The Critics Choice Association has announced the full list of honorees for the 6th annual Celebración of Cinema & Television. The event will take place on October 2, 2026 at the Four Seasons Los Angeles in Beverly Hills. This yearly ceremony celebrates the work of Latino and Hispanic artists both in front of and behind the camera.
John Leguizamo will receive the Career Achievement Award. Inde Navarrette will take home the Breakthrough Actress Award for her role in the horror film Obsession. Other honorees include Judy Reyes, Oscar Nuñez, James Ortiz, and many more.
John Leguizamo Receives Career Achievement Award After Four Decades in Hollywood
John Leguizamo is being honored for his work that spans more than four decades. The Emmy winner, Special Tony Award recipient, and four-time Tony nominee has built a career across film, television, comedy, and theater.
His recent performance in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has generated Oscar buzz. The Universal Pictures film crossed $1 billion at the global box office within three weeks of release. It also posted the biggest live-action opening weekend of the year.
Leguizamo’s career includes memorable roles in Carlito’s Way (1993), Moulin Rouge! (2001), and the limited series When They See Us. He also starred in the Ice Age animated franchise and Bob Trevino Likes It. His work on the comedy series House of Buggin’ and The Green Veil further shows his range as an actor.
The Critics Choice Association said Leguizamo is receiving the award “in recognition of his more than four decades of groundbreaking work across film, television, comedy, and theater”.
Inde Navarrette Wins Breakthrough Actress Award for ‘Obsession’
Inde Navarrette will receive the Breakthrough Actress Award for her lead role in Focus Features’ Obsession. The horror film became a massive box office success. It was made on a budget of just $750,000 and has grossed more than $488 million worldwide. Some reports now place the total at over $501.5 million globally.
Obsession has become the highest-grossing film in Focus Features’ history. It is also the first original film of the 2020s to cross the $500 million mark at the worldwide box office.
Navarrette’s performance as Nikki in the film helped turn the low-budget independent project into a cultural phenomenon. The actress has since joined the cast of Marvel’s new X-Men movie. She was also recently featured in GAP’s new advertising campaign.
James Ortiz Receives Innovator Award for ‘Project Hail Mary’
James Ortiz will collect the Innovator Award for his work on Amazon MGM’s Project Hail Mary. Ortiz is a Broadway puppeteer whose design work includes the Tony-nominated play The Skin of Our Teeth.
In Project Hail Mary, Ortiz performs, voices, and operates the alien character Rocky opposite co-star Ryan Gosling. His work has entered this year’s supporting actor Oscar conversation. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has confirmed that Ortiz is eligible for Oscar nomination in the supporting actor category.
Ortiz is also known for creating The Woodsman, which earned him a 2016 OBIE Award for puppet design. He won the 2022 Drama Desk Award for his work on the dinosaur puppets in The Skin of Our Teeth at Lincoln Center.
Judy Reyes and Oscar Nuñez Among Other Honorees
Judy Reyes will receive the Trailblazer Award. She currently stars in ABC’s High Potential as Lt. Selena Soto. The crime procedural became ABC’s top-rated series in its debut season and the network’s most-watched new series in six years. Reyes also returned this year to the Scrubs revival on ABC and Hulu, reprising the role she played for nine seasons.
Oscar Nuñez will be honored with the Vanguard Award. The Emmy and SAG Award winner originated the role of Oscar Martinez on NBC’s The Office. He now plays the same character in Peacock’s comedy The Paper, which was renewed for a second season shortly after its premiere.
Aimee Carrero will receive the Supporting Actress Award for Apple TV’s Your Friends & Neighbors. The dark dramedy earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for outstanding drama series for its second season.
Laysla De Oliveira rounds out the breakthrough honors with the Breakthrough Actress Award for Paramount+’s Lioness. She appeared across all three seasons of Taylor Sheridan’s espionage thriller opposite Zoe Saldaña.
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Behind-the-Camera Talents Also Recognized
The Critics Choice Association is also honoring storytellers working behind the camera.
Rodrigo Teixeira lands the Producer Award for Neon’s thriller Paper Tiger. This marks his fourth collaboration with director James Gray. Through his company RT Features, Teixeira produced Call Me by Your Name, which earned four Academy Award nominations. He also produced I’m Still Here, which became the first Brazilian Portuguese-language film nominated for Best Picture and won the Oscar for Best International Feature. Paper Tiger premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2026 and will serve as the Opening Night selection of the New York Film Festival.
Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, popularly known as “Los Javis,” will receive the Director Award for Netflix’s La Bola Negra. The film was a selection at the Cannes Film Festival.
Beth de Araújo will receive the Breakthrough Director Award for Josephine.
Event Hosts and Organizers
The celebration will be hosted by Clayton Davis and Amanda Salas. Both are members of the Critics Choice Association. Davis also shared a statement about the importance of the event:
“To honor this remarkable class of Latino and Hispanic artists is nothing short of a gift, especially during a time that has been difficult for our communities. Latino and Hispanic storytellers keep creating from a place of joy and defiance, turning our histories and culture into art that moves the culture forward. Their work builds a larger, more inclusive tent for everyone to be invited to join.”
The event was formerly called the Celebration of Latino Cinema and Television. It has been renamed to Celebración of Cinema & Television for its sixth year. The ceremony is one of several CCA events that recognize historically underrepresented communities in the entertainment industry.
Invited guests will include members of the Critics Choice Association, AMPAS, PGA, WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA, BAFTA, and many in the Latino film production community.
A Night to Celebrate Latino and Hispanic Achievements
The 6th annual Celebración of Cinema & Television brings together some of the most talented Latino and Hispanic artists working in Hollywood today. From veteran actors like John Leguizamo to rising stars like Inde Navarrette, the event highlights the depth and range of Latino contributions to film and television.
Leguizamo’s Career Achievement Award recognizes a body of work that has inspired multiple generations of actors. Navarrette’s Breakthrough Actress Award celebrates a performance that turned a low-budget horror film into a global box office sensation. James Ortiz’s Innovator Award shines a light on the often-unseen art of puppetry and performance capture.
The event takes place on October 2, 2026 in Beverly Hills. As the entertainment industry continues to evolve, the Celebración serves as a reminder of the importance of representation both on-screen and off.
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