GLORIA AWARD

the highest recognition of excellence

The International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago established the Gloria Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 to recognize individuals and institutions that have significantly contributed to the development of the Latino community, both in Chicago and across the globe. “Gloria represents a woman in a state of glory,” says Spanish artist Juan José Eguizábal, who created the Gloria. “Glory being the pinnacle of success and splendor, the highest recognition of excellence. Gloria represents the pureness of the moment.

2015 GLORIA AWARD
RECIPIENT: DANILO PEREZ

Panamanian pianist, Danilo Perez is more than a musical genius. He is a true champion of the arts. He believes in the transformative power of the arts, and in its ability to unite people from all walks of life. He has created a new musical idiom through such compositions as ‘Suite of the Americas’ and ‘The Canal Suite.’

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He has inspired a new generation of musicians and artists who are now following in his footsteps.

In addition to over three decades of contributions to jazz and contemporary music, Pérez’s annual Panama Jazz Festival has brought world-renowned musicians to the country for the last 12 years, not only to perform but also to work closely with local youth. The mission of the festival is carried on throughout the year by the Fundación Danilo Pérez, which offers musical and cultural education to disadvantaged young people in Panama City. In Boston, Pérez currently serves as Artistic Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute, which offers students an opportunity to explore creativity and advance the social power of music through the restoration of ecology and humanity.

Beside, Panama 200, Pérez released the critically acclaimed record Children of the Light with bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade (Mack Avenue Records) on September 18th, 2015. Starting in October, Pérez, Patitucci and Blade will be touring in support of the new album through Europe and North America.

2014 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: PAULINA GARCIA

Paulina has wowed theater, television and movie audiences in her native country since she professionally stepped on stage for the first time in 1983 in the lead role of Paco Rivano’s play “Where Is Jeanette?,” winning her Chile’s Association of Entertainment Journalists’ Award (APES) for Best Actress.

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As an actress she has appeared in over 20 plays; she made her directing debut in 1996 with Marco A. De La Parra’s play “The Dark Continent,” for which she was nominated for a Best Directing APES. She has also directed the works of such celebrated Chilean writers as Alberto Fuguet and Celeste Gomez and of such legendary playwrights as Anton Chekhov, John Osborne and Caryl Churchill.

She made her television debut in 1984 in the long running soap opera “Los Titeres” and her feature film debut in 2002 in “Three Nights on a Saturday” -an official selection of the 19th Chicago Latino Film Festival. Other film credits include: “Cachimba” (2004) -the Opening Night film for the 21st Chicago Latino Film Festival, “Casa de Remolineda” (2007) and “Génesis Nirvana” (2013). She is currently working alongside Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro and Adriana Barraza in “Los 33” about the 33 Chilean miners trapped underground for two months after the mine they worked on collapsed.

2013 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: JORGE PERUGORRIA

Born 1965 in Havana, Cuba, Jorge Perugorria began his acting career in 1984. In 1993, he burst onto the big screen with the movie “Strawberry and Chocolate,” nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. He has appeared in more than fifty films shot in Cuba, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Puerto Rico and Argentina.

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In 2003 he made his directing debut with the documentary “Havana Abierta” and he made his feature-film directing debut alongside “Strawberry and Chocolate” co-star Vladimir Cruz with “Affinities” in 2009. In 2010 he wrote and directed his second film, “Chronic Love” followed by “For Sale” in 2011, winner of the Audience Choice Award at last year’s Festival of New Latin American Cinema in Havana.

2012 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: VENTURA PONS

Born in Barcelona in 1945, Ventura Pons is one of the most important and best-known Spanish film directors. Pons began his career in the theater and burst into the international film scene in 1978 with “Ocaña, retrat intermittent”, a touching portrait of one of that city’s most famous tranvestites.

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Pons has produced and directed over 20 dramas, comedies and even musicals. He is the only director whose films have been invited five consecutive times to Berlin. He has won the Butaca Award for Best Catalan Film, the Mar del Plata Film Festival Award for Best Iberoamerican Film , and the Premis de Cinematografia de la Generalitat de Catalunya, among others, and has been nominated for the Goya for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has also received the Creu de Saint Jordi, the highest civil distinction awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

2011 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: DAMIÁN ALCÁZAR

Damián Alcázar is a Mexican actor born in 1953.  Alcázar initiated his career as an actor at the age of 32 in the short film “El Centro del Laberinto” (1985) and in the following year, he participated in “Debutantes.” Thereafter came “Dos Crímenes” by Roberto Sneider (1995), “Baja California: El Límite del Tiempo” (1998) by Carlos Bolado.

