2019 UMFF award Ceremony

Universe Multicultural Film Festival--2019
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 2019 UMFF  Award Ceremony 
Live Boardcasting; Live Performaces, Award Presentation, Food & Drinks 

  Time: 5:00-9:30PM; April 7, 2019
Location: 735 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estate, CA 90275; Admission by Award Ceremony Pass

 

The Performers & VIP:

Ego Mikitas , Actor, Producer, Stage performer, Host
Ego is a Greek by descent actor/producer and stage combat performer. He obtained his master’s degree as a TV journalist and produced numerous shows and theatrical performances . Ego resumed his acting carrier and found fame through producing and acting in award-winning feature films such as "Out for Vengeance", "Bad Genius" and "Troy the Odyssey." “Troy 2”, “Megalodon”, “Attrition”, also popular TV series “OA” and “Deadwood”.
His statuesque figure and the sharp planes of his face cut a menacing figure, which attracted many Villain’s type of the roles, His vulnerability and ability to tap into raw emotions stem from his real-world experiences which have catapulted him to fame in Hollywood. He is now embarking on an even bigger career with many theatrical credits and guest starring for leading TV productions.
Ego was a member of Artistic Jury for the 2018 Universe Multicultural film festival 
  MAGI AVILA. Actress, Host 
Magi Avila co-stars Bruce Willis in recently released feature “First Kill”. She co-stars opposite Nicholas Cage and Willem Dafoe in Paul Schrader's "Dog Eat Dog". Sheappeared in Woody Allen’s “Café Society” and next to Oscar nominee Demian Bichir in Chris Weitz' "A Better Life". Avila captured the U.S. audience with "Fantasias" a film by Jorge Araujo distributed by Universal Pictures. Magi Avila guest-starred on "Training Day" with Will Paxton and "The Shield", with Michael Chiklis. Magi is in over 30 films.She is the producer, co-writer and costume designer of her one-woman-show, biography of Hollywood's star Carmen Miranda. Magi performed in several theater plays, in the US and Mexico. 
Magi initiated her career during teenage years singing opera, for then president of Mexico Ernesto Cedillo. She did modeling jobs, print ads and television commercials. She was News Host for Televisa. 
  Mark Justice, Actor, Host
Mark Justice is an American actor originating from McDermott, OH. Mark began theatre at a very young age, but as he grew older became more involved with sports. Wanting to continue his education, he took the opportunity to compete in both Soccer, Basketball, and even Baseball while attending college at Ohio Christian University. 
After college, Mark found his way to Las Vegas, and rekindled what began at a young age when he connected with Gerald Gordon, former acting coach of Adrien Brody, Bruce McGill, and Joe Flanigan, soon finding his way into the lead role of Tony Nunzio Jr. in Tony ‘N Tina’s Wedding. During his tenure there, Mark crossed over into the film world where his career really excelled. Since, he’s worked with award winning and nominated filmmakers, from on screen to behind the camera, here in the United States and internationally. Although he has the chops and looks of the leading man, Mark thoroughly enjoys character roles and bit parts just as much. 
  Carolina de Athey, Actress, Writer, Singer, Producer, Host
​Carolina is an actress, ​writer, ​singer, model, producer and now a director who was first introduced into the entertainment industry through the doors of the modeling industry. Carolina has been modeling for a collaboration of well-known name brands and companies worldwide. From spokes model to runway, Carolina's diversity shines through in the most unique of styles. Carolina joined the Actors Academy and studied with Coach Lewis Smith. Since then Carolina has worked on a series of TV Pilots, Short films, Feature Films,​ ​Commercials and Music videos.​ ​Carolina's wrote 'The Other Side of Glory', which is in post production, then 'Confessions of the Fashion World' (she also produced and directed) which was accepted into several film festivals, winning one award. Her skills also branch into music, which gives her the best of both worlds. She has launched her first single WHY, in which she wrote and directed the music video. For more on Carolina: www.imdb.com/name/nm5276140 
  Zhengcheng Li, Yu Opera Singer
Zhengcheng Li is the national first-class actor, the reputation as the Yang opera prince, the head of the Yangzhou Yang Opera Troupe. He was born in the family of opera art, has received the "Shanghai Magnolia Radio and TV Competition Bai Yulan Gold Award", the performance awards at third and fourth Jiangsu Provincial Drama Festival. His signature works are: "Playing the Bricks", "Shi Kefa", "Zhou Yu Go To Heaven", "White Water Beach" , "Down the mountain alone", "The raccoon cat for the Prince", "Pick the pulley", "Lin Chong Night Run", "Wild Boar", "Sweeping the Book", "Female County Governor", "Wu Song Killing", "Fight with Xi Meng Qing" "Shi Kefa"
Mel Novak, Actor
Mel has starred or co-starred in fifty feature films. Mel is well known for Bruce Lee’s GAME OF DEATH”; Jim Kelly’s “BLACK BELT JONES”, Yule Brynne’s “THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR”, Steve McQueen’s “TOM HORN” and Chuck Norris’ “EYE FOR AN EYE”. Some of his recent starring roles are: “SYNDICATE SMASHER”, “TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN, “NEMESIS 5”, “ABEYANCE”, “AN HOUR TO KILL”, “WHEN IT RINGS”, “FIGHT OR DIE”, “HOLY TERROR”, “SAMURAI COP 2: DEADLY VENGEANCE” and “CHECK POINT”.
Other starring roles Mel has done are “ANTS” , “POWER ELITE”, “SWAT: WARHEAD ONE”; “THUNDERKICK”, “VAMPIRE ASSASSIN”, “EXPERT WEAPON”, “SWORD OF HEAVEN”, “FORCE OF DARKNESS”, “FAMILY REUNION” and “CAPITAL PUNISHMENT”. Mel also did two movies with acclaimed Director Garry Marshall. Mel will be starring in an upcoming movie to be released in 2019 called “ROBO WOMAN”.
Mel has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Living Legend Award Winner of 2017 Universe Multicultural Film Festival 
  Funkalicious Band
Funkalicious band is American funk band that has been emerging from the heart of Los Angeles, California, for the past 11 years or so. Funkalicious are well known for many of their trademarks, such as the use of the talk-box effect, Flashy outfits, roller skate dancers, driving bass guitars, and humorous vocals, just to name a few. Funkalicious takes you back to the fun, and funky times of the 70's & 80's while also delivering their own original hit songs of dance funk.
Funkalicious band consist of a group of talented, and gifted musicians, who are all about that "FUNK" This electric band of professional musicians, has played all over the world. Founder, and Grammy Award Winner Fred Iiams, also lead singer of the band, helped spearhead the Funkalicious movement! Mr. Iiams has recorded with many of his legendary Funk brothers such as, the late, great Roger Troutman, of the band Zapp, which was one of the most popular bands of the 80s. This colorful band delivers a high energy, funky, and soulful show of new generation Funk, mix with old school classic Funk, that keeps the crowds entertained for hours singing, and dancing all night. 
Ruilian Ge, Opera Singer, Actress
Ruilian Ge is a national first-class actor, one of the best in Yangzhou Yang Opera Troupe. The voice is sweet, the melody is melodious, and it looks like a handsome show. Her signature works are "Female County Governor", "Qin Xianglian", "Jiaojiazan"; "Two Halls", "Twenty-four hours of true and false", " Romance of Noble Man” that will screening in the 2019 Universe Multicultural Film Festival.
 Zhena Folk Chorus
The women of Zhena Folk Chorus resurrect the songs of unknown grandmothers in unfamiliar languages of Eastern Europe and beyond that wrap around the tongue like a tantalizing new spice. They bring to life again lullabies and rain chants, spells to keep the dead in their graves, songs of riding horses, songs for begging God's mercy, songs of dark willows and mysterious nights, songs of struggles against the disapproval of parents, songs of longing to leave for a new land or of being the one left behind. In waves of cascading beauty, these ancient songs express the joy of wedding and union, the ecstasy of feasts and village dances, the ache of sorrow for lost loves and a moment of exultation at the simple sight of a bird.
Zhena's music is the legacy of peasant farms, barns and fields, women gathering on Sunday after church in the only other set of clothes one possessed. 
 

