2012 HOLA Awards Press Release

For immediate release 

Contact: María F. Nieto

Executive Producer, HOLA Awards Gala

T: (212) 253-1015
E: MariaFNieto@HelloHOLA.org
URL: www.HelloHOLA.org

TONY SHALHOUB, TONY PLANA, BROOKE ADAMS,
CNN'S JANE-VÉLEZ-MITCHELL AND SAG-AFTRA CO-PRESIDENT
ROBERTA REARDON, AMONG OTHERS, TO ATTEND
THE 2012 HOLA AWARDS PRESENTED BY DELTA AIR LINES
HOSTED BY ODALYS MOLINA AND JORGE RAMOS

The Gala will honor David Zayas, Marlene Forté, Felix Solis, J.W. Cortes,
José Diaz-Balart, NBC Latino and the NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission. The best of the NY Latino Theater Season also to be awarded at the Gala. LatinHeat.com Publisher and "HOLA! LA" Talk Show Host Bel Hernández will lead a tribute the late actress Lupe Ontiveros

Delta Air Lines is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 HOLA Awards

The 2012 HOLA Awards Gala, recognizing the outstanding work of Latino actors and celebrities, is an Official Event of 2012 Latin Media and Entertainment Week

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE

October 1, 2012 (New York, New York) —  Attending the 13th Annual Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) Awards presented by Delta Air Lines this Monday, October 8, 2012 will be SAG-AFTRA elected leadership reps that include national SAG-AFTRA Co-President, Roberta Reardon and national SAG-AFTRA Co-Treasurer and Co-Secretary, Amy Aquino. Also joining the celebration will be Tony Plana, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams and CNN's Jane Vélez-Mitchell. A special tribute to the late Lupe Ontiveros will be given by Latin Heat Editor and co-host of "HOLA L.A." Bel Hernández.  Odalys Molina and Jorge Ramos will serve as the Masters of Ceremonies of the 2012 HOLA Awards.

Honorees at the Gala include HOLA member J.W. Cortes of NBC's "Stars Earn Stripes," who is winning the inaugural HOLA Excellence in Reality Television; The NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission which is receiving a Special Recognition HOLA Award; NBC Latino and Telemundo's José Díaz-Balart who are being each to be honored with an HOLA Excellence in Media Award. They join fellow honorees David Zayas (of "Dexter"), recipient of the HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award, and Marlene Forté (of "Dallas") and Felix Solis (of "Made in Jersey") who are each receiving an HOLA Excellence in Television Award. In addition to the honorees, HOLA will also award multiple recipients for outstanding work done throughout the past New York Latino theater season in all categories including Lead and Featured Actress; Lead and Featured Actor; Director; Playwright; and Production.

The 2012 HOLA Awards presented by Delta Air Lines will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:30pm at TheBattery Gardens, located on the waterfront in New York's scenic Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street and adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal).

The Awards Gala and Benefit is an official event of NYC's Latin Media and Entertainment Week (sponsored by the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission created by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg). Sponsorships slots are still available, please contact María F. Nieto at (212) 253-1015 or via e-mail at MariaFNieto@HelloHOLA.org to become a sponsor of the Gala. A limited number of individual tickets are also available for purchase at $150 and can be purchased by calling the HOLA office at (212) 253-1015.

PRESENTING SPONSOR: 

HONOREES:

From top to bottom:  David Zayas; Marlene Forte, Felix Solis; J.W. Cortes, José Díaz-Balart; NBC Latino; the NYC Latin Media and Entertainment Commission.

 

SPECIAL GUESTS AND TRIBUTE:

Clockwise from top left: Roberta Reardon, Amy Aquino, Mike Hodge, Tony Plana, recently deceased actress Lupe Ontiveros, Bel Hernández, Jane Vélez-Mitchell, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams.

MASTERS OF CEREMONIES:

   From top to bottom:  Odalys Molina and Jorge Ramos

2012 HOLA Awards Honorees

HOLA JOSÉ FERRER TESPIS AWARD
David Zayas

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN TELEVISION
Marlene Forté
Felix Solis

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD
NBC Latino
José Díaz-Balart 

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN REALITY TELEVISION
J.W. Cortes

