The Georgia Latino International Film Festival (GALIFF), presented by the Georgia Latino Film Alliance (GALFA), has announced its 2026 honorees for its 15th anniversary celebration, set for September 30 at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre. The awards recognize established and emerging Latino talent, underscoring GALIFF’s role in expanding representation in the entertainment industry.
Academy Award nominee Yalitza Aparicio will receive the Pepe Serna GALFA Icon Award. Aparicio gained international acclaim for her debut performance in Alfonso Cuarón’s Roma, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Her recognition carries added significance as Mexico is the festival’s 2026 Guest Country of Honor, linking the Atlanta celebration with Mexican cinema and storytelling.
Actor, filmmaker, and producer Roberto Sanchez will receive the Pepe Serna Excellence in Filmmaking Award for his multifaceted career both in front of and behind the camera. Leonard Najar will receive the Revelation of the Year Award, and Sandy Hernandez will receive the Rising Star Award, highlighting GALIFF’s commitment to discovering and supporting new voices alongside established artists.
The ceremony will also honor actor, artist, mentor, and humanitarian Pepe Serna, whose career and dedication 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 GALFA and GALIFF. “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 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.”
Now in its 15th year, GALIFF provides a platform for Latino filmmakers and storytellers to showcase their work and connect with audiences and industry professionals. 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 will run from September 30 to October 4, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. Sponsors and partners include 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, visit the Georgia Latino International Film Festival website.
