2023 Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards
2023 Theme: “Changing the Narrative, Recognizing Who We Are.”
In 2023, the Mexican-American Cultural Education Foundation (MACEF), a 501(c)3, celebrated the second annual Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards at Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles.
The mission of the Mexican-American Film and Television Festival & Awards is to provide Mexican-American and Chicano filmmakers, who represent 40 million Americans of Mexican descent, a venue to showcase, promote and celebrate their beautiful art. A place for the Mexican-American and Chicano filmmaking community to network, honor each other, show support and promote each other. A place for Hollywood to see our best filmmakers, as well as talented newcomers, and learn how we Mexican-Americans want our unique culture and people to be represented: as an important part of the American fabric rather than the old stereotypical images.
THE ILLUSTRIOUS AWARDS
BEST DOCUMENTARY – Pepe Serna: Life Is Art (Luis Reyes, Director)
BEST SCREENPLAY FOR FILM – Situationship (A Film by Jay Diaz)
BEST TV SERIES: Inland Empire (Written & Directed by Renee J Vaca)
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC – Guero y Prieto
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Addicted To You (Director of Photography, Jeff Reyes)
BEST MALE ACTOR – Julio H Garcia (Sin Vergüenza)
BEST FEMALE ACTRESS – Sonia Balcazar (Addicted To You)
BEST DIRECTOR – Cynthia Martinez (First Voice Generation) BEST SHORT FILM – Guero y Prieto (Written & Directed by Mario Garza)
BEST FEATURE FILM – Entre Fronteras (Executive Producer, Julian Nunez)
CHAMPION OF CHANGE AWARD – United We Are Dreaming (Produced & Directed by Sharon Baker)
THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to Luis Valdez in recognition of his contributions to improve the lives and image of Mexican-Americans and all Latinos in film.
THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD
“For Being an Example to Follow By Our Mexican-American Film Community and Your Commitment To Fair Representation”
We honored Frank Rodriguez, senior vice president and assistant general sales manager at Searchlight Pictures, with the President Exemplar Award.
HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR FILM FESTIVAL BOARD 2023
Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz — President MACEF
Author, Researcher, Activist, Cosmetic Dentist
Bel Hernandez — Programming Director
CEO, Founder and Publisher of Latin Heat Media, Actress, MACEF Advisory Board member
Jerry Velasco — Chair of Judging
Actor, Producer, Councilman, Activist
PANEL OF JUDGES
Mike Gomez — Judge
Actor, Producer, Activist, Councilman
Enrique Castillo — Judge
Actor/Director Enrique Castillo, (Ugly Little Monkeys, Blood in Blood Out)
Joel Bailey — Judge
EMMY Award recipient, Producer, Writer, Director, Actor
David Damian Figueroa — Judge
Actor, Music & Film Producer, Director
Carolyn Caldera De Fanti — Producer
Film and Television Producer
Jesus Treviño — Judge
Director, Producer & Writer
Dennis Leoni — Judge
Actor, Producer, Writer
Sylvia Morales — Judge
Film Director, Screenwriter, Author, Professor
Bill Virchis — Judge
Producing, Artistic and Theatre Director
