Rita Moreno will soon have another trophy to add to her (EGOT-stacked) collection.
The legendary performer will be honored with a Vida y Legado Award (aka Life & Legacy) at Carlos Eric Lopez‘s sixth annual Día de Muertos Gala. The event — a benefit for the Lopez-founded TúTomorrow, a fiscally-sponsored initiative of the International Community Foundation to support the next generation of creatives and entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities — will be held on the Universal Studios backlot at Old Pueblo Village on Oct. 27.
La Bola Negra breakout Guitarricadelafuente, who has been earning raves for his work in the new Netflix film, is also set to take the stage and perform. Moreno will be joined on the honoree roster by Guillermo Rodríguez, the beloved sidekick of Jimmy Kimmel on his long-running late-night show, who will receive an Alegría Award. The trophy, which comes to Rodríguez after his turn on Dancing With the Stars, is designed to celebrate his “contribution to entertainment and the power of laughter to build connection, resilience, and pride, especially in moments of uncertainty.”
There’s more notable news regarding Día de Muertos Gala because the starry event has linked up with NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises as the exclusive Spanish language broadcast media partner. It will broadcast the event across its portfolio of shows. TV personality Andrea Meza will also take a spot on the red carpet for interviews.
“Before there was a playbook for Latinas in Hollywood, there was Rita Moreno. She won an Oscar as Anita in West Side Story, then kept going until she had the Emmy, Grammy and Tony, too. Eight decades in, she’s still working, still outspoken and still stealing every scene,” Lopez said in a statement. “What I’ve built over six years is a room the community trusts, and that means everything to me. The gala is about bringing our community together, honoring our traditions and creating space for our stories.”
The gala is presented by Lopez, a Mexican-American photographer, entrepreneur, influencer and Hollywood insider as a way to shine a light on Latino culture in celebration of the traditional holiday. Latino artists, tastemakers, business leaders, community organizers and celebrities have been supporting the event since its inception.
Last year, Camilla Cabello honored her grandmother with an Abuelita Award and the year before that, Eva Longoria received a Life & Legacy Award. Guests over the years have included Gael García Bernal, Jessica Alba, Miguel, Willy Chavarria, Vanessa Bryant, Diego Boneta, Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Nicole Richie, Juanpa Zurita, Jen Atkin, Stephanie Suganami, Michael Cimino, Xochitl Gomez, Xolo Maridueña, Lele Pons, Desi Perkins, Aimee Song, Jamie Mizrahi and others.
This year’s installment will feature the reveal of a teaser for When I Smile, She Smiles, Lopez’s first film as a director. The short was shot in Mexico and produced by Stacy Perskie’s Redrum and Impression. Fran Figueroa of Monterrey, Mexico, who stars in the film, will then take the stage to perform a song from the soundtrack, his original track titled “Tatuajes.” Perskie will have other duties that night as he’s been tapped as creative director, and the Redrum founder and CEO will bring his creative vision and cinematic perspective to the festivities
“Carlos has created one of the most meaningful celebrations of Día de Muertos in Los Angeles. This gala is a true cultural bridge, bringing together extraordinary Latino talent in film, music, food and design and sharing our traditions with everyone it touches,” Perskie said. “As someone who works between Mexico City and Los Angeles, I see firsthand how important that bridge is. Carlos’s vision, hard work and passion are an inspiration, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
The event is back in business with longtime supporters including Lexus as the official automotive partner, and Tequila Don Julio as the official spirits partner. New to the crowd is Cerveza Charro as the official beer partner. Also on board to support: Dnero and Wells Fargo.
Lexus will mount two vehicle displays, provide VIP transportation and offer a gift to attendees. Tequila Don Julio will bring its global Día de Muertos campaign, El Puente Eterno, to the event, celebrating the enduring connections between loved ones across generations and the love that makes these bonds eternal.
