Sep. 10: George Lopez and Eva Longoria are on the red carpet before the ALMA Awards Saturday night. (Cindy Vanegas)
– In a lively display of achievement and support, Latinos from all walks of the entertainment industry dazzled on the red carpet at last night's ALMA Awards at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
As expected, co-host Eva Longoria outshone George López in a beautiful mermaid strapless dress with an exaggerated tail. Starlets like Jessica Alba, Marcia Cross, Eva La Rue, Naya Rivera and Demi Lovato added to the night's glamour in floor length gowns.
Power couples Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith, Mario López and Courtney Laine Mazza and Maria Canals-Barrera and David Barrera flirted across the carpet alongside Benjamin Bratt, Sophia Milos, David Zayas and Tristan Wilds.
Despite the festive mood, the event, held on the eve of September 11th, spurred stars to recognize the bravery of first responders. Actor/director Edward James Olmos, commented "We must try to help all the people who are sick because they went first to try to help when the buildings collapsed. That is my big understanding of what ten years of remembering is all about."
While the night catered to the glitz and glam of entertainment, red carpet chatter turned political as producer, director and screenplay writer Gregory Nava, who received the evening's Outstanding Career Achievement Award for directing, commented on domestic immigration policy. "The immigration situation has gotten much worse since 9-11. The attack against the undocumented is now an attack against all Latinos," said Nava, "This is an attack on all our culture. We have to know that this is what is happening and we have to fight against this because it is an injustice."
Nava, known for "El Norte" and "Selena," revealed that he finished the script to "Garden of Eden" which will examine our current immigration issues.
Danny Trejo, whose suit jacket was lined with embroidered daggers, rejoiced about what the evening meant to him. "I love being Latino in Los Angeles," said Trejo, "Right now is the time for Latinos. We have moved quite forward in the entertainment industry with people like Robert Rodríguez, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodríguez that have really pushed us in the main stream. We are movie stars, for lack of a better word, but we are out there with all of them and I thank God for that."
The ALMA Awards, which featured performances from Pitbull and Gloria Estefan, will air on Friday, September 16 from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EDT on NBC. The Alma Awards are given to Latino entertainers by the NCLR or National Council of La Raza who "promote positive portrayals of Latinos" in the entertainment industry.
If you can't wait a week to catch the show, here are the winners:
Favorite Movie
"A Better Life"
Favorite Movie Actor
Antonio Banderas
"You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger"
Favorite Movie Actress - Drama/Adventure
Jessica Alba
"Machete"
Favorite Movie Actress - Comedy/Musical
Alexa Vega
"From Prada to Nada"
Favorite TV Series
"Desperate Housewives"
Favorite TV Actor - Leading Role
Adam Rodriguez
"CSI: Miami"
Favorite TV Actress - Leading Role in a Drama
Cote de Pablo
"NCIS"
Favorite TV Actress - Leading Role in a Comedy
Demi Lovato
"Sonny With a Chance"
Favorite TV Actress - Supporting Role
Maria Canals-Barrera
"Wizards of Waverly Place"
Favorite TV Actor - Supporting Role
Rico Rodriguez
"Modern Family"
Favorite TV Reality, Variety, or
Comedy Personality or Act
George Lopez
"Lopez Tonight"
Favorite Male Music Artist
Pitbull
Favorite Female Music Artist
Naya Rivera
Outstanding Career Achievement- Documentarian
Raymond Telles
Outstanding Career Achievement -Writer
Cynthia Cidre
Outstanding Career Achievement -Director
Gregory Nava
Special Achievement
The Harvest
The 2011 PepsiCo ALMA
Adelante Award
AltaMed Health Services Corporation
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