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In 1999, he initiated his long and fruitful collaboration with Felipe Cazals, and Luis Estrada, with whom he made “La Ley de Herodes” (1999). He worked alongside Carlos Carrera on “El Crimen del Padre Amaro” (2002) and “De la Infancia” (2010). He has won the Ariel Award for Best actor twice, in 1999 and 2000.

2010 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: FRANCISCO J. LOMBARDI

The recipient of the 2010 Gloria Award is Peru’s most prolific and successful auteur, director Francisco J. Lombardi.  From his 1977 feature debut “Muerte al amanecer” to his eighteenth feature, “Ella” (2010), Lombardi has received numerous awards from all over the world including the 2004 Irene Diamond Award for his lifelong commitment to human rights filmmaking.

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The Chicago Latino Film Festival paid tribute to Lombardi’s excellence in filmmaking and recognized his tremendous support of projects that promote the development of Latin American cinema.

2009 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: RICHARD M. DALEY

Richard M. Daley is a former Mayor of Chicago. He was in office from 1989 to 2011 and was awarded the Gloria Award in 2009 for his commitment to the arts and culture in the city of Chicago. Richard M. Daley and his wife Maggie Daley promoted the arts in Chicago and launched efforts to strengthen Chicago’s theater district and to promote film and television productions in the city. Both were at the forefront of programs that advance the arts in public schools and libraries.

2008 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: JACOBO MORALES

Jacobo Morales is an actor, director and writer from Puerto Rico. Born in 1934, he was awarded the Gloria Award in 2008 for his long life commitment to cinema. He started his career when he was 14 years-old and his work has been recognized both in and outside of Puerto Rico. In 1990 his film “Lo que le pasó a Santiago” was nominated to the Oscar as Best Foreign Language Film. His latest film as a director was Angel (2007), while he starred in “Broche de Oro” in 2012.

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Pons has produced and directed over 20 dramas, comedies and even musicals. He is the only director whose films have been invited five consecutive times to Berlin. He has won the Butaca Award for Best Catalan Film, the Mar del Plata Film Festival Award for Best Iberoamerican Film , and the Premis de Cinematografia de la Generalitat de Catalunya, among others, and has been nominated for the Goya for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has also received the Creu de Saint Jordi, the highest civil distinction awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

2007 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: ALBERTO LECCHI

Alberto Lecchi was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1954 and won the Gloria Award in 2007. Lecchi worked for the first time in cinema in 1978 and until his debut as a filmmaker, he worked on thirty films as first and second assistant director. In 1993 he released at last, his opera prima: “Perdido por perdido”, a cops movie with the main role played by Ricardo Darín.

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Lecchi also directed “Operación Fangio” (1999) with Lecchi’s favourite actor Darío Grandinetti, and “Apariencias” (2000) which was Lecchi’s highest peak in the blockbuster. That year, he also directed “Nueces para el amor” and the following year  “Déjala correr”. In 2005  he released “Una estrella y dos cafés” and in 2008 “El frasco”. In 2013 he directed “Sola contigo”.

2006 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: CONCEPCIÓN “CHINA” ZORRILLA

Concepción “China” Zorrilla was born in Uruguay and she was awarded the Gloria Award in 2006. China’s filmography includes over thirty films, TV series and plays. She obtained her first role in the film “Un guapo del 900” in 1971. Her latest on screen appearances include “Elsa y Fred” in 2005 and “Tocar el cielo” (2007). China is an Illustrious Citizen of Buenos Aires and has won several awards for her career.

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Pons has produced and directed over 20 dramas, comedies and even musicals. He is the only director whose films have been invited five consecutive times to Berlin. He has won the Butaca Award for Best Catalan Film, the Mar del Plata Film Festival Award for Best Iberoamerican Film , and the Premis de Cinematografia de la Generalitat de Catalunya, among others, and has been nominated for the Goya for Best Adapted Screenplay. He has also received the Creu de Saint Jordi, the highest civil distinction awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya.

2005 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: CARLOS DIEGUES

A director, producer and screenwriter, Cacá, as he is affectionately known, was born on May 19th, 1940, in Maceió, Alagoas. His work — well known in Brazil and internationally — combines politics, humor and lyricism and he is a member of the ‘Cinema Novo’ movement.

