Leading Latina actress and activist Eva Longoria (ABC’s Desperate Housewives) will return once again as co-host of the “2013 NCLR ALMA Awards,” joined this year by actor and television personality Mario Lopez (NBC’s Extra, FOX’s The X Factor). The barrier-breaking awards show will broadcast LIVE on MSNBC as a one-hour televised prime-time special on Friday, September 27, 2013, at 10:00 ET/7:00 PT.

The “2013 NCLR ALMA Awards” honorees include:

Feature film in high definition (Unrated version) Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence: ROBERT RODRIGUEZ
Credited with reshaping the cultural landscape by integrating Latino faces, stories and themes into the mainstream with groundbreaking works such as El Mariachi, From Dusk Till Dawn and the Spy Kids franchise, Robert Rodriguez will be presented the Anthony Quinn Award for Industry Excellence by Jessica Alba (Sin City), who will be joined onstage by Machete’s Tito Larriva and Spy Kids’ Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega as part of the special tribute. Actors Cheech Marin, George Lopez and Danny Trejo will also take part in the presentation.

Outstanding Commitment to Cause and Community Award: CARLOS SANTANA
Music legend Carlos Santana will be recognized for his tireless advocacy for increased access to the arts, education and health care for underprivileged youth, as well as the fight against child poverty and suffering. A ten-time Grammy Award® winner and three-time Latin Grammy Award® winner, Santana is an emblem of success and altruism in the Latino community and worldwide.

Outstanding Commitment to Cause and Community Award: ROSARIO DAWSON
The box-office darling Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Men in Black) will be recognized for distinction in service, where she matches her talents on the big screen with an equal passion for activism in the Latino community. Dawson supports the Lower East Side Girls Club, Voto Latino and other causes and charities that make a difference in the lives of women, protect the environment and have global impact.

Presenters also include: Jessica Alba (Sin City, Machete), Gina Rodriguez (Filly Brown), Rico Rodriguez (Modern Family), the cast of NBC’s new comedy Welcome to the Family (Ricardo Chavira, Justina Machado, Fabrizio Zacharee Guido and Joseph Haro) and the Latina-led cast of Lifetime’s Devious Maids (Roselyn Sanchez, Dania Ramirez, Judy Reyes, Ana Ortiz and Edy Ganem).

The 2013 NCLR ALMA Awards telecast—a National Hispanic Heritage Month event—celebrates America’s favorite Latinos in the entertainment industry, television, film and music.

For additional information visit www.almaawards.com or follow the show using our handle on Twitter: @almaawards and on Instagram: instagram.com/almaawards, or hashtag #ALMA13.