By Maria Esteves – August 18, 2008

 The Ninth Annual New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF) 2008 Awards Ceremony, presented by HBO, was held at El Morocco Theater & Nightclub, Sunday, July 27, 2008, 8:00 PM. The award acknowledges the best in filmmaking and emerging directors of Latino descent. The award announcers were NYILFF founder/executive director, Calixto Chinchilla and executive director, Elizabeth Gardner. A special live performance by Comedy Troupe, ROOM 28 preceded the ceremony.

2008 NYILFF awards ceremony, (from left-right), Best Documentary
Film Award tie winners director Nicholas Bruckman, LA AMERICANA,
with founder/executive director, Calixto Chinchilla, and executive
director, Elizabeth Gardner, NYILFF. NYILFF accepted the award on
behalf of director Sebastiano D'Ayala Valva for TRANSVESTITES
ALSO CRY.

2008 NYILFF awards ceremony, (from left-right), NYILFF founder/executive
director, Calixto Chinchilla, with HBO manager market development
Dennis Williams, HBO Best Short Film Award winner, director,
Paco Farias, EL TUX, and NYILFF executive director, Elizabeth Gardner.

2008 NYILFF awards ceremony, (from left-right), HBO manager market development Dennis Williams, NYILFF founder/executive director, Calixto Chinchilla, and executive director, Elizabeth Gardner, with HBO Best Picture Award winner, cast & crew of  VICIOUS CIRCLE.

  2008 NYILFF HBO Best Short Film Award winner, director, Paco Farias, EL TUX, (right), with HBO Best Picture Award winner producer Angelyna Martinez-Boyd, VICIOUS CIRCLE.

 2008 NYILFF staff at the awards ceremony.