Tag Archives: Visionary Award

Maria Becerra to Receive Visionary Award at Billboard Latin Women in Music Gala

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Maria Becerra is a vision(ary)…

The 23-year-old Argentine singer and former YouTuber will be honored with the Visionary Award at the inaugural Billboard Latin Women in Music gala.

Maria BecerraBecerra will be recognized along with Thalia, Ana Gabriel, Evaluna and Goyo at the two-hour special event taking place at the Watsco Center in Miami on May 6, and airing on Telemundo and Universo on May 7.

The same evening, Shakira will be honored as Latin Woman of the Year.

Becerra, a pop/urban artist who began here career on YouTube in her teens and was nominated for a best new artist Latin Grammy in 2021, has had three entries on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including her hit “Qué más pues?” alongside J Balvin, as well as two top 10 hits on Latin Airplay (“Te espero” with Prince Royce, which reached No. 1; and “Extasis” with Manuel Turizo at No. 9).

She’s also placed five tracks on Latin Rhythm Airplay, including three on the top 10 (“Suelta” with Dímelo Flow, Farruko, Rauw Alejandro, Mr. Vegas and Fatman Sccop; “Berlin” with Zion & Lennox; and “Extasis”).

“Maria Becerra is receiving the Visionary award for developing a sound and aesthetic that are intensely personal, are all her own, and cross genres and styles,” says Leila Cobo, Billboard’s chief content officer for Latin and Español. “Maria is a visionary who has defied convention with extraordinary quality and distinctiveness. We are proud to honor this rising star with an immense future.”

As announced previously, Mexican icon Ana Gabriel will be honored as Living Legend; urban pop Argentine star Emilia will receive the Rising Star award; singer, actress and director Evaluna will receive the Tradition and Future award; Colombian rapper and singer Goyo will be honored as Agent of Change; and Mexican superstar Thalia will receive the Global Powerhouse award.

Another icon, Ivy Queen, will host the event alongside actress and host Jacky Bracamontes.

Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women In Music celebrates artists, executives and Latin creatives who are working proactively to generate positive change, inclusion and gender parity in the music industry.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased here.

Victoria Alonso Promoted to President of Physical, Post Production, VFX & Animation at Marvel Studios

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It’s another Marvel-ous moment for Victoria Alonso…

The 55-year-old Argentine film producer has been promoted to president, physical and post production, visual effects, and animation production at Marvel Studios.

Victoria Alonso

A 15-year studio veteran, Alonso will oversee the divisions across the studio’s slate of films and series and continue to report to Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito.

“Victoria has been an incredible partner and part of our team since the very first Iron Man,” said Kevin Feige, president, Marvel Studios and chief creative officer, Marvel, and D’Esposito on Monday. “She is one of the most dynamic, candid and accessible executives in the industry and we’re thrilled that she’ll continue to be by our side in this elevated role as we lead Marvel Studios into the future.”

Alonso will continue to serve as executive producer on all upcoming feature films including Eternals, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder, as well as EP on Marvel Studios’ upcoming series for Disney+ including Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk and Moon Knight.

“When Louis first suggested I come to work with the team on Iron Man, I never could have imagined the adventure ahead, and as far as I’m concerned, it has only just begun!” Alonso said. “We have an absolutely incredible group of people who are bringing their many talents to the exciting slate of films and series we have on the horizon, and I’m especially thrilled about ramping up our studio’s animation efforts, which is a personal passion of mine. Look forward to more singing!”

Alonso joined Marvel in 2006 as the company’s EVP of visual effects and post production, doubling as co-producer on Iron Man, a role she reprised on Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger.

In 2011, she was upped to executive producer on the blockbuster The Avengers, a role she has maintained on all Marvel Studios releases since then including Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Black Widow and most recently Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

During her tenure at the studio, Marvel films have amassed over $23 billion in global box office.

In 2021, Alonso became an Emmy-nominated producer for her work on the MCU’s first series on Disney+, WandaVision. She has also become an important voice in Hollywood as a producer, a Latina, and a senior female executive.

She was named one of People en Español Magazine’s top “Poderosa” Most Influential Hispanic Women in 2019 and 2020, and was honored in 2015 with the Muse Award for Outstanding Vision and Achievement from the New York Women in Film & Television.

She was also the first woman to be presented with the Harold Lloyd Award from the Advanced Imaging Society, which is given to a filmmaker who has created a body of work and specific achievements in 3D that advanced the motion picture art form.

In 2017, she was the first woman to be honored with the Visionary Award at the 15th Annual VES Awards for her advancement of unforgettable storytelling through visual effects.

Cuarón to Receive Visual Effects Society’s Visionary Award

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There’s no denying Alfonso Cuarón is a visionary filmmaker… But now he’ll have an award to prove it.

The Visual Effects Society (VES), the industry’s professional honorary society, has named the 52-year-old Mexican filmmaker as the recipient of its Visionary Award in recognition of his extraordinary career, most recently including his landmark achievement on this year’s critically acclaimed 3D sci-fil film Gravity.

Alfonso Cuarón

The VES Visionary Award recognizes an individual who has uniquely and consistently employed the art and science of visual effects to foster imagination and ignite future discoveries by way of artistry, invention and groundbreaking work. VES will honor Cuarón for his consummate artistry, expansive storytelling and profound ability to use and pioneer technology and visual effects to bring his unique visions to life.

A three-time Oscar nominee and one of Entertainment Weekly’s Entertainers of the Year, Cuarón directed, co-wrote, produced and edited Gravity, which is one of the most acclaimed films of this or any year. The accolades that Cuarón and the film have received to date include: Best Director and Best Picture awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association; four Golden Globe nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress (Sandra Bullock); and ten Broadcast Film Critics Association nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Art Direction.

Cuarón made his feature film directorial debut in 1992 with Sólo Con Tu Pareja, the biggest box office hit in Mexico that year, which brought him an Ariel Award as the film’s co-writer. Cuarón made his American feature film debut in 1995 with the widely acclaimed A Little Princess, followed in 1998 by Great Expectations. He then wrote and directed Y tu mamá también, for which he received his first Oscar nomination, for Best Original Screenplay, as well as BAFTA Award nominations for Best Foreign Film and Best Original Screenplay. He went on to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third film in the most successful motion picture franchise of all time. Cuarόn’s 2006 hit, Children of Men, was celebrated by critics and film fans for its groundbreaking techniques. The film brought two Oscar nominations to Cuarón, for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing.

“Alfonso pushes the known boundaries of filmmaking,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, VES Board Chair. “He has been at the forefront in using visual effects to tell remarkable, highly nuanced stories that change the way we think about what is possible to achieve. Throughout his career, Alfonso has shown a rare talent for using cutting-edge technology to engage us in his deeply visceral storytelling and create unforgettable cinematic experiences.”

The award will be presented at the 12th Annual VES Awards on February 12, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Previous winners of the VES Visionary Award have been Christopher Nolan and Ang Lee.