Jennifer Lopez, 'Cesar Chavez' Cast, 'Devious Maids,' John Leguizamo Among Top Nominees for 2014 Imagen Awards
Latinos have impacted primetime television since its beginnings, from mainstream TV shows like "I Love Lucy," with Cuban-born, American musician Desi Arnaz, to the comical "George Lopez" TV series and "That '70s Show" with Wilmer Valderrama. In film, Rita Moreno in "West Side Story," Edward James Olmos' in "Stand and Deliver" and Jennifer Lopez in "Selena" stand as memorable Latino performances.
The 29th Annual Imagen Awards (Spanish for "image"), which recognizes and rewards positive portrayals of Latinos in TV and film, has announced their nominees, which include top contenders like Jennifer Lopez's "The Fosters" to Eva Longoria's "Devious Maids," as well as "The Bridge," "Chicago PD," "Law & Order SVU."
In film, "Cesar Chavez" (Canana Films) is up for Best Picture, and members of its cast, including Rosario Dawson and America Ferrera are up against Michelle Rodriguez ("Fast and Furious 6") in the Best Actress/Supporting Actress — Feature Film category.
Dawson's fellow "Cesar Chavez" lead actor Michael Pena is also nominated for the Best Actor/Supporting Actor — Feature Film category against Diogo Morgado ("Son of God"), Jorge Diaz (Paranormal Activity the Marked Ones), Mauricio Mendoza and Adrian Moreira-Behrens (After School) and Carlos Pratts ("Coyote").
Executive producer Jennifer Lopez's ABC drama "The Fosters," about a multi-ethnic family that has a mix of foster and biological kids being raised by two moms, is nominated for Best Primetime Television Program. Recently Lopez was given the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards.
Former "Desperate Housewives" star and executive producer Eva Longoria's TV drama "Devious Maids" nabbed five nominations in the Best Actress/Television category, where Edy Ganem, Ana Ortiz, Dania Ramirez, Judy Reyes and Roselyn Sanchez will contend for the coveted award.
Other nominees include John Leguizamo, who is up for Best Primetime Programme: Special or Movie-of-the-Week ("John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown"), Nestor Carbonell for Best Supporting Actor/Television ("Bates Motel"), Aubrey Plaza for Best Supporting Actress/Television ("Parks and Recreation") and Bella Thorne for Best Young Actress/Television ("Shake It Up!").
"[The Imagen Foundation] expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment," according to the foundation's official website. This year's theme is "Multimedia: The gateway to our opportunity."
Who are the rest of the contenders for this year's Imagen Awards? Check out the complete list below:
Best Primetime Television Program
- The Bridge (FX Networks/Shine America and FX Productions)
- Chicago P.D. (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
- The Fosters (ABC Family in association with Prodco, Inc.)
- Law & Order: SVU (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
- Switched at Birth (Prodco, Inc. in association with ABC Family)
Best Primetime Program: Special or Movie-of-the-Week
- Historias Detras Del Diamante: Yasiel Puig (Time Warner Cable Deportes)
- John Leguizamo's Ghetto Klown (HBO Entertainment in association with Silver Lining Entertainment, Insurgent Media and Rebel Films)
- The 2013 NCLR ALMA Awards (BIG VIDA Entertainment)
Best Actor/Television
- Demian Bichir, The Bridge (FX Networks/Shine America and FX Productions)
- Raul Castillo, Looking (HBO Entertainment in association with Fair Harbor Productions)
- Ian Gomez, Cougar Town (TBS)
- Danny Pino, Law & Order: SVU (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
Best Actress/Television
- Edy Ganem, Devious Maids (Lifetime/ABC Studios)
- Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, The Fresh Beat Band (Nickelodeon)
- Ana Ortiz, Devious Maids (Lifetime/ABC Studios)
- Dania Ramirez, Devious Maids (Lifetime/ABC Studios)
- Judy Reyes, Devious Maids (Lifetime/ABC Studios)
- Roselyn Sanchez, Devious Maids (Lifetime/ABC Studios)
Best Supporting Actor/Television
- Frankie J. Alvarez , Looking (HBO Entertainment in association with Fair Harbor Productions)
- Nestor Carbonell, Bates Motel (A&E/ Universal Television)
- Al Madrigal, About a Boy (Universal Television)
- Joe Minoso, Chicago Fire (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
- Mel Rodriguez, Getting On (HBO Entertainment in association with Anima Sola Productions and BBC Worldwide)
- Jon Seda, Chicago P.D. (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
Best Supporting Actress/Television
- Stephanie Beatriz, Brooklyn Nine Nine (Universal Television)
- Constance Marie, Switched at Birth (ABC Family/ ABC Studios)
- Hayley Orrantia, The Goldbergs (ABC)
- Aubrey Plaza, Parks and Recreation (Universal Television)
- Monica Raymund, Chicago Fire (NBC/Wolf Films/NBCUniversal Television)
- Emily Rios, The Bridge (FX Networks/Shine America and FX Productions)
- Catalina Sandino Moreno, The Bridge (FX Networks/Shine America and FX Productions)
Best Young Actress/Television
- Paola Andino, Every Witch Way (Nickelodeon in association with Cinemat)
- Amber Montana, The Haunted Hathaways (Nickelodeon)
- Fatima Ptacek, Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon)
- Bella Thorne, Shake It Up! (Disney Channel/ It's A Laugh Productions)
Best Young Actor/Television
- Mateo Arias, Kickin' It (Disney XD/ Poor Soul/ It's A Laugh Productions)
- Benjamin "lil-P-Nut" Flores Jr., The Haunted Hathaways (Nickelodeon)
- Fabrizio Zacharee Guido, Welcome to the Family (NBC)
- Adam Irigoyen, Shake It Up! (Disney Channel/ It's A Laugh Productions)
- Xolo Mariduena, Parenthood (Universal Television)
Best Children's Programming
- Dora the Explorer (Nickelodeon)
- Every Witch Way (Nickelodeon in association with Cinemat)
Best Documentary/Film or Television
- American ReFramed (WORLD Channel)
- El Boxeo (El Boxeo Productions)
- Mendota (ESPN)
- Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle (City Projects, LLC; Latino Public Broadcasting)
- The State of Arizona (Camino Bluff Productions, Inc.)
