The Palm Springs Art Museum served as the setting for the celebration of the NVISION Latino Film and Music Festival, which concluded successfully this weekend with the film ‘Ponyboi’ being crowned the winner of the award for best feature film in the United States.
Marking a vibrant celebration of Latin creativity and stories, the festival presented a lineup of four feature films and thirty-five short films representing diverse nations such as the United States, Cuba, Spain, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Costa Rica.
The festival culminated on Saturday, October 12, with the awards ceremony at the Annenberg Theatre, where the lucky filmmakers received top awards in the American and international feature film categories, as well as short films in the genres of drama, comedy, documentary, science fiction, horror, animation, experimental and best cast.
The award for best American feature film and a cash prize went to Ponyboi, while Boca Chica won the award for Best International Feature Film.
In the short film categories, “Shut Up & Fish” received the award for Best American Short, and “Andas Danzando por Así” took the award for Best International Short.
“We are incredibly proud to celebrate the talent and creativity of Latinx filmmakers and artists at this year’s NVISION Festival,” Lex Borrero, co-founder and CEO of NTERTAIN, said in a statement.
“Their stories reflect the diversity and richness of our culture and expand the boundaries of what Latino representation can achieve in the global entertainment landscape. This festival is a testimony to the power of our voices and the future of Latin narrative,” added Borrero.
Ben De Jesús received the “NVISION Cultura Legacy Award”, a special recognition for his innovative documentary “Untold History of Latinos” in which the participation of Colombian actor John Leguizamo stood out. The film features Leguizamo reflecting on the rise of the United States and the challenges Latinos face in preserving their cultural identity, underscoring the deep connection between Latino and American history.
The festival also included panels with the participation of industry stars such as actor Xolo Maridueña, known for his leading roles in productions such as “Blue Beetle” and the successful Netflix series “Cobra Kai.”
Figures such as Jessy Terrero, Allen Maldonado and Val Vega among others also participated in the panels. These sessions offered valuable insights into the dynamic and versatile world of Latin film and music.
Among the award-winning films at the festival were “The Ranch”, directed by Aiden Gonzalez, which won the award for Best Local Film. The Best California Film award went to “The Ballad of Tita and the Machines,” directed by Miguel Ángel Caballero, while the Best Drama award went to “In the Fold,” which is directed by Manuel Del Valle.
The award for Best Comedy went to “Dear Diablo”, directed by Ambar Navarro. The trophy for Best Documentary went to the film “En La Caliente: Tales of a Reggaeton Warrior”, which is directed by Fabien Pisani, while the award for Best Science Fiction went to “Border Hopper”, directed by Nico Casavechia.
In the Best Horror Film category the award went to “Ciguapa”, directed by Blaine Morris; the award for Best Animation went to “La Perra”, by Carla Melo Gampert; The trophy for Best Experimental went to “I Want to Violently Crash Into The Windshield of Love,” directed by Fernanda Tovar, and the award for Best Ensemble went to “The Low End Theory,” directed by Francisco Ordóñez.
A dose of musical flavor
Attendees at the 2024 edition of the NVISION Latino Film and Music Festival also enjoyed exclusive live performances such as Latin Grammy-nominated artist Sofía Reyes, who starred in an audiovisual titled “Nudos,” which is an experience that intertwines her personal story. with his musical career.
Through a visual piece directed by Alejandra Hinojosa, known for her work with artists such as Natanael Cano, C. Tangana, Grupo Frontera, Banda MS and Los Tucanes de Tijuana, as well as for her recent participation in “Gen Mex”, which explores how Mexican music has conquered the world, Sofía shared the beginnings of her career, marked by her album “Milamores” and showed the direction her art will take in the coming years.
The show began with a powerful and emotional moment: Sofía returned to the piano, just as she did at the beginning of her career. Only she and a grand piano moved the audience. The performance of an acoustic version of “Qué Nos Pasó” by Reyli Barba marked one of the most emotional moments of the night, transporting attendees to the beginning of her career, when in 2014 she uploaded this cover to YouTube, causing a great impact on social networks. This success was so great that Sofía was invited to present it on iconic programs such as Brozo, Loret de Mola and Jorge Poza. Later, accompanied by a guitar, Sofía performed “Milamores”, one of the most representative songs on this album.
However, the most intimate and captivating moment came when, once again at the piano, he revealed an unreleased song, which will be part of his next album of ballads in the following years. This exclusive piece, never heard before, showed a more vulnerable and profound side of the artist, moving an audience that had traveled from different places to be present at this special meeting.
The other musical presentation starred Alex Ponce, a young rising figure who is causing a sensation in the Latin music scene. Their exciting performances added a dose of excitement to the show and further elevated the energy and atmosphere of this festival that combines film with music.
On this occasion, NVISION joined forces with the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation to celebrate and amplify the vibrant narrative of Latin culture through music and film. This partnership not only enriched the overall festival experience, but also deepened audience engagement, reflecting NVISION and LGCF’s shared commitment to fostering community and supporting artistic growth. Latin Grammy Cultural Foundation Fellows had the opportunity to perform alongside Alex Ponce, further highlighting the importance of nurturing the next generation of Latin creators.