While the entertainment industry is now making moves toward elevating overlooked voices, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) has been at this for two decades. NALIP, an organization that promotes Latino talent in all areas of media, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with its annual Media Summit, which will take place in Los Angeles from July 25 to 28.
At the Dolby Theater in the heart of Hollywood, the NALIP Media Summit, which Remezcla is a media partner for, offers 42 sessions, including ones on pitching and the Latino Media Awards Gala. There, the organization will honor several Latinx talent that has made an impact. This year’s honorees are Selena director Gregory Nava, who is receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award; Pose star Mj Rodriguez, who will take the Outstanding Achievement in Television Award; One Day at a Time showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett, the recipient of the Media Advocacy Award; Mexican actress Karla Souza, who will get the Lupe Ontiveros Award; production designer Eugenio Caballero will take home the Tech Arts Innovator Award; representing Latinx media is Pero Like, which will take the Digital Trailblazer Award; the African American Film Critics Associations (AAFCA) will receive the We Are Inclusion Award; Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be given the Lisa Quiroz Media Advancement Award; casting director Carla Hool will take the Industry Pioneer Award; and finally, Tanya Saracho, creator of Vida, will win the Media Advocacy Award.
“This is one of the biggest celebrations of Latinx talent attended by everyone in the industry and we want to celebrate in style,” said Ben Lopez, NALIP’s director, according to Variety.
On top of a packed and exciting schedule of panels, the summit will also be capped off by a special advance screening of Dora and the Lost City of Gold, which is based off the animated Nickelodeon series, Dora the Explorer. Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Benicio del Toro, Eva Longoria, Q’orianka Kilcher, Michael Peña, and Danny Trejo star in the film. The screening takes place July 28 at The Montalbán Theater from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
NALIP’s work is necessary to making the entertainment industry more inclusive. “It’s vital to support programs that increase the pipeline of talent across creative and executive fields as well as work within the industry to enhance the momentum for full inclusion,” said Karla Pita Loor, chief development officer for the Television Academy Foundation. “This is NALIP’s work.”
For those interested in attending the summit, head over to NALIP’s website to purchase event passes, and to attend the advance screening of Dora, email RSVP@nalip.org.
Correction, July 27, 2019 at 5:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated. It previously misspelled Gloria Calderón Kellett’s name.