LEA Honoree
Moctesuma Esparza
Moctesuma Esparza, an award-winning filmmaker, producer, entrepreneur and activist, is revered for his contributions to the movie industry and commitment to Latinos. Esparza established Maya Cinemas, a chain of modern movie theatre complexes with the focus on providing main stream entertainment in Latino centric underserved communities. A few of his production credits include: Selena, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (HBO), The Milagro Beanfield War, Gettysburg, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, and Walkout (HBO). Esparza founded the Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise Charter School, is Co-Founder of NALIP, Co-Founder and former Chair of the NAA, and is a Founding Board Member of the Sundance Institute. He has served the City of Los Angeles as a Commissioner to the Los Angeles City Employees’ Retirement System and was also appointed by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to the planning commission of the National Museum of the American Latino. He is also a trustee of the American Film Institute. He has been nominated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy and has been awarded over 200 honors and awards including an Emmy, Clio, John F. Kennedy Journalism Award, Ohio State Award, Cine Golden Eagle and The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Los Angeles Region as well as being listed as one the most influential Latinos in the US consistently for over three decades.