Academy Award Winner Gustavo Santaolalla Receives Gabi Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Opening Night

Academy Award Winner Gustavo Santaolalla Receives Gabi Lifetime Achievement Award at the 12th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival Opening Night

2006 GABI lifetime achievement award winner Antonio Banderas presented the honorable award to Gustavo Santaolalla in front of hundreds of celebrity guests.

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The prestigious GABI Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to five-time 2008 Latin Grammy nominee Gustavo Santaolalla last night at the red carpet opening night of the 12th Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) that took place at the Graumman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, CA.

Santaolalla received the award given by previous Gabi Award recipient actor Antonio Banderas in front of the thousands of enthusiastic attendees that were there to honor the talented composer, producer and musician. The Argentinean musician also presented an exclusive L.A. premiere of his documentary "Cafe de los Maestros" detailing the last live performances of Tango's greatest masters.

Following the special screening of Cafe de los Maestros, guests were invited to an Opening Gala reception. The opening gala kicks off a weeklong festival of movies from around the world dealing with themes like immigration, romance, and special screenings of retrospective films. Additionally, the festival is proud to announce its music program for this year, and adds to the schedule daily panels, workshops and the BMI Music Series that will feature artists from this organization.

About LALIFF

The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) is a non-profit 501c(3) organization whose mission is to support and promote the development and exhibition of diverse visions by Latino filmmakers. In the process, we promote awareness of the richness and diversity of our Latin cultures, our artistry and our countries through film, the most powerful medium in the world, as a way to foster cultural harmony while serving as a springboard and catalyst for the promotion and distribution of Latino film as we develop an audience for our works.

LALIFF presents feature films, documentaries, shorts and special side bar screenings. The films presented at the festival showcase a wide variety of themes by Latino filmmakers, producers, writers and actors, as well as movies that depict Latino culture. It is a competitive festival with prizes and a venue where filmmakers come together with buyers and distributors. Our Industry Office facilitates meetings and keeps a video library for Hollywood executives. LALIFF also offers industry workshops, panels, labs, networking receptions, educational programs, and hosts some of the best Galas in Tinseltown. For more information about LALIFF, please visit www.latinofilm.org

   Premier Sponsors:  Farmers Insurance, Los Angeles Times/Hoy Newspaper                   Presenting Sponsor: Univision 34 KMEX    Official Sponsors: City of Los Angeles, Egeda & Filmotech, Coca-Cola                   Opening Gala Sponsor: Blockbuster Inc.                Opening Night Presenter Sponsor: Macy's West           Industry Office Sponsor: Creative Artist Agency (CAA)                 Latino Screenwriter's Lab: Cortez Brothers                       Filmmakers Cafe Sponsor: IKEA                      Youth Program: Fry's Electronics                  Award Sponsors: Walt Disney: Gabi Award  

Entertainment Partners: All Awards, Fuji Film: Best Documentary, CineLatino:

Audience Award Supporting Sponsors: Warner Bros., Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks, HBO, Goethe Institut, Edelman Public Relations, LPB (Latino Public Broadcasting), ProChile, Showbiz Software, ESPN Deportes, Festival International de Cine de Guadalajara,

Universidad de Guadalajara (UDG), University of Guadalajara Foundation USA,

CineLatino Film Festival Sponsors: Sony Pictures, CBS Diversity, NBC Universal, FilmLook

 Inc., Time Warner Cable, Sotol Tequila, Titra, Laguna Films, Echauri Video  Collaborator Sponsors: ASCAP, BMI, Hollywood & Highland Center/Spa Luce, Roosevelt Hotel, Fiji Water, Creative Industry Handbook, Molaa (Museum of Latin America Art), El Mexicano, Roaring Lion Energy Drink, Don Francisco Coffee, Nexmale, PLIE (Professional Latinos in Entertainment), Festival de                              Cinema de Girona                      Seminar Sponsors: WGA, SAG Indie  

Media Partners: MTV Tr3s, KLCS, LATV, Univision Radio, KLOVE 107.5FM, KTNQ 1020AM, La Nueva 101.9FM, Hispanic Magazine, Al Borde/El Clasificado, American

Latino TV & LatiNation, Bazuca Magazine, InMag Magazine, QuePasa.com, Latino

  Future Magazine, Home Media Magazine, OYE Magazine, Para Todos Magazine,                               Univision.com     Press Contacts   Conny Q. 323.469.9066   pressoffice@latinofilm.org    Vanessa Tartak 323.202.1453   vanessa.tartak@edelman.com  

Source: Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF)

CONTACT: Press, Conny Q. of LALIFF, +1-323-469-9066,
pressoffice@latinofilm.org; Vanessa Tartak, +1-323-202-1453,
vanessa.tartak@edelman.com, for LALIFF

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

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Profile: International Entertainment