Diego Luna Returns to Host the 'MTV Video Music Awards Latin America 2003'

    MIAMI, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Latin America announced today the return
 of Diego Luna to host the second annual "MTV Video Music Awards Latin America
 2003."  The network also informed that ex-Soda Stereo Gustavo Cerati joins the
 list of previously confirmed talent including Dido, Cafi Tacvba, Control
 Machete, Alejandro Sanz, Sum 41, La Ley, Iggy Pop and Natalia Lafourcade.
 Additionally, a new line-up of presenters and show participants was announced
 including Juanes, Kelly Osbourne, Slash, Alex Lora, Molotov, Charly Alberti,
 Kinky, Daisy Fuentes, Plastilina Mosh, Elan, Moenia, Aterciopelados, Mana, La
 Oreja de Van Gogh, Zach de la Rocha and Los Prisoneros, among others.
     The second annual VMALA event will take place Thursday, October 23, 2003
 at the Jackie Gleason Theater in Miami Beach and will air live on MTV Latin
 America and MTV2 in the U.S. at 9:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. Mexico, 10:00 p.m.
 Chile and Argentina).  Following its premiere, the event will air on MTV U.S.
 on Saturday, November 1st at 8pm PT/ET and on MTV's 44 channels around the
 world throughout November.
     After his successful participation on the first MTV Video Music Awards
 Latin America in 2002, Diego Luna is back to host the second edition of the
 VMALAs.  Diego's international film career is thriving, having recently
 participated in "Open Range" alongside director and star Kevin Costner as well
 as in "Frida" opposite Salma Hayek.  He is currently promoting the film
 "Nicotina" and stars in the sequel of 80's hit "Dirty Dancing," "Dirty
 Dancing: Havana Nights" which will open in the US in February 2004. He will
 also be seen in "Criminal" starring alongside John C. Reilly and this fall he
 will begin shooting Dreamworks' "Terminal" alongside Tom Hanks for director
 Steven Spielberg.
     "As we get closer to the day of show, we really feel all the pieces are
 coming to place," said Charlie Signer, Senior Vice President, Programming and
 Production, MTV Networks Latin America.  "Diego did a great job last year and
 having had that experience we're sure this year he'll take it up another notch
 and drive a really fun show.  Also, having confirmed such powerful music
 performances, along with a couple of nice surprises, will take this year's
 show to another level".
     "I'm honored to have been invited again to host the VMALAs," commented
 Diego Luna.  "I love the idea of living like a rock star, even if it's only
 for one night!  They're the ones who enjoy themselves the most: the best
 parties, beautiful women and they don't have to get up early in the morning.
 Last year I had an amazing time hosting the show, and I'm sure this one will
 be awesome!"
 
     Argentine Gustavo Cerati, ex-lead man of legendary "rock en espaqol" band
 Soda Stereo launched his latest album "Siempre es Hoy" in 2002 and in this
 past year has toured many Latin American countries with great success.  Cerati
 is also nominated in four VMALA categories, including Best Video of the Year,
 Best Male Solo, Best Rock Artist, and Best Artist in Argentina.
     Additional personalities that will participate in this year's show include
 multi-awarded Juanes, Ozzy's little girl Kelly Osbourne, ex-Guns & Roses'
 Slash, El Tri's Alex Lora, Molotov, ex-Soda Stereo Charly Alberti, Mexicans
 Kinky, ex-MTV VJ Daisy Fuentes, Plastilina Mosh, up and coming Mexican singer
 songwriter Elan, Moenia, Colombian rock icons Aterciopelados, Mana, La Oreja
 de Van Gogh, Rage Against the Machine's Zach de la Rocha and Los Prisioneros,
 among many others.  These celebrities add to previously announced presenters
 Catupecu Machu, Miranda, Robbie Rosa, Vicentico, and Diego Torres.
     Mexicans Cafi Tacuba, Natalia Lafourcade and Molotov, as well as Chilean
 band La Ley, top this year's nominations with five each, followed by Argentine
 Gustavo Cerati, Colombian Juanes, and Mexican band Mana with four and
 Vicentico with three nominations.
     Charlie Singer, SVP of Programming and Production, MTV Networks Latin
 America will executive produce. Audrey Morrissey (a veteran of many MTV
 productions and award shows, and producer of "Alejandro Sanz MTV Unplugged,"
 "La Ley MTV Unplugged" and last year's VMALAs) will serve as producer; Manny
 Rodriguez ("Alejandro Sanz MTV Unplugged," "La Ley MTV Unplugged") will direct
 and Josi Tillan, VP of Music and Artist Relations, MTV Networks Latin America
 will supervise the musical content of the show.
     The Video Music Awards Latin America 2003 acknowledge the support of the
 Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County
 Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade
 County Mayor, the Board of County Commissioners and the Miami Beach Visitor
 and Convention Authority.
     MTV Latin America, a unit of MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., is a 24-
 hour Spanish-language cable television network that airs music programming to
 more than 13 million households in Spanish-speaking Latin America.  The
 network is delivered via satellite to cable, MMDS, UHF broadcast and direct-
 to-home viewers aged 12-34.  MTV Networks Latin America, Inc., a unit of
 Viacom International, owns and operates MTV Latin America and Nickelodeon
 Latin America, which have regional headquarters in Buenos Aires, Mexico City
 and Sao Paulo (for Nickelodeon only) and operating headquarters in Miami.
 
     For information about show credentials, go to www.mtvla.com/prensa/vmala03
     or call Erica Pedreguera at (305) 535-3788.
 
 

SOURCE  MTV Networks Latin America