The highly acclaimed Crystal Reel Awards are held annually and are presented by the Florida Motion Picture and Television Association. Lopez is currently working in Los Angeles.

This is the latest news in a series of successes for Lopez, whose film was recently selected to screen at the Shanghai International Film Festival.

The film is the first feature for writer-director Lopez. Acts of Mercy, set in the 1970s, is a period piece with noir influences that explores the grey areas of compassion in the lives of Hospice nurses. It follows the life of Nurse Maggie Collins as she begins working in a remote nursing home under the supervision of Nurse Baker.

Acts of Mercy was completely shot in Orlando, Florida, with a creative and technical team primarily comprised of women. Lopez, an Ecuadorian director, wanted to tell a story centered on strong females. Made with a small budget, the film was a feat of willpower and passion for the cast and crew. Shot in 90-plus degree weather in an abandoned facility without electricity or running water, Acts of Mercy questions the motivation of compassion and exposes the forgotten reality of nursing home patients.

For more on the movie, visit the Web site.