The Imagen Foundation Hands Out Top Honors to Distinguished Latino Entertainment Talent

The Imagen Foundation Hands Out Top Honors to Distinguished Latino Entertainment Talent

Awards Program Celebrates its 20th Anniversary Reflecting on the Past and Looking Toward the Future of Latino Entertainment

LOS ANGELES, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Seven hundred celebrities, influencers and supporters of the Latino entertainment community turned out at the Beverly Hilton on Friday evening for the 20th Annual Imagen Awards. At the black tie gala, The Imagen Foundation proudly recognized individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to the entertainment industry this past year, while also reflecting upon and celebrating the advancements of Latinos over the past two decades.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050620/LAM086 )

The 2005 Imagen Award winners include:

FILM

* Best Picture: The Motorcycle Diaries

* Best Actress: Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace

* Best Supporting Actor: Rodrigo de la Serna, The Motorcycle Diaries

* Best Supporting Actress: Shelbie Bruce, Spanglish

* Best Director: Walter Salles, The Motorcycle Diaries

* Best Theatrical Short or Student Film: Cuco Gomez-Gomez is Dead

* Best Documentary: Visiones: Latino Art & Culture

TELEVISION

* Best Primetime Series: The West Wing

* Best Actor: Jimmy Smits, The West Wing

* Best Actress: Madeleine Stowe, Saving Milly

* Best Supporting Actor: Freddy Rodriguez, Six Feet Under

* Best Supporting Actress: Mia Maestro, Alias

* Best Variety Special: LATV Live

* Best Children's Programming: Nick News With Linda Ellerbee

* Best Local Informational Programming: Vista L.A.

* Best National Informational Programming: American Latino T.V.

* Best Live Theatrical Production: Yo Soy Latina!

Five outstanding achievement awards were also presented, including:

* Creative Achievement Award: Nina Tassler, the first Latina to head a major television network, CBS

* Norman Lear Writer's Award: Jose Rivera, author of the Oscar-nominated screenplay, "The Motorcycle Diaries"

* Humanitarian Award: Lawrence Bender, Luis Mandoki, Oscar Orlando Torres, and Alejandro Soberon Kuri for the realistic portrayal of civil war in El Salvador and its effects on the country's children in the film "Innocent Voices"

* President's Award: The Hollywood Reporter for recognizing the impact of Latino accomplishments within the entertainment industry

* Hennessy Privilege Award: George Lopez, the star and executive producer of the "George Lopez" show for his outstanding contributions to the Latino community

"We created the Imagen Awards 20 years ago, because at the time, there was no other formal awards show to recognize top Latino entertainment talent," said Helen Hernandez, President and Founder of the Imagen Foundation. "As I looked around the room on Friday evening, I saw the faces of accomplished actors, directors, producers and entertainment industry executives who have and continue to tirelessly work to advance Latinos contributions to the entertainment industry. While only a handful received awards at the ceremony, I truly believe that the accomplishments within our community make everyone that attended our affair true winners."

The Imagen Awards were sponsored by Wells Fargo, Hennessy Privilege, the Lear Family Foundation, CBS Television Network, Nielson Media Research, AXIS, The Multicultural Agency, The Hollywood Reporter, Fox Television Stations, Inc., NBC/NBC 4/Telemundo/Universal, Daily Variety, MTV Networks, Parking Company of America, The Walt Disney Company, Latino Public Broadcasting and ABC7.

The Imagen Foundation

With financial support from Norman Lear's Embassy Communications, staff support from NCCJ, the cooperation of many entertainment companies, the leadership of Helen Hernandez and a voluntary advisory committee of professionals and community leaders, the Imagen Awards became a successful enterprise. Since 1985, the Imagen Awards competition has brought out the best and most talented portrayal of Latinos in television and film. For more information on the organization, please visit www.imagen.org.

Media Contacts: AXIS / The Multicultural Agency Willy Villarreal P: (310) 854-8262 wvillarreal@theaxisagency.com

Gaby Romero P: (310) 854-8259 gromero@theaxisagency.com

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050620/LAM086 AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN6 PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: The Imagen Foundation

CONTACT: Willy Villarreal, +1-310-854-8262, wvillarreal@theaxisagency.com, or Gaby Romero, +1-310-854-8259, gromero@theaxisagency.com, both of AXIS / The Multicultural Agency, for The Imagen Foundation

Web site: http://www.imagen.org/

------- Profile: Ent