HOLA Mexico Film Festival Announces Cinelatino Award Winners During 10th Anniversary Closing Night Gala

HOLA Mexico Film Festival (HMFF), the largest festival of Mexican cinema outside of Mexico, announced today three Cinelatino Filmmaker Awards during its 10th anniversary closing night gala at La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes in Los Angeles. Cinelatino, the nation's leading Spanish-language movie channel, proudly presented the Cinelatino & DishLATINO Audience Choice Award, the Cinelatino Best Director Award, and the Cinelatino Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today Best Short Award.

Cinelatino & DishLATINO Audience Choice Award was presented to Issa Lopez's Vuelven for receiving the highest number of audience votes, and will receive a cash prize on behalf of Cinelatino and DishLATINO. Hailed by Oscar-winner Guillermo del Toro as one of the best Mexican films in recent years, Vuelven, a dark fantasy, is a heartfelt genre film that surpasses all expectations. Its protagonist, 10-year-old Estrella, has three wishes. The first one is for her missing mother to return. Her wish is granted, but her mother is dead and her ghost follows her everywhere. Terrified, Estrella tries to escape by joining a gang of orphan children, but she quickly discovers that in the real world, ghosts are never truly left behind, and that only the bravest survive the brutality and violence that surround her.

Cinelatino Best Director Award was presented to Issa LOPEZ for Vuelven. The Cinelatino Best Director Award was selected by representatives from Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today, a program created in collaboration with HOLA Mexico Film Festival and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) to support emerging Latino filmmakers living in the Los Angeles area, and will receive a cash prize on behalf of Cinelatino.

In collaboration with UNAM and presented for the first time, the Cinelatino Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today Short Award was bestowed upon Jimmy Moreno for short film Embalmer, and will receive a cash prize on behalf of Cinelatino. Each short nominated in this category was shown at one of the screenings during the HOLA Mexico Film Festival, June 1-9, and the winner was chosen based on audience votes. Embalmer follows the story of a veteran mortician who muses about life, death and the things one must do in preparation.

"It's a tremendous honor to continue our decade-long partnership with the HOLA Mexico Film Festival, and help recognize and support the talented Mexican filmmakers who are redefining Latin cinema and helping propel it onto the international stage," said James M. McNamara, Vice Chairman of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc., Cinelatino's parent company. "We congratulate all of the talented filmmakers who exhibited their films at HMFF."

"Over the past decade, it has been an honor to empower, inspire, and highlight the many talented emerging Latino filmmakers through the HOLA Mexico Film Festival which has offered them a platform to showcase their incredible work," said Samuel Douek, Founder & Director of HOLA Mexico Film Festival. "Having support from UNAM and great partners such as Cinelatino and DishLATINO, who have generously donated their time and funding, to recognize these incredible artists has been a pleasure."

Celebrating its landmark 10th year, the HOLA Mexico Film Festival took place from June 1-9 in Los Angeles and showcased 30 films which included a collection of the best recent films by Mexican filmmakers across all genres. Screenings, Q&As and multiple special events took place at four venues including Regal L.A. LIVE: A Barco Innovation Center, Cinepolis Pico Rivera, The Montalban Theater, and La Plaza De Cultura Y Artes.

About Hemisphere Media Group, Inc.:

Cinelatino is a subsidiary of Hemisphere Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HMTV), the only publicly traded pure-play U.S. media company targeting the high growth U.S. Hispanic and Latin American markets with leading broadcast and cable television and digital content platforms. Headquartered in Miami, Florida, Hemisphere owns and operates five leading U.S. Hispanic cable networks, two Latin American cable networks, and the leading broadcast television network in Puerto Rico, and has ownership interests in REMEZCLA, an influential digital media company, Canal 1, a new broadcast television network in Colombia and PANTAYA, a Spanish-language OTT service in the U.S.

About HOLA Mexico Film Festival:

Founded in 2008, HOLA Mexico Film Festival, the largest Mexican Film Festival outside of Mexico, strives to highlight the best and brightest talents in Mexican cinematography. Spanning comedies, dramas, horror and documentaries, the Festival showcases high quality films in a festive atmosphere in conjunction with exclusive parties, outdoor concerts and culinary events. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, HOLA Mexico Film Festival returns to Los Angeles June 1 - June 9 offering film enthusiasts a chance to screen many beloved Mexican films and interact with the filmmakers and talent through special events. Sponsors include: Delta, Aeromexico, DCA, KCRW, LA Plaza De Cultura Y Artes. For more information please visit: Website: http://holamexicoff.com.

About Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México en Los Ángeles:

UNAM is the largest university in Latin America and is recognized worldwide. Founded in March 2005, the Los Angeles chapter of UNAM, with a satellite office located at California State University Northridge, fosters education, Science and Mexican culture between Mexico and the United States of America. UNAM Los Angeles establishes links and partnerships with universities and institutions in California to bring community educational opportunities.