Ernesto Espinosa, Managing Director, Universal Pictures International Mexico will receive this year’s LATAM Distributor of the Year Award at ShowEast as a part of the International Awards Luncheon on Monday, October 23 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel.
“ShowEast is thrilled to honor Ernesto with this year’s LATAM Distributor of the Year award,” said Andrew Sunshine, President of the Film Expo Group. “He has brilliantly managed the distribution of the Universal slate in the LATAM region. We congratulate him on this richly deserved honor.”
Past recipients of this prestigious award include Diamond Films; Marcio Fraccaroli of Paris Filmes; Pedro Rodriguez of IDC; Martin Iraola of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; and Monique Esclavissat of Warner Bros. Pictures International.
Ernesto has been Managing Director of UPI Mexico since 2007 when the company started its operations in the territory. With over 18 years’ experience in film Distribution and Marketing, Ernesto has launched over 650 films in Mexico and LATAM (Universal 300+, Warner 260+, and Columbia Pictures 85) including 7 of the all-time box office Top 20 films in Mexico (UPI: “Super Mario Bros,” “Jurassic World Dominion,” “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” “Fast 7,” “Minions,” WB: “Barbie” and “Joker”), as well as the second most successful Mexican local production (WB – “Nosotros Los Nobles”).
Since August of 2021, Ernesto’s role was expanded to supervise Latin America. During this time, the region has had huge successes with such titles as “The Black Phone,” currently the second highest-grossing original horror film of all time in the region, “Super Mario Bros,” Universal’s film with the highest number of admissions in the region, and most recently “Oppenheimer,” which is Christopher Nolan’s highest grossing original film in Latin America.
Originally from Mexico City, Ernesto Espinosa began his career in Buena Vista Columbia TriStar Films as coordinator of publicity, promotions, and media. He was appointed Marketing Director two years later. Ernesto exited the company in 2000 to take over the family business outside the film industry. He graduated with a B.A. degree in Communications in 1995 and later obtained his MBA.
Ernesto is a proud father of a 16-year old son and a 13 year old daughter and enjoys spending as much time as possible with his family as well as traveling, reading, and of course going to the cinema.
About ShowEast
ShowEast will take place from October 23-26, 2023 at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel in Miami, Florida. After 35+ years, ShowEast is the longest-running and most successful film convention for major, regional, and independent cinema professionals. The show will
attract an estimated 2,000 domestic and Latin American motion picture industry professionals and will feature product presentations and screenings of major upcoming films, exclusive sponsored events, and exciting and informative seminars.
About Film Expo Group
The Film Expo Group is the premier organizer of networking events in the motion picture industry. The Film Expo Group produces ShowEast, held in Miami; CineEurope, held in Barcelona; and CineAsia, held in Bangkok
Additional information on ShowEast can be found at www.showeast.com.