National Hispanic Media Coalition Honors 'The Studio' and Top Latino Talent at Annual Gala
- May 27
- 2 min read
The National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC) hosted its annual Impact Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate individuals and series advancing positive Latino representation in film and television. Comedian Chris Estrada and actress Isabella Gomez hosted the ceremony.
Apple TV’s upcoming comedy series The Studio received the Beyond the Lens Impact Award, presented by Representative Joaquin Castro. Co-creator Frida Perez and cast members Keyla Monterroso Mejia and Lorena Perez Batista accepted the honor on stage.
Individual performance and creative honors included Belissa Escobedo receiving the Outstanding Actress Performance in a Series Award for her television work. Filmmaker Beth de Araújo received the Visionary Impact Award, using her speech to support survivors of sexual assault and dedicate the honor to activists Dolores Huerta, Debra Rojas, and Ana Murguia.
Screenwriters Danya Jimenez and Hannah McMechan accepted the Storytelling Impact Award for their work on the Netflix animated film KPop Demon Hunters. Actor James Ortiz, appearing in the upcoming film Project Hail Mary, received the Artistic Excellence Impact Award, presented by filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller. Ortiz discussed his family's history moving from Puerto Rico to New York and how his recent work connected him back to his roots.
During the event, NHMC President and CEO Brenda Victoria Castillo addressed the room regarding industry challenges and diversity efforts over the past year. Castillo emphasized the resilience of the community and the universal resonance of Latino storytelling across different cultures.
Founded as a non-profit civil rights organization, the NHMC advocates for increased Latino visibility on major networks, equitable broadband access, and fair representation across media platforms. Detailed information regarding ongoing advocacy initiatives and talent programs is available through the National Hispanic Media Coalition institutional website.