The time of year has come to honor some of the best and the brightest in the Latino entertainment community. The National Association of Latino Independent Producers will host the 16th annual Latino Media Awards in Hollywood June 27. Set to be honored are actors Raquel Welch, Dascha Polanco (“Orange Is the New Black”), writer-director-star of “Instructions Not Included” Eugenio Derbez, and other industry players.
“Every year NALIP surveys the media landscape to identify Latinos and Latinas making strides, impacting, and changing the face of the industry,” Axel Caballero, executive director of NALIP, told Backstage via email. “Awardees are selected based on their incredible accomplishments and body of work, and how this advances our mission to move Latin media-makers forward. This year, the impressive awardees are a perfect representation of this.”
Polanco, who stars on “OITNB” as inmate and correctional officer John Bennett’s (Matt McGorry) love interest Dayanara Diaz, will receive the Lupe Award. Named after the late actor-producer Lupe Ontiveros (“Selena”), the award spotlights rising Latino talent.
“It’s an honor to be acknowledged, especially to be acknowledged from your own people,” she told the Latin Post in an interview. “I try my hardest to work hard and represent my Latino culture, to be the best at whatever I put my mind to, and to be rewarded at this point in my career it’s an honor. I am humbled by it and I am so thankful for it.” Past recipients of the Lupe Award include Backstage cover star Gina Rodriguez (“Jane The Virgin”).
Being recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award is Welch, best known for her Golden Globe–winning performance in “The Three Musketeers.”
“ ‘Legendary’ is an appropriate word for Raquel Welch’s career and work, not only in front and behind the cameras, but in business and the industry in general,” said Caballero. “She embodies precisely the powerful strength Latinas can and do exert in the industry. She is an inspiration to a new generation of Latino talent full of entrepreneurial spirit and ready to create strong content independently.”
Derbez will receive the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Recipients are determined by NALIP members and the organization’s committee.
The ceremony will be held in conjunction with the NALIP Media Summit, one of the largest gatherings of Latino content creators in the country. Expected to attend the four days of screenings, showcases, conversations, panels, networking events, and receptions are Eva Longoria, Wilmer Valderrama, head of multicultural marketing at HBO Lucinda Martinez, as well as producers, directors, writers, filmmakers, and more.
“[The summit was] created not only to bring Latino content creators together, but to engage in a strong conversation about the current state of Latinos in the industry...and give rising and established creators all the tools they need to move forward,” said Caballero. “Our goal...is to set the basis for uniting the community in creating tomorrow, together. How will we accomplish it? What are the obstacles and the opportunities? Most important, how do we accurately reflect Latino representation across the medium?”
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