'Black Panther' Named Best of 2018 By African-American Film Critics
Naming "Black Panther" as the best film of the year was a "no-brainer" African-American Film Critics' Association co-founder Shawn Edwards said today in a statement.
"Beyond its tremendous reviews and historic box office performance, the film changed the culture and became a defining moment for Black America. ... Many have waited a lifetime for a moment like this and 'Black Panther' delivered with a multi-generational appeal never before seen."
The film also earned Best Director for Ryan Coogler and Best Song for Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "All the Stars."
(Sorry, no love for "Creed II," which Coogler produced but didn't direct, or its star, Michael B. Jordan, who won AAFCA's Breakout Performance in 2015 for the first film.)
"The Hate U Give,” "If Beale St. Could Talk,” and "BlacKkKlansman" scored two prizes each.
"Beale Street"'s Regina King (who's racking up kudos across the board this season) Won Best Actress and the movie (directed by Barry Jenkins) won Best Independent Film. Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman" won Best Screenplay and Best Actor for John David Washington, the son of frequent Lee collaborator Denzel Washington.
And Regina Hall (who was also nominated by the Gotham Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards) was named Best Actress for "Support the Girls."
"AAFCA’s Top 10 marks the first time so many films by or about black identity have made our list, presenting storylines that reflect the diversity that lives within the black community," AAFCA president Gil Robertson said in a statement.
AAFCA's awards ceremony will take place on Feb. 6, 2019 at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles.
Last year, the group's winners included "Get Out," "Mudbound" and Tiffany Haddish in "Girls Trip."
Here are all the winners:
Best Film: "Black Panther"
Best Director: Ryan Coogler ("Black Panther")
Best Screenplay: Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee ("BlacKkKlansman")
Best Actor: John David Washington ("BlacKkKlansman")
Best Actress: Regina Hall ("Support the Girls")
Best Supporting Actor: Russell Hornsby ("The Hate U Give" )
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King ("If Beale Street Could Talk")
Best Breakout Performance: Amandla Stenberg ("The Hate U Give" )
Best Animated Film: "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Best Independent Film: "If Beale Street Could Talk"
Best Foreign Film: "Roma"
Best Documentary: "Quincy"
Best Song: "All The Stars" ("Black Panther")
Best New Media: Red Table Talk
Best TV Drama: "Queen Sugar"
Best TV Comedy: "Insecure"
AAFCA’s Top Ten List:
"Black Panther"
"If Beale Street Could Talk"
"The Hate U Give"
"A Star is Born"
"Quincy"
"Roma"
"Blindspotting"
"The Favourite"
"Sorry to Bother You"
"Widows"
[Via THR]