Critics Choice Celebración honors John Leguizamo, Los Javis, Inde Navarrette, and more Latino stars

John Leguizamo accepted the Career Achievement Award for "The Odyssey," and his speech was powerful. He recalled being one of the only Latino people in the room in the 1980s and seeing enormous Latino talent met with “total invisibility.” He urged the next generation to tell their own stories, saying, “if you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.” Leguizamo acknowledged that representation has improved, but said he wants the numbers to match Latinos’ presence as audiences, including more Latino executives, leads and, most importantly, stories. He also spoke about rejection, encouraging artists to use it as motivation rather than allowing it to silence them. Most powerfully, he said his dream is for every Latino child to see themselves on screen “just living, just being a whole person,” adding that they should never let anyone quiet their voice.

Judy Reyes used her Trailblazer Award acceptance speech to reflect on her Dominican roots and the generations of people who helped pave the way for her. She said she comes from “a long line of trailblazers,” including Dominican immigrants who took risks to build a better life in the Bronx. Reyes recalled the moments that made her believe she could become an actor, including seeing an Afro-Latina performer and finally recognizing herself on screen. She also credited her family, from her mother singing at church to her father encouraging his children to sing, dance and perform. Reyes said being a trailblazer means helping tell stories and making space for more people to see themselves represented, while urging others to “find your community, stay together, hold onto your joy, celebrate each other.”

Laysla De Oliveira used her Breakthrough Artist Award speech to honor her parents and the sacrifices they made to give her the opportunity to pursue her dreams. She reflected on how her parents came to the country “to make a better life for themselves and give me the opportunity to dream,” making the recognition feel like a reflection of the journey they started together. De Oliveira also celebrated the importance of representation, noting how proud she is to be part of a hit show with “not one, not two, but 3 Latin leads.”

Directing duo Los Javis, made up of Calvo and his former partner Javier Ambrossi, told Critics Choice on the red carpet that they’ve found a sense of community in Hollywood and the importance of seeing their stories embraced by audiences. “I feel home here. I feel home and safe because of this community,” they said, reflecting on the connection they’ve built through their work. They spoke about La Bola Negra, which is entirely in Spanish, saying they want the film to touch audiences the same way other stories have touched them. They admitted they’ve been surprised to see people connect so deeply with a Spanish-language film, even when watching with subtitles. For Los Javis, that response is a sign that audiences are becoming more open to different stories and cultures. “That means we are in a good direction as a community,” they said. 

Cuban-American actor Peter Dager is celebrating his Rising Star Award after a journey that nearly took him back to Miami. Dager went through six auditions for his role, and after spending two and a half years auditioning while working as a waiter, he said the sixth audition was when he realized the team might see something special in him. “I was thinking about going back to Miami. You know, I kind of wasn't in a great place. Not a lot of confidence as a performer, as an actor,” he recalled on the red carpet. He said that experience ultimately helped him get out of his head and approach the audition without feeling like he had to get everything exactly right.

Oscar Nuñez accepted the Vanguard Award for his body of work, and most recently for his role in Peacock’s The Paper, where he reprises his role as Oscar Martinez. Nuñez admitted he never expected to return as Martinez. “I wasn’t expecting it,” Nuñez said of getting the call to reprise his role, explaining that creator Greg Daniels simply asked if he wanted to come back, and his answer was an immediate yes.

Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira received the Producer Award for NEON’s Paper Tiger, adding another milestone to a career that has connected Brazilian cinema with Hollywood. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Teixeira is the founder of RT Features and has produced films including Call Me by Your Name and I’m Still Here, the latter making history as Brazil’s first film to win the Oscar for Best International Feature while also earning a Best Picture nomination.

James Ortiz received the Innovator Award for his groundbreaking puppetry work in Project Hail Mary. The Puerto Rican American artist, who was born in Albany, New York, has built a career bringing puppets to life across theater and film, including his award-winning work on The Woodsman and The Skin of Our Teeth. For Project Hail Mary, Ortiz serves as the puppeteer and voice behind Rocky, the film’s unforgettable alien companion.

Inde Navarrette received the Breakthrough Actress Award - Film for her breakout performance in Obsession. The Mexican American actress, whose father is Mexican and whose mother is Australian, has spoken openly about the importance of embracing her Latina identity, especially after growing up in a family that did not speak Spanish. Born in Tucson and raised largely in Visalia, California, Navarrette has quickly become one of the year’s breakout stars following the success of Obsession. She was unfortunately not at the awards, but she did make a speech virtually.