The Chicano Hollywood Film Festival has named Oscar-nominated makeup artist and character designer Ken Diaz as the inaugural recipient of the Community Impact Legacy Award, presented by Pure Flix Familia. The award, which will be given annually, recognizes individuals whose lives exemplify faith, servant leadership, and a commitment to strengthening families and communities. Diaz received the honor during the festival's Closing Night Awards Ceremony.
Johnny Murillo, founder of the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival, said in a statement, "Ken Diaz has spent a lifetime creating unforgettable characters on-screen, but his greatest legacy is the lives he has touched off-screen. His story reflects the values this award was created to recognize — faith, redemption, service, and a commitment to helping others discover hope and purpose."
Denise Crayne, Chief Financial Officer of Great American Media, added, "The Community Impact Legacy Award, presented by Pure Flix Familia, recognizes people who use their gifts to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Ken's remarkable career speaks for itself, but what makes him truly deserving of this honor is the way he has invested his faith, influence, and compassion in the lives of others."
Diaz's Hollywood career includes acclaimed films such as Blood In Blood Out, American Me, and Training Day, where his work brought authenticity and humanity to complex characters. However, it was a personal journey of faith that made him the unanimous choice for this award. In 1991, Diaz was shot in the leg after confronting gang members spray-painting graffiti. During his recovery, a friend prayed with him and introduced him to Jesus Christ, leading to a spiritual transformation. He soon became involved in a church in Pico Rivera, working alongside former gang members whose dramatic presentations about their lives revealed the hope found through faith and redemption.
That experience reshaped both his faith and his storytelling. "I had gone from wanting to beat these kids…to having a deeper understanding of them," Diaz recalled in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "I realized the humanity of the hurt, damaged people who just need love and guidance."
Today, Diaz continues his commitment to community through his service with Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang intervention and rehabilitation program. He serves on the Advisory Board of Homeboy Media, an initiative that creates pathways into the entertainment industry for formerly gang-involved and formerly incarcerated individuals. Through Homeboy Media, Diaz is helping develop filmmaking programs that provide career training and job placement, producing projects that reflect the organization's philosophy of kinship and redemption.
Murillo emphasized the significance of Diaz's work: "Ken has never separated his faith from his profession. Whether mentoring young artists, helping tell authentic stories on screen, or creating opportunities for men and women rebuilding their lives after incarceration, he has consistently used his God-given talents to serve others. That lifelong commitment to faith, family, and second chances makes him the ideal inaugural recipient of this award."
The award underscores Pure Flix Familia's mission to celebrate individuals who demonstrate the power of faith and service. Pure Flix Familia is a soon-to-launch Spanish-language streaming platform from Great American Media, featuring faith- and family-centered content for Latino audiences. The Chicano Hollywood Film Festival, now in its inaugural year, aims to celebrate Latino culture and community through film screenings, workshops, and networking opportunities.