KELLY SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL IRISH DANCE

The Kelly School of Traditional Irish dance has been bringing Irish Dance and culture to hundreds of South Bay children for over 35 years. The school was originally started by Joan Kelly, who has handed down the celtic traditions and teachings to her twin daughters Claire and Carol. Together, the Kelly family continues to bring irish culture and tradition to children of the south bay in a warmfamily atmospere. The school is under the direction of Claire Kelly Maxwell, ADCRG, Carol Kelly Pirsztuk, ADCRG and Joan Kelly, TCRG..

Aldo Cocco, Composer, Musician
Argentine-born Aldo Cocco is a Music Composer and Performing Musician. Raised in Spain, he also lived in Mexico and has been based in the United States since 1999. Having lived and studied in different cultures, he possesses an elaborate musical sensibility and broad knowledge of different musical genres.
Aldo has composed soundtracks and scores for about twenty films in the United States. He has played his music in several countries and throughout the USA including his original soundtracks for movies at the Sundance Film Festival in 2013. He also Produced, Directed, Wrote the Script and Composed the Music for the Short Movie "Delta Breeze". Screenplay Winner Award in "A Place Called Sacramento" Film Festival, He composed the music for the one-man band Dream Dweller, where he played all the instruments, fusing Symphonic Rock and Classical Music. He also produced and arranged the two CDs recorded under the Dream Dweller name: the EP "Music for a Visual Culture" released in 2012 and the Album "The Other Side of Silence" in 2013. His songs "The Present Is All I Have" and "One" sung by Becky Cutler had radio play in different internet and air radio stations.

Siyi Sun, Screenwriter, Singer, Novelist
Siyi Sun is a screenwriter, novelist, singer from China, she has created 10+ novels and screenplays. Her masterpieces are “ The sky is a freezen ocean”; “ one centimeter”, “ Following”. She has been know from the popular songs “ because love you”, “ Two Worlds”; “ Happy Days” “ First Love Xixi Li”. . Her screenplay “52Hz” won the best foreign feature screenplay award at 2017 San Diego International Kids Film Festival

Berrin Aktug, Actress, TV host
Berrin Aktug is an actress who has performed in various TV seriours, also she is a award winning TV host wo hosted 336 episodes of live TV Show “ Magazom D” on Kanal D for 8years.