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission

• • • •

2012 HOLA Awards for Excellence in Theater

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR
Alfredo Huereca, La cena
(Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Frank Robles, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR
Zulema Clares, Mariela en el desierto
(Repertorio Español)
Miriam Cruz, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED MALE ACTOR
Howard Collado, Glass Cord
(Teatro LATEA)
Josean Ortiz, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED FEMALE ACTOR
Basílica Bliachas, La Callas & Medea
(Thalía Spanish Theatre)
Johanna Rodríguez, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Elaine Del Valle, Brownville Bred
(The Schoolhouse Theater/Theater 808/
Al Eskanazy Productions/59E59 Theaters)
Andrés Chulisi Rodríguez, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Productions)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Teddy Cáñez, Zabryna Guevara, Alfredo Narciso,
Xochitl Romero, Carmen Zilles,
Chimichangas and Zoloft (Atlantic Theater Company)

Raúl Durán, Ana Grosse, Gerardo Gudiño, Alfredo Huereca,
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Raúl Ábrego, for scenic design; and Erik Pearson, for projection design,
of Intringulis (INTAR)
Alex Moore, for lighting design; and Milteri Tucker, for choreography,
of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PLAYWRITING
Fernanda Coppel, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Lina Gallegos, Locuras en Wíchita

(Repertorio Español)
Félix Rojas, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Club)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
Jaime Castañeda, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Raúl Durán, La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Anita Vélez-Mitchell, Dean Landon and Anika Paris,
for the musical score of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)
Cristián David and Fernando Reyes,

for their outstanding mime performance in Pájaro
(TeatroStageFest/Gallinero Culeko)

GILBERTO ZALDÍVAR HOLA AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

ABOUT THE HISPANIC ORGANIZATION OF LATIN ACTORS (HOLA):
 
The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is an arts service and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the presence of Hispanic artists in entertainment and media through the cultivation, education and recognition of emerging artists. HOLA strives for an accurate, informed and non-stereotyped portrayal of the full spectrum of Latino culture and heritage in all entertainment and media industries. The organization was founded in 1975 by a group of Hispanic actors concerned with the images of Latinos in the media and now functions as a leading advocacy group in the industry for such actors working on stage, on television and in films. For more information, click here.

ABOUT THE HONOREES:

2012 HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Honoree:
David Zayas was born and raised in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents. Among his notable roles include the terrifying and powerful prisoner Enrique Morales, from HBO's “Oz,” but he also has wonderful comic timing, to which many NYC theatregoers can attest. Today he has had roles on Broadway, in television series and major motion pictures and even lent his voice to a video game. His childhood dreams have been realized as he has become one of the faces in the movies that inspire other children. Luckily for audiences, this former policeman is not slowing at all. He continues to challenge himself with a range of varying roles in all media.   He will finish filming season seven of “Dexter.” He will continue in his 2007 Satellite award-winning performance as Ángel Batista, the big-hearted and generous detective. The seventh season (the series' penultimate) of “Dexter” will premiere in October on Showtime.

2012 HOLA Excellence in Television Honorees:

Marlene Forté is an actress, director and producer. Born in Cuba, she is a founding member of LAByrinth Theater Company in NYC where she started her acting career in the early 1990s. Since moving to Los Angeles 13 years ago, she has appeared in many TV recurring roles, include “The House of Payne” and, most recently, “The Secret Life of The American Teenager.” Other television credits include “Eastbound and Down,” “Community,” “Criminal Minds,” “The Mentalist” and “Castle,” to name a few. On film she was first known for the lead role in the independent movie Lena’s Dreams, which she co-produced In 2008 she received an Imagen Foundation Award nomination for her role in the Lifetime movie “Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story.” Other film credits include the chief transporter in the 2009 Star Trek reboot and Mrs. Glass in Real Women Have Curves. This autumn, you can catch her on Marlon Wayans’ film spoof of Paranormal Activity (and similar films) called Haunted House and the romantic comedy My Last Day Without You. She also just wrapped Catherine Hardwick’s erotic thriller Plush. Currently she plays Carmen Ramos, longtime Ewing family housekeeper and mother to Elena (played by Jordana Brewster) on TNT’s revamped “Dallas.”

