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 September 30, 2026. The honorees include Academy Award nominee Yalitza Aparicio, who will receive the Pepe Serna GALFA Icon Award; actor, filmmaker, and producer Roberto Sanchez, who will receive the Pepe Serna Excellence in Filmmaking Award; Leonard Najar, who will receive the Revelation of the Year Award; and Sandy Hernandez, who will receive the Rising Star Award. The festival 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 added that the awards aim to remind recipients that “excellence comes with purpose and with a responsibility to leave the door wider open for the generation that follows.”
Yalitza Aparicio 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 anniversary celebration in Atlanta with Mexican cinema and storytelling. Roberto Sanchez has built a multifaceted career spanning acting, filmmaking, and production, working both in front of and behind the camera. His award reflects GALIFF’s commitment to honoring Latino artists who have built lasting careers while contributing to the growth of Latino representation in entertainment.
Leonard Najar will receive the Revelation of the Year Award, which recognizes 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. Sandy Hernandez will receive the Rising Star Award, recognizing an emerging artist and the promise of a new generation of Latino talent. 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.
The 15th anniversary celebration will take place on September 30, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, with the festival running from September 30 to October 4, 2026. Sponsors and partners 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. For more information about the Georgia Latino Film Alliance, visit their website at https://www.georgialatinofilmalliance.org.
The honorees represent different stages of the journey to expand Latino representation in film: established artists whose careers helped open doors, working filmmakers continuing that progress, and emerging voices preparing to shape what comes next. As GALIFF marks 15 years of “Our Voices. Our Films. Our Time.,” the recognition of these individuals underscores the festival’s ongoing mission to provide 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.