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In his films, he approached many times the theme of black culture, as in “Ganga Zumba” (1964), his first feature film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Critic’s Week, and “Xica da Silva” (1976), his most popular film in Brazil.  More recently, he directed “O Maior Amor do Mundo” (2006) and he is currently a producer in several projects.

2004 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: AMERICAN AIRLINES

American Airlines has been the Official Airline of the Chicago Latino Film Festival since 1988 and in 2004 was the first corporate recipient of the Gloria Award. AA has been a long time supporter of the International Latino Cultural Center and has helped to develop, promote and increase awareness of Latino cultures throughout Chicago. Pictured above, Thomas Aichele receiving the Gloria Award as American Airlines’ representative.

2003 GLORIA AWARD
RECIPIENT: LEONARDO NIERMAN

Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman received the 2003 Gloria Achievement Award for his cutting edge approach to the visual arts and his imaginative masterpieces. His works have been displayed, permanently placed and/or acquired by institutions such as the Vatican Gardens, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Albert Einstein Institute, and the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico, to name a few. He has exhibited his work in Australia, Colombia, Japan, Israel, Sweden and throughout the world.

2002 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: HUMBERTO SOLÁS

Cuban director Humberto Solás received the Gloria Award in 2002, when he presented “Miel para Oshún” at the 18th Chicago Latino Film Festival Closing Night Gala. He has also won another 13 awards for filmmaking and has been nominated for many others. His first feature film, “Lucia” (1969) was critically acclaimed. He also directed “Un día de Noviembre” (1972) and “El siglo de las luces” (1992), amongst other films. Humberto Solás died in 2008.

2001 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: RITA MORENO & ARTURO RIPSTEIN

RITA MORENO

Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer Rita Moreno was born as Rosa Dolores Alverío in 1931. She has worked in film (“The King and I”, 1956), Broadway (“West Side Story”, 1961) and television (“Oz”, 1997-2003), to name just a few of her roles. Moreno has won an Emmy (1977), a Grammy (1972), an Oscar (1962) and a Tony (1975). Rita Moreno is pictured above with Pepe and Andrei Vargas and Gloria Award designer Juan José Eguizábal.

ARTURO RIPSTEIN

Ripstein is a Mexican director born in 1943.  He started working in the movie industry by being an assistant to Spanish director Luis Buñuel.  In 1965, he directed his first feature, “Tiempo de Morir”, written by Carlos Fuentes and Gabriel García Márquez.  Other titles from his extensive filmography are: “Cadena perpetua” (1978), “La mujer del puerto” (1991) and “El Coronel no tiene quien le escriba” (1999), presented at the Mexican Gala of the 17th Chicago Latino Film Festival.

2000 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: FEDERICO LUPPI

Federico Luppi is an Argentinian actor born in Buenos Aires in 1936. He has acted in over 100 movies, as well as TV shows and theater plays. He debuted on the big screen in 1964 in “Pajarito Gómez” and he is one of the favorite actors of Guillermo del Toro and Adolfo Aristarain.

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He has also directed a Spanish production, “Pasos” (2005). Luppi has been awarded in numerous occasions: He won the Best Actor category in the San Sebastian Film Festival in 1997 (“Martin Hache”) and the ‘Ciudad de Huelva’ award at the Festival de Cine Iberoamericano de Huelva (2000). Pictured above, Pepe Vargas, Festival Director, and Enrique Gabriel, who received the award on behalf of Federico Luppi. Gabriel also presented his film, “Huellas borradas”, during the 16th Chicago Latino Film Festival Closing Night Gala.

1999 GLORIA AWARD RECIPIENT: CELIA CRUZ & IGNACIO LÓPEZ TARSO

CELIA CRUZ

Cuban-American salsa performer Celia Cruz was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1925. She is the most vibrant and influential salsera of all times and her career spans five decades, with more than 70 albums, a Grammy Award and countless sold out concerts. In 1961 she moved to New York and since then collaborated with numerous artists including Tito Puente, Johnny Pacheco and Willie Colón. Some of her many awards include an Honorary Degree from Yale, an Honorary Doctorate from the Florida International University, her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and many others. She died in 2003.

IGNACIO LÓPEZ TARSO

Ignacio López Tarso is a Mexican actor, born in Mexico City in 1925. He started out as an actor in theater in 1951 to then make his film debut in 1954 on “La desconocida”.  In 1959 he starred in “Macario”.  He is considered to be part of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema and has received various awards including the ‘Ariel de Oro’ for lifetime achievement in the film industry (2007). Recently, he starred in the film “Morenita, el escándalo” (2009).