Felix Solis can be seen playing Riv Brody in the new CBS episodic series, "Made in Jersey." He was a series regular on “NYC 22” produced by Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal on CBS. He has also had a recurring role on “The Good Wife,” on the same network. His other television credits include the series “Criminal Minds,” “Army Wives,” “Law & Order,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Fringe,” “Damages,” “The Sopranos” and “The West Wing.” His feature film credits include Nicholas Jarecki’s Arbitrage, Asger Leth’s Man On A Ledge, John Leguizamo’s Fugly, Wes Craven’s My Soul To Take, Tom Twyker’s The International, Taking Chance (opposite Kevin Bacon), The Forgotten (opposite Alfre Woodard) and Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Gun Hill Road (Grand Jury Nominee for the 2011 Sundance Film Festival). As a member of New York City’s critically acclaimed LAByrinth Theatre Company since 1999, he originated roles in Our Lady of 121st Street and In Arabia We’d All Be Kings, both written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman. As a director, he helmed Raúl Castillo’s Knives and Other Sharp Objects at the Joseph Papp Public Theater. He also co-wrote, acted, produced and directed a foreign short film entitled Tinto, shot on location and based in the wine country region of Chile, South America. He was born and raised by Puerto Rican parents in the Chelsea and Greenwich Village areas of New York City. For more information, click here.

2012 HOLA Excellence in Reality Television Honoree:  

J.W. Cortés is an actor, singer and filmmaker. He was most recently featured on the new NBC reality competition series “Stars Earn Stripes.” It brought together the best of both worlds for him because in addition to his acting experience, he was in the U.S. Marines Corps for 13 years, during which time he rose to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant and is an Iraq war veteran, having served in the beginning phases of the war in 2003. He currently serves as an officer with the New York MTA Police Department. Along with his role on “Stars Earn Stripes,” he has also logged in some impressive acting credits including roles in the films As Good as Dead (with Cary Elwes and Andie McDowell), A Kiss Of Chaos (with Adam Rodríguez) and the soon-to-be-released Blue Caprice (with Joey Lauren Adams and Isaiah Washington), the last inspired by the  the Beltway sniper attacks. In addition, he starred in, wrote and directed the acclaimed short film Conscientious Objector, a film inspired by his 2003 tour of duty in Iraq and appeared in an episode of the NBC show “Mercy.” For more information, click here.

2012 HOLA Excellence in Media Honorees: 

NBC Latino is the new voice of American Hispanics. Launched in July 2012, NBCLatino.com is an English-language lifestyle and news destination for Latinos. NBC Latino covers a wide spectrum of stories from news and politics, to education, food and celebrity. The site aims to paint a portrayal of the true Hispanic experience in the U.S.; a mission achieved by cultivating an ecosystem in which Hispanic news is taken beyond the usual conversation, toward something more inspired, empowered and energized. Our users are deeply proud of where they come from and just as proud of where they’re heading. NBC Latino gives them credit for being smart and accomplished, yet we know they aspire for even more. It speaks to them in English because it is the language they already speak. It take Hispanic news beyond the usual conversation toward something more inspired, empowered and energized. NBC Latino is proud of the recognition by the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) and look forward to continuing to serve the Latino community with culturally-relevant content. For more information, click here or here.

José Díaz-Balart is a Cuban-American journalist and television anchorman. He is currently the anchor for “Noticiero Telemundo,” the network's news program as well as the network's Washington, D.C.-based public affairs Sunday morning program “Enfoque.” In August 1996 he made history by becoming the first Cuban-American to host a network news program when he became anchor for the CBS News program “This Morning.” He co-hosted the Telemundo network's first morning news and entertainment show, "Esta Mañana," as well as its public affairs show "Cada Día." He received two Emmy awards while he was working at WTVJ-TV, an Associated Press Award and four Hispanic Excellence in Journalism Awards, all in the 1980s. He also received a DuPont and Peabody as well as the Orchid award for best news anchor in the U.S. in 2006. Media 100 has named him best anchor three times, and Hispanic Business Magazine named him one of the "100 most influential people in the U.S." He was given the Silver Circle Award by the National Academy of Television Sciences in 2010.  As of June 2011, he has filled in for MSNBC anchor Contessa Brewer at the 12pm time slot, hosting the one-hour MSNBC Program, “MSNBC Live.” For the second time he made history when he substituted for “MSNBC Live” anchor Contessa Brewer for the week of June 20 through June 24, 2011 in the show’s 12 PM time slot, making him the first U.S. journalist to broadcast both English and Spanish newscasts on two networks simultaneously.

2012 Special Recognition HOLA Honoree:
The NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission (LMEC) was created by NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg to make New York City the Latin media capital of the world. The LMEC works to promote economic development  for Hispanic advertising and new media companies, creates and supports events that are an experience and a destination for people around the world, and partners with businesses, professional associations and educational institutions to develop the local media and entertainment workforce. Official LMEC events range from theater to alternative music to film to salsa to outdoor concerts to classical music to art shows and more. The talent and range of styles of the LMEC events and the energy and vitality of New York give you the best Latin cultural experience in the world. For more information, click here.

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