The winners for the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards have been announced by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), highlighting excellence in cinema and storytelling.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on February 19 at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, where the honorees will be celebrated.
Multiple wins were secured by The Piano Lesson, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing, with significant recognition being given to their cast and creators. A tie was observed in the Best Documentary category, showcasing the caliber of the works being honored.
The announcement was made by AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. The achievements of filmmakers and actors in capturing the resilience and complexity of human experiences were praised, and the impact of their work in amplifying diverse voices was acknowledged.
The Top 10 Films of the Year, as selected by AAFCA, have been listed as follows:
- Nickel Boys
- Sing Sing
- The Piano Lesson
- Gladiator II
- Wicked
- Emilia Pérez
- Albany Road
- The Fire Inside
- Exhibiting Forgiveness
- Dahomey
Awards in various categories have been presented, with notable recipients including:
- Best Actor: Colman Domingo (Sing Sing)
- Best Actress: Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths)
- Best Supporting Actor: Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing)
- Best Supporting Actress: Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson)
- Best Ensemble: The Piano Lesson
- Best Original Score: Kris Bowers (The Wild Robot)
- Best Original Song: Andra Day, Cassandra Batie & Jherek Bischoff (“Bricks,” Exhibiting Forgiveness)
- Best Screenplay: Clint Bentley & Greg Kwedar (Sing Sing)
- Best Director: RaMell Ross (Nickel Boys)
- Best Documentary: Daughters (Netflix) and Dahomey (Mubi)
- Best Animated Feature: The Wild Robot
- Best International Film: Emilia Pérez
- Best Independent Feature: She Taught Love
- Best Picture: Nickel Boys
Additional honors have been awarded, including the Beacon Award to Nicole Avant, the Emerging Director Award to Malcolm Washington, the Breakout Performance Award to Ray Fisher, the Spotlight Award to RaMell Ross, and the Innovator Award to Paul Tazewell.
Winners were selected by AAFCA’s more than 100 members and will be celebrated at the February ceremony. Further details about the event can be found at aafca.com.
