Antonio Banderas to receive Gabi Award at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival

Spanish actor Antonio Banderas will be recognized with the Gabi Lifetime Achievement award at the 10th Annual Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (LALIFF). The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 14th at the Egyptian Theatre. LALIFF, co-founders independent producers Marlene Dermer and George Hernandez; and actor, director, producer and activist Edward James Olmos, will be held from October 5th -15th.

The “Gabi” Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 1997 during the inaugural Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and was bestowed posthumously on the legendary Mexican cinematographer, Gabriel Figueroa. The award was then named after him. During the last nine years, LALIFF has presented the “Gabi Lifetime Achievement Award” on personalities, whose body of work has achieved international acclaim, leaving an unforgettable legacy. Other recipients of the “Gabi” award have been Raul Julia (1998), Carlos Saura (1999), Marí Félix (2000), Anthony Quinn (2001), Nelson Pereira dos Santos (2002) Federico Luppi (2003) and Rita Moreno (2004), Ricardo Montalban (2005).

LALIFF 2006

LALIFF’s Opening Night Gala will be held on Thursday, October 5th. The festival will run until Sunday October 15th when the Closing Night Gala & Award Ceremony will take place. The Gabi Award Night will be held on Saturday, October 14th. All screenings will take place at the Egyptian Theatre.

The mission of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival is to promote the richness and diversity of established and emerging talent. The 2006 program include: Eleven US Premieres; Spotlight on Brazil Cinema; Spotlight on Andalucia Cinema; Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB) Showcase; a Music Program; World Visions; and an Immigration Program, which will feature films dealing with one of today’s most relevant issues for the Latino community.

For more information on LALIFF and the festival program please visit: www.latinofilm.org. Tickets for screenings are available at: www.TicketWeb.com or at the Egyptian Theatre Box Office beginning Oct. 5th.

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