The 13th Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) announced its winners at the Paramount Theatre on the Paramount Lot in Hollywood. Festival co-founders Edward James Olmos and Marlene Dermer led the award ceremony presentation. Winners were announced in the categories of best feature film, best director, best screenplay, best opera prima, best short, best documentary, and audience awards in the feature and documentary categories. Special mentions from the jury were also announced.

FEATURES CATEGORY:
Best Film (RITA AWARD)
Winner: “Anita”
Director: Marcos Carnevale
Screenwriter: Marcos Carnevale, Lily Ann Martin, Marcela Guerty
Country: Argentina

Best Screenplay: Features Category
Winner: “Morenita”
Director: Alan Jonsson Gavica
Screenwriter: Alan Jonsson Gavica, Annabel Oakes
Country: Mexico

Best Director: Features Category
Winner: “Cinco Días sin Nora”
Director: Mariana Chenillo
Screenwriter: Mariana Chenillo
Country: Mexico

OPERA PRIMA CATEGORY: Best Opera Prima
Winner: “Cinco Días sin Nora”
Director: Mariana Chenillo
Screenwriter: Mariana Chenillo
Country: Mexico

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORY:
Best Documentary
Winner: “Sons of Cuba”
Director: Andrew Lang
Country: Cuba

Honorable Mention: Documentary Category
“Titón, de la Habana a Guantanamera”
Director: Mirtha Ibarra
Country: Spain

Honorable Mention: Documentary Category
“La Vida Loca” (The Crazy Life)
Director: Christian Poveda
Country: Mexico/France/Spain

SHORTS CATEGORY: Best Short
Winner: “Red Mesa”
Director: Ilana Lapid
Screenwriter: Ilana Lapid
Country: USA

Special Mention: Shorts Category
“El Tux”
Director: Paco Farias
Screenwriter: Paco Farias
Country: USA

Special Mention: Shorts Category
“Niña Quebrada”
Director: Jen Kleiner
Screenwriter: Diana Romero, Danny Klein, Jen Kleiner
Country: USA

AUDIENCE AWARD CATEGORY:
CineLatino Audience Award: Features
Winner: “Anita”
Director: Marcos Carnevale
Screenwriters: Marcos Carnevale, Lily Ann Martin, Marcela Guerty
Country: Argentina

CineLatino Audience Award: Documentary
Winner: “Titón, de la Habana a Guantanamera”
Director: Mirtha Ibarra
Country: Spain

The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF) was founded in 1997 by producer, director, actor and activist Edward James Olmos; independent producer Marlene Dermer, and independent film and music producer George Hernández†. LALIFF is a non-profit 501c (3) organization with the mission to support the development and exhibition of diverse visions by Latino filmmakers and to promote awareness of the richness and diversity of Latin cultures, artistry and countries through film, the most powerful medium in the world. A competitive festival with prizes, LALIFF serves as a venue where Latino filmmakers come together with industry buyers and distributors. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science recognizes LALIFF as a qualifying festival, making the winner of its Short Film Category eligible for Oscar® consideration.

Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.