- Valentine Road (HBO Documentary Films Presents a BMP Film in association with Eddie Schmidt Productions)
Best National Informational Program
- LatiNation (LATV Networks)
- Latino Americans (WETA; Bosch and Co., Inc; Latino Public Broadcasting; In association with ITVS)
- mun2 News Special: Hecho en American (mun2)
- Oprah's Next Chapter (OWN/Harpo Studios)
- Pati's Mexican Table Season 3 (WETA/Follow Productions)
Best Local Informational Program
- #LAPrepa (Time Warner Cable Deportes)
- CBS2/KCAL9 News Special (CBS)
- KVCR Now (KVCR TV (PBS))
- Latino Americans of NY & NJ (WLIW)
- Vista L.A. (KABC - TV/ABC7)
Best On-Air Advertising
- "Premio lo nuestro " Award Show On-Air Promotion (Univision Network)
- Combate Americans (mun2)
- Friends for Change (Riverstreet and 7ate9)
- PBS SoCaL Community Champions (PBS SoCal)
Best Variety or Reality Show
- Brain Games (National Geographic Channel)
- Cesar 911 (Nat Geo WILD)
- Combate Americans (mun2/Bunim-Murray Productions)
- I Love Jenni (mun2/Blank Paige)
- The Voice (Mark Burnett's One Three Inc. and Talpa Media USA in association with Warner Horizon Television
Best Picture
- A Miracle in Spanish Harlem (DigiNext)
- After School (True Form Film and Plus Entertainment)
- Cesar Chavez (Canana Films)
- Coyote (Toe Pictures/Gravitas Ventures)
- Sleeping With the Fishes (Unikki Productions, LLC)
Best Director
- Carlos Melendez, After School (True Form Film and Plus Entertainment)
- Jeffrey Travis, Dragon Day (Burning Myth Films/Entertainment One)
- Christopher Landon, Paranormal Activity the Marked Ones (Paramount Pictures/ Blumhouse Productions)
- Nicole Gomez Fisher, Sleeping With the Fishes (Unikki Productions, LLC)
Best Actor/Supporting Actor — Feature Film
- Jorge Diaz, Paranormal Activity the Marked Ones (Paramount Pictures/ Blumhouse Productions)
- Mauricio Mendoza, After School (True Form Film and Plus Entertainment)
- Adrian Moreira-Behrens, After School (True Form Film and Plus Entertainment)
- Diogo Morgado, Son of God (20th Century Fox Film)
- Michael Pena, Cesar Chavez (Canana Films)
- Carlos Pratts, Coyote (Toe Pictures/Gravitas Ventures)
Best Actress/Supporting Actress — Feature Film
- Rosario Dawson, Cesar Chavez (Canana Films)
- America Ferrera, Cesar Chavez (Canana Films)
- Priscilla Lopez, Sleeping With the Fishes (Unikki Productions, LLC)
- Ana Ortiz, Sleeping With the Fishes (Unikki Productions, LLC)
- Gina Rodriguez, Sleeping With the Fishes (Unikki Productions, LLC)
- Michelle Rodriguez, Fast & Furious 6 (Universal Pictures)
Best Theatrical Short or Student Film
- Chub (YB Project)
- Dirty Laundry (The Other Sock Productions)
- El Toro (Juan Ramirez)
- Madrugada quebradiza: The Break of Day (USC School of Cinematic Arts)
- Mediation (Top Rebel Productions)
- You're Dead to Me (PBS)
Best Web Series: Drama
- Caribe Road (HELU Films)
- Encounters Web Series (Angel Flight Media in association with True Form Films)
- Fixing Paco (Mendez National Institute of Transplantation)
Best Web Series: Comedy
- Fixing Paco (Mendez National Institute of Transplantation)
- Larry Hernandez: El Presidente (mun2)
- Saved by the Pole (Blame it on Rios)
Best Web Series: Reality or Informational
- Fixing Paco (Mendez National Institute of Transplantation)
- Giselle Fernandez Productions (Giselle Fernandez Productions for Los Angeles Magazine)
- Newsbreaker en Español (Ora TV)
- Street Knowledge 2 College (Specific Pictures, Latino Public Broadcasting)