Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Sonia Braga Receives a Lifetime Achievement Award in Hollywood

By José Alberto Hermosillo
Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016, Festival in LA

Oct 16th, 2016, Hollywood, CA -  The 8th Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival presented the legendary Brazilian actress Sonia Braga with a Lifetime Achievement Award at a Saturday night gala.

Sonia Braga and Edward James Olmos, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016, Festival in LA

The renowned Latino actor Edward James Olmos handed the prize at the ceremony held at the ArcLight Cinemas in Hollywood. 

Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016, Festival in LA

Talented and sexy, Sonia Braga is one of the world’s best-known Brazilian actresses and one of the few Latino actors who has made it in Hollywood and continues working in her homeland.


Onia Braga made quite a few brilliant films in Hollywood, such as “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Moon Over Parador,” “Angel Eyes,” “The Rookie,” “Sea of Dreams,” “Roosters,” and “The Miracle Beanfield War.” 

She also participated in a few sizzling episodes of the TV series h” t “Sex and the City” for HBO, for PBS, “American Family” with James Olmos, Raquel Welch, Esai Morales, and Kate del Castillo.


She worked with Michael Gambon in the terrific thriller “Two Deaths” in Europe.

In her home country, she made some beautiful films now considered Classics of Brazilian Cinema, such as “Tieta of Agreste.”


She also directed the magical realism film “Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands.” Her sensuality and the character’s enactment 
catapulted her to international stardom.


Sonia Braga is having a significant comeback to the big screen w
ith the controversial “Aquari”, which has been getting rave reviews from the international press since its premiere at Cannes in 2016. 


“n “Aquari” sSonia’s marvelous portrayal of Clara is unforgettable. She is a music critic, a mother, and a cancer survivor fighting to keep her ocean-view apartment and to keep her family together with dignity and respect.

Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016, Festival in LA

During the Award Ceremony, Edward James Olmos said, “Sonia was a true gift to my li” e.” He continued, “In many films, we had many kids together; where are they now?”

Edward James Olmos and Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016, Festival in LA

Sonia replied, “You are my favorite husband,” referring to the movies and TV series they had jointly done in the past. 

Sonia Braga thanked the Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, her friends, and her family, who worked with her for over 50 years in movies and television.
Sonia Braga and Director Kleber Mendoca Filho, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016 Festival in LA

Sonia especially thanked tfilm’sm’s directo”, “Aquari” s,” Kleber Mendoca Filho, for writing this unforgettable story and having her in mind for the central part. 

She also mentioned her mother, who made, with her own hands, the costumes she wore in the award-winning films: “Kiss of the Spider Woman” and “Moon Over Parador.”

Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016 Festival in LA

Sonia Braga loves to live in Los Angeles, a city where she has a little house with a small garden she likes to take care of. She learned to drive in LA, where she can constantly panic at the wheel. Then, she moved to NYC, where she could walk without getting a traffic ticket.

Sonia Braga in Hollywood, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016 Festival in LA

Mrs. Braga fights for what is right. She considers herself a humanist, aware of what is happening worldwide, especially with her people and country.
Sonia Braga, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016 Festival in LA

Sonia finished her speech by saying, “From all the roles I played, the best one was to be born.”

Sonia Braga and Director Kleber Mendoca Filho Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo © 2016 Festival in LA

Other people from the film industry demonstrated their support for Sonia that night. “Sonia Braga is such an amazing actress, a real inspiration,” said one of the founders of LALIFF (Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival), Marlene Dermer, who was incredibly moved by the Sonia Braga recognition.  

The event continued with a more than two-hour film presentation.

 Talize Sayegh, Sonia Braga, and Director Kleber Mendoca Filho Photo by José Alberto Hermosillo © 2016 Festival in LA

After the screening, we had a very revealing Q&A conducted by the director of the Hollywood Brazilian Film Festival, Talize Sayegh, who, in the end, invited us to a lovely reception at a nearby café.

Sonia Braga. Film critic José Alberto Hermosillo 

Brazilian talent in Hollywood, photo by José Alberto Hermosillo, © 2016 Festival in LA

Actor Renato Góes, photo by José Alberto Hermosill,o © 2016 Festival in LA

The Sonia Braga Lifetime Award night was a celebration of the actress’s achievements; it was also a fantastic event in the company of many Brazilian actors and other Angelinos, lovers of Brazilian and World Cinema.

Film critic José Alberto Hermosillo, Festival in LA.

Copyright © Festival in LA, 2016

Monday, October 10, 2016

Guadalajara in LA 2016 Closes with The “Tree of Life” Awards

By José Alberto Hermosillo
Telemundo T.V. Anchor Ana Patricia Candiani conducted the Ceremony, photo by Jose Hermosillo  
The Guadalajara International Film Festival in Los Angeles, also known as FICG in LA, closed with the Tree of Life (El Árbol de la Vida) award ceremony.
The first award of the night went to the late producer Donald K. Ranvaud. His work includes magnificent pieces such as “Farewell My Concubine,” “Central Station,” “City of God,” “The Constant Gardener,” “Cobrador: In God We Trust,” “Rolling Family,” “Madame Satä,” “Lower City.”
Tree of Life, photo by Jose A Hermosillo. Copyrights 2016 Festival in LA
The second award went to the Academy award nominee, late director Héctor Babenco (1946-2016). Born in Mar del Plata made his career in Brazil. 
Babenco's legacy is constituted for great iconic films such as “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Carandidu,” “The Past/El Pasado,” and “Pixote.” His last work “My Hindu Friend,” was screened during the festival.
Photo by Jose A Hermosillo. Copyrights 2016 Festival in LA

His daughter received the award in the name of Héctor Babenco.

Alice Braga, photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo, copyrights Festival in LA, 2016
And the third award went to the talented Brazilian actress Alice Braga (“City of God,” “Lower City,” “Only God Knows,” “I am legend”).  
 
Me estas matando, Susana cast and crew. Photo by Jose A. Hermosillo, Copyrights 2016
Festival in LA
After the awards, the festival had a screening of “Me estás matando, Susana/You are Killing Me, Susana,” directed by Roberto Sneider (“Two Crimes,” “Tear This Heart Out/Arráncame la vida”). This comedy has Gael Garcia Bernal in the lead role, Verónica Echegui, and Ashley Grace. The film pleased the audience of a packed house.
Alice Braga, photo by Jose A Hermosillo. Copyrights 2016 Festival in LA
FICG in LA, in its sixth edition, continued showcasing outstanding films from Latin-America and celebrated the recognition to the life of actors, filmmakers, and prominent members of the Los Angeles artistic community, and promoted the cultural liaisons between Latinos in Hollywood.
Angelica María, photo by Jose A Hermosillo. Copyrights 2016 Festival in LA

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Festival in LA