Los Angeles, Sep 13 (IANS/EFE): Antonio Banderas and Jessica Alba received top honours at the ALMA Awards, created by the National Council of La Raza to honour Latino artists who promote a positive image of their community.

Actress Eva Longoria and comedian George Lopez were in charge of hosting Sunday's gala event.

Banderas received the award for best actor for his work in the Woody Allen film "You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger".

Jessica Alba walked away with the best actress prize for her role in "Machete" and showed off her figure just three weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.

"A Better Life", about illegal immigration, won in the best film category, beating out "From Prada to Nada," "Machete," "Rio" and "Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World."

The star of "A Better Life", Mexico's Demian Bichir, whose role as an undocumented gardener in Los Angeles earned him critics' praise, emphasised the importance of the award for the small-budget production.

Longoria, who changed outfits multiple times during the ceremony, took home - along with castmates Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross - the ALMA prize for best television series for "Desperate Housewives".