy in the category in 1999, and won the award again in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008 and 2014, before repeating as a winner this year.

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