The Georgia Latino International Film Festival (GALIFF), presented by the Georgia Latino Film Alliance (GALFA), has announced its 2026 honorees as it prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary with a special event at Atlanta's Fox Theatre on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 6 p.m. The honorees include Academy Award nominee Yalitza Aparicio, actor and filmmaker Roberto Sanchez, emerging talent Leonard Najar, and rising star Sandy Hernandez.
Aparicio will receive the Pepe Serna GALFA Icon Award, recognizing her work and cultural impact in film. She gained international recognition for her debut performance as Cleo in Alfonso Cuarón's Roma, which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her recognition at GALIFF carries additional significance as Mexico serves as the festival's 2026 Guest Country of Honor, connecting the festival's anniversary celebration in Atlanta with Mexican cinema and storytelling.
Sanchez will receive the Pepe Serna Excellence in Filmmaking Award for his work and continued contributions to filmmaking. Working both in front of and behind the camera, Sanchez has developed a multifaceted career spanning acting, filmmaking, and production. His recognition reflects GALIFF's commitment to honoring Latino artists who have built lasting careers while contributing to the continued growth of Latino representation in the entertainment industry.
Najar will receive the Revelation of the Year Award, recognizing an emerging talent and new voice in the entertainment industry. The award reflects GALIFF's commitment to creating opportunities for audiences and industry professionals to discover emerging Latino talent alongside established artists. Recognizing Najar as part of the festival's 15th anniversary honorees highlights the organization's continued focus on supporting the next generation of storytellers.
Hernandez will receive the Rising Star Award, recognizing an emerging artist and the promise of a new generation of Latino talent. The award reflects one of the principles at the heart of GALIFF's work: creating greater visibility and opportunities for Latino creatives within film and entertainment. Hernandez's recognition alongside established and emerging artists represents the continuum between the generations that helped expand Latino representation and those building upon that work today.
GALIFF will also recognize actor, artist, mentor, and humanitarian Pepe Serna, whose career and commitment to supporting Latino artists inspired the awards that bear his name. "Pepe Serna represents the kind of excellence we want these awards to stand for," said Dr. José Márquez, CEO and founder of the Georgia Latino Film Alliance and Georgia Latino International Film Festival. "He was a trailblazer when there was barely a road to follow. But his legacy is about more than an extraordinary career. It is about using success to create opportunity for others."
Márquez continued, "That is what we want every recipient of a Pepe Serna Award to understand. Excellence comes with purpose and with a responsibility to leave the door wider open for the generation that follows." He added, "Pepe Serna Awards reminds us that legacy is not simply about what you accomplish. It is also about what you make possible for the people who come after you."
The 15th anniversary celebration underscores GALIFF's role as a platform for Latino filmmakers and storytellers to showcase their work, connect with audiences, and develop relationships within the entertainment industry. Through its annual festival and year-round programming, GALFA works to expand professional and creative opportunities for Latino artists while strengthening their participation in Georgia's film and entertainment community.
The 2026 honorees represent different stages of that journey: established artists whose careers helped expand representation, working filmmakers continuing that progress, and emerging voices preparing to shape what comes next. The festival's theme, "Our Voices. Our Films. Our Time," reflects this ongoing commitment. The Georgia Latino International Film Festival XV will run from September 30 to October 4, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Sponsors and partners for the event include Presenting Sponsor The Fox Theatre, Olé Mexican Foods, Fulton Films, VensureHR, 222Creative, Women in Film and Television Atlanta (WIFTA), Georgia Films, the DeKalb Entertainment Commission, HispAtlanta, Dr. Erick Pagan, ADCO Tax Services, Dr. Peirluigi Mancini, Cinefi, and the Georgia Latino Film Alliance.
