It is no secret that Latino talent has been gaining ground in the U.S. art world.
The most recent version of the Golden Globes is proof of that. Several names of Latina artists appeared in the list of nominees and winners.

Sofía Vergara, Liza Colón Zayas, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gómez and Zoë Saldaña. They were mentioned as possible winners.

In the end, three of them won medals.

"Emilia Perez", the narco-musical by French director Jacques Audiard, was the work that gave the greatest joy to the Latin artists.

"Emilia Pérez," filmed almost entirely in Spanish and following the new life of a drug trafficker who transitions into a woman. It won a total of four statuettes, including the coveted Best Musical or Comedy and Best Foreign Language Film. The award went to the entire cast, including Adriana Paz, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gómez and Zoë Saldaña.

"I have no sisters, maybe that's the reason why I made this film, because of the sisterhood," Audiard said in French, upon receiving the award for best foreign film.

"In difficult times, I hope 'Emilia Perez' will be a light," he added.

"They can imprison us, beat us, but they can never take away our soul (...), our identity," said its protagonist, Spanish trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who accompanied Audiard to receive one of the awards.

"Raise your voice and say, 'I am who I am, not who you want me to be,'" he launched.

In a sort of sign of how the evening would proceed, Dominican-American Zoe Saldaña took home the first award of the gala: the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture for her role in this surreal Netflix production.

"My heart is full of gratitude. Thank you so much to the Golden Globes for celebrating our film and honoring women," said Saldaña through tears.

Fernanda Torres surprises

Another Latina who shined at the gala was Brazilian Fernanda Torres, who was the surprise of the night when she won the Globe for best dramatic actress. This achievement was made possible by her leading role in "I'm still here", the film by Walter Salles about the disappearance of congressman Rubens Paiva in the 1970s under the Brazilian dictatorship.

"I want to dedicate this to my mother (...) who was here 25 years ago, and it's proof that art remains throughout life," Torres said, referring to the legendary Fernanda Montenegro, with whom he shares the screen.

The Brazilian later told the media that her win shows how much cinema has changed. "You have so many good performances in English... and someone who speaks Portuguese gets nominated, and wins!" she added.

Other surprises of the evening

But the Golden's left many surprises for fans of the visual arts. In a night of moving speeches, Demi Moore drew applause when she received her Globe for Best Comedy Actress for her performance in "The Substance," a film that addresses the impossible standards of beauty in the industry.

"I've been at this for a long time, over 45 years, and this is the first time I've won anything as an actress," said Moore who added that at one point she was convinced she could not be recognized by her peers despite her success.

"Today I celebrate this as an indicator of my integrity and (...) reminding me that I belong somewhere," he added.

In a thematic coincidence, Sebastian Stan took home the Globe for best actor in a comedy or musical film for "A Different Man," about a struggling actor who, afflicted with a disease that causes facial tumors, undergoes an experimental medical procedure to transform his appearance.

In television, the Japanese historical epic "Shogun" won three Globes, including best series, while Hacks won two of the comedy categories. "Baby Reindeer" took the award for best miniseries.

Comedian Nikki Glaser took the reins of the ceremony, which was preceded by a lavish red carpet where gold was the color of the night, shining on actresses such as Demi Moore, Elle Fanning and Cate Blanchett.

Triumphant return

Best director was Brady Corbet for "The Brutalist." The film about a Hungarian Jewish architect who immigrates to the United States after surviving the Holocaust came in as the second most nominated and did not disappoint.

"I was told this film was not distributable. I was told that no one would come to see it. I was told the movie wouldn't work," said Corbet, who also won the Globe for best dramatic film.

"Films don't exist without filmmakers. Please, let's support them," he cried.

The production also gave the Golden Globe to its leading man, Oscar-winner Adrien Brody, who with his award for Best Dramatic Actor made a triumphant comeback of sorts.

"There was a time when I thought I could never live this again," said the performer, who also paid tribute to his family and addressed the central theme of the film in his speech.

"While I don't quite know how to express the challenges faced by the many people who have struggled to immigrate to this country, I hope this work will serve to give them a voice," he said.

Organized three days before voting closes to define the Oscar nominations, the organizers hope that these Golden Globes, which are living a new phase after being overshadowed by allegations of unethical practices in 2021, will consolidate as a thermometer of the most important night in Hollywood.

With information from AFP