Honorary Chairs

Bel Hernandez Castillo

Founder/CEO Latin Heat Media
Founding Chair, Hispanic Coalition of Small Businesses (HCSB) Arts & Entertainment Committee
Chair, Farmworker Justice Advisory Council
Chair, Peabody Awards
Member, Advisory Board of the Mexican American Cultural Education Foundation 

Extending the Latin Heat brand, she produced the Latin Heat Entertainment Conference for six years, with the participation of Hollywood’s top talent, studios, networks, and executives. Hernandez Castillo’s work led to her being named “The Godmother of Latino Hollywood” by Moviemaker Magazine.  She also served for six years on the Peabody Awards Board, which honors excellence in TV, film, and the internet, the last year becoming the first Latina/o to serve as the Chair of the Board.

In 2012, Hernandez Castillo received an NCLR ALMA Award from the National Council of La Raza (now UNIDOS) for her contributions to the entertainment community. Recognition for her journalist endeavors came from the Hispanic Public Relations Association, Latina Style Magazine, La Opinion, National Hispanic Health Foundation, National Hispanic Media Coalition, the City of Los Angeles, the HPRA (Bel, is this the same as the Hispanic Public Relations Association mention earlier in this sentence?), The Art Center Los Angeles, and Women in Theater Festival.

She currently serves as the Chair of the Farmworker Justice Advisory Council and on the Advisory Board of the Mexican American Cultural Education Foundation.

In 2021, she began her work on the Credentialing Committee of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (producers of the Golden Globes).

Hernandez Castillo is most proud to be the mother of three children: Karina Noelle, Sol, and Alma Castillo; a “Nana” to Amada and Kean Castillo, and Jack Day; and to be married to actor/director Enrique Castillo!

Enrique Castillo

Producer/Co-Director/Writer

Enrique Castillo is an award-winning actor/writer/director and author whose work spans theater, television and film. He is an Imagen Award recipient for his writing/directing. He is well known for Showtime’s television series Weeds where he played the lethal Cesar. Enrique is most recognized for his film role of Montana in Taylor Hackford’s Blood In Blood Out where he played the inspirational (albeit terrifying) leader of the Mexican prison gang. When the film was released, The New York Times singled out Mr. Castillo’s performance in their review. In Japan a film critic said of his performance as Montana “He plays the role with the wisdom of Torquemada and the strength of a Sandinista warrior.” He began his career with Luis Valdez’s El Teatro Campesino in 1969. As part of the Teatro, Enrique participated in workshops with renowned English director Peter Brook’s theater company that included now Academy Award winner Helen Mirren. In the early 70’s Enrique traveled with the Teatro to Paris where they represented the U.S. at the World Theater Festival. 

Enrique made his television debut in 1969 performing Los Vendidos with El Teatro Campesino on NBC. In 1978 Enrique made the move to Hollywood and was cast in the hit play Zoot Suit, also created and directed by Luis Valdez, where he played the lead role opposite Edward James Olmos. Since then, he has appeared in over 50 television shows and feature films. His first feature film was acting opposite Charles Bronson in Borderline. Since then he has worked with such notable film directors as Tony Scott, (Déjà Vu) Taylor Hackford, (Blood In-Blood Out) Stephen Frears (The Hi-Lo Country) Wim Wenders (The End of Violence) Gregory Nava (My Family and El Norte) Oliver Stone (Nixon) and Tim Bur- ton (Mars Attacks) Miguel Arteta (Beatriz at Dinner) Starring Salma Hayek. In the mid 90’s Enrique adapted, starred and directed the award-winning play The Last Angry Brown Hat, written by Alfredo Ramos that toured to rave reviews for over four years. He then wrote and directed Veteranos: A Legacy of Valor, a theater piece honoring the military contributions by Latinos in America’s defense that had two national tours to standing ovations and much critical acclaim. Veteranos was awarded a special recognition by the Hispanic Congressional Caucus and received the prestigious Imagen Award for Best Live Theatrical Production in Los Angeles, CA. Enrique has written various screenplays including Yo Solo (I Alone), The Cobra, Valley of The Dead, Deerdancer and the screen version of The Last Angry Brown Hat. Enrique’s debut novel, The Dead of Summer is a suspense thriller/crime drama that takes place in the US/Mexico.