LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2018 Edward James Olmos
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS (Axford) has achieved extraordinary success as an actor, producer and humanitarian. The Tony, Emmy and Academy Award® Nominated actor, is probably best known to young audiences for his work on the SYFY television series Battlestar Galatica as Admiral William Adama. Although the series kept the actor busy during its run from 2003 through 2009, it didn’t stop him from directing the HBO movie Walkout in 2007, for which he earned a DGA Nomination in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television category.
Olmos’ career in entertainment spans over 30 years. In that time he created a signature style and aesthetic that he applies to every artist endeavor, often grounding his characters in reality and gravitas. His dedication to his craft has brought him attention across the industry, and with audiences worldwide.
Originally a musician, Olmos branched out into acting, appearing in many small theatre productions until portraying the iconic El Pachuco in Zoot Suit. The play moved to Broadway and Olmos earned a Tony nomination for the role, which he revised in the 1981 film version. Olmos went on to appear in the films Wolfen, Blade Runner, and the Ballad of Gregorio Cortez before starring in his biggest role to date, that of Lieutenant Martin Castillo in the iconic 80’s television series Miami Vice opposite Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. During his time on the Michael Mann series, Olmos earned two Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations, resulting in a win from each.
In 1988, the actor was nominated for an Academy Award® and won the Golden Globe for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver. He directed and starred in his first motion picture, American Me, in 1992.
Olmos’ passion for the arts grows every year, but he never forgets to give back to the communities that support him with their dedication and support. He is an international advocate, spokesman, and humanitarian working with organizations such as Thank You Ocean, Project Hope Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of America, The River Keepers, Dr. Andros’ Diabetic Foot Global Conference and he speaks up to 150 times a year in schools, universities, and corporations.
Other credits as an actor include the motion pictures My Family/Mi Familia; Selena, which was a breakout film for Jennifer Lopez; and In the Time of Butterflies, in which he played Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. In television, he enjoyed a recurring role as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Roberto Mendoza in the NBC drama The West Wing, portrayed a widowed father in the PBS drama American Family: Journey of Dreams, and recently Directed the YouTube phenomena The Short Film BP Doesn’t Want You To See, featured on Larry King/CNN.
ICON AWARD 2018 Ed Asner
Television legend ED ASNER is best known for his comedic and dramatic talent as the gruff but soft-hearted journalist Lou Grant, the role he originated on the landmark TV newsroom comedy The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and continued in the newspaper-set drama Lou Grant, which earned him five Emmys and three Golden Globe Awards. Asner received two more Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man and Roots.
Asner’s recent credits include a recurring role on the CBS series The Good Wife starring Julianna Margulies, the NBC telefilm Buddy The Elf, the Hallmark telefilm All of My Heart starring Lacey Chabert, the CBS series Criminal Minds starring Joe Mantegna, Hawaii 5-0 starring Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan, Mom starring Allison Janney, The Crazy Ones with the late Robin Williams, as well as Chasing Life with Marion Ross for ABC Family and the TBS primetime series Men At Work. He and starred opposite Markie Post in the Lifetime telefilm Christmas On The Bayou.
Asner was the recipient of a 2017 Voice Artist Award in the category of Outstanding Storytelling, Best Performance of an original western animated audio drama from the episode Psalms For A Broken Man and was the recipient for his eighth Emmy Award at The CSA Awards for his guest appearance in the Canadian dramatic series Forgive Me. He starred as Carl Fredricksen in Pixar’s 2009 box-office-hit Oscar winning Best Picture UP!. Asner’s most recent credits include a guest star role opposite Sean Young in the comedy In Vino and also stars opposite Melissa Leo, Cynthia Nixon and Rhys Ifans in the indie feature The Parting Glass, and portrayed Santa Claus again in The Santa Files and has voiced characters on the Fox series, Family Guy and American Dad.
One of the most honored actors in the history of television; Edward Asner has been the recipient of eight Emmy Awards and 16 nominations, as well as five Golden Globe Awards and served as National President of the Screen Actors Guild for two terms. He was inducted into the TV Academy Hall of Fame in 1996. Asner received the Ralph Morgan Award from the Screen Actors Guild in 2000, presented periodically for distinguished service to the Guild’s Hollywood membership. In March 2002, he was again honored by The Guild as the 38th recipient of the prestigious Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment, presented annually to an actor who fosters the highest ideals of the profession.
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2018 Sveva Alviti
At the age of 17, SVEVA ALVITI began her career as a top model, on the runways of New York’s top designers, giving her the opportunity to work with famous photographers. Sveva’s dream had always been to be an actress: while modeling she studied acting for years with some of the most famous American teachers and coaches, including Susan Batson. After a few roles on Broadway and some appearances on the big screen, in 2011 she made it to the Venice Film Festival with the short film Alice. In 2012 she acted next to Gerard Depardieu in Niente ci può fermare directed by Luigi Cecinelli and in Buongiorno Papà written and directed by Edoardo Leo. In 2013 she was in Mirca Viola’s movie Cam Girl.
Sveva’s great opportunity came in 2016 with Dalida, a biopic by Lisa Azuelos where she portrayed the famous French icon Dalida.
In 2017 she starred in Frank Belloq’s movie Love Addict, released in France. This year, she has the lead female role in Lukas starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, currently in theaters in France, Belgium, the UK, and being released in Italy and worldwide soon.
She was nominated for Best Female Rising Actress at the 2018 Cesar Awards.
RISING STAR AWARD 2018 Natalie Qasabian
NATALIE QASABIAN graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2014 and has been building her career as a producer ever since.
The first short film she produced, Join the Club premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2016. From there she went on to produce three Duplass Brothers features: Rainbow Time, Take Me, and Duck Butter directed by Miguel Arteta. She also produced All About Nina starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Common, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year and was acquired by The Orchard.
Her latest feature Searching, a thriller starring John Cho and Debra Messing premiered at Sundance in January and won the Audience award and Alfred P. Sloan award. Searching was distributed as a wide release by Sony pictures. Currently she’s producing Run for Lionsgate alongside Searching producer Sev Ohanian and director Aneesh Chaganty. Natalie also recently graduated with an MBA from Pepperdine University.