It’s with much excitement we get to witness the very first annual Latino Entertainment Film Awards, presented by LEJA. Founder and President Clayton Davis officially launched the association in November. “The creation of LEJA is a dream come true, and one I hope that will inspire generations to come”
The Executive Board of LEJA includes Toni Gonzales (Vice President), Niki Cruz (Secretary), and Kiko Martinez (Treasurer). Inaugural members also include: Carlos Aguilar, Manuel Betancourt, J. Don Birnam, Kerensa Cadenas, Liz Calvario, Rosy Cordero, Vanessa Erazo, Tim Estiloz, Dani Fernandez, Ed Gonzalez, Daniel Gutierrez, Marcela Isaza, Yolanda Machado, Wilson Morales, Claudia Puig, Naibe Reynoso, Jack Rico, Julianne Escobedo Shepherd, Jose Solís.
So without further ado, here are the winners:
BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR: Roma
Other nominees: Black Panther; BlacKkKlansman; Bohemian Rhapsody; Cold War; The Favourite; Green Book; If Beale Street Could Talk; A Star is Born; Vice.
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born)
Other nominees: Christian Bale (Vice); Ethan Hawke (First Reformed); Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody); John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman).
BEST ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
Other nominees: Bradley Cooper (A Star is Born); Barry Jenkins (If Beale Street Could Talk); Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman); Adam McKay (Vice).
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: Yalitza Aparicio (Roma)
Other nominees: Glenn Close (The Wife); Olivia Colman (The Favourite); Lady Gaga (A Star is Born); Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Other nominees: Timothee Chalamet (Beautiful Boy); Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman); Sam Elliott (A Star is Born); Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Other nominees: Marina de Tavira (Roma); Claire Foy (First Man); Rachel Weisz (The Favourite); Michelle Yeoh (Crazy Rich Asians).
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Roma
Other nominees: Eighth Grade; The Favourite; First Reformed; Vice.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: If Beale Street Could Talk
Other nominees: Black Panther; BlacKkKlansman; Can You Ever Forgive Me?; A Star is Born.
BEST ENSEMBLE CASTING: Crazy Rich Asians
Other nominees: Black Panther; The Favourite; If Beale Street Could Talk; Roma.
BEST PRODUCTION & SET UP DESIGN: Roma
Other nominees: Black Panther; Crazy Rich Asians; The Favourite; Mary Poppins Returns.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Roma
Other nominees: Black Panther; Cold War; The Favourite; If Beale Street Could Talk.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN: Black Panther
Other nominees: Bohemian Rhapsody; The Favourite; Mary Poppins Returns; Mary Queen of Scots.
BEST EDITING: Roma
Other nominees: The Favourite; First Man; Vice; Widows.
BEST HAIR & MAKEUP: Black Panther
Other nominees: Bohemian Rhapsody; The Favourite; Mary Queen of Scots; Vice.
BEST SOUND: Roma
Other nominees: Black Panther; First Man; A Quiet Place; A Star is Born.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS : Black Panther
Other nominees: Avengers: Infinity War; First Man; Mary Poppins Returns; Ready Player One.
BEST MUSIC: If Beale Street Could Talk
Other nominees: Black Panther; First Man; Mary Poppins Returns; A Star is Born.
BEST SONG: A Star is Born – “Shallow”
Other nominees: Black Panther – “All the Stars”; Boy Erased – “Revelation”; Mary Poppins Returns – “The Place Where Lost Things Go”; Mary Poppins Returns – “Trip a Little Light Fantastic”.
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Other nominees: Incredibles 2; Isle of Dogs; Mirai; Ralph Breaks the Internet.
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Roma
Other nominees: Burning; Capernaum; Cold War; Shoplifters.
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Other nominees: Minding the Gap; RBG; The Sentence; Three Identical Strangers.
BEST STUNTS: Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Other nominees: Avengers: Infinity War; Black Panther; Deadpool 2; Mary Poppins Returns.
BEST VOICE/MOTION CAPTION WORK: Shameik Moore (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)
Other nominees: Josh Brolin (Avengers: Infinity War); Bryan Cranston (Isle of Dogs); Jeff Goldblum (Isle of Dogs); Sarah Silverman (Ralph Breaks the Internet).
Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno is the recipient of LEJA’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award which will now be known as the Rita Moreno Lifetime Achievement Award.
MUY MAL AWARD: Donald J. Trump – LEJA names its first recipient of the “Muy Mal Award” (Spanish for “Very Bad”) – a dishonor given to an individual for vilifying and stigmatizing the Latino community.
LATINO ACTIVISM AWARD: America Ferrera – American-Honduran actress America Ferrera has been active in Voto Latino, an organization that encourages young Latinos to vote & be politically aware. In 2018, she spoke at the Families Belong Together protest.
LATINO BREAKOUT AWARD: Yalitza Aparicio – Actress Yalitza Aparicio for her lead role in Alfonso Cuarón’s 2018 drama Roma. Aparicio is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. Her parents are of indigenous origin (Mixtec and Triqui). It is her acting debut.
LATINO SPOTLIGHT AWARD: Lin-Manuel Miranda – Puerto Rican actor and Oscar-nominated songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. Miranda raised millions of dollars for Puerto Rico to help rebuild after the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.