21st Black Reel Awards: ‘Judas and the Black Messiah,’ Radha Blank and Regina King topline winners
Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah was named Outstanding Film at the 21st Black Reel Awards this weekend, with Daniel Kaluuya and Dominique Fishback winning the supporting categories. Producers Charles King, Ryan Coogler, and Shaka King become the first all-African American team to win the top prize.
The duo of Chadwick Boseman, the first posthumous winner in Black Reel Awards history, and Viola Davis won Outstanding Actor and Actress, respectively, for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom and Regina King won Outstanding Director and Outstanding Emerging Director for her debut feature film, One Night in Miami. Her film also won Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Breakthrough Actor for Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Outstanding Song for Speak Now, co-written and performed by Leslie Odom, Jr.
Radha Blank was the nomination leader with seven for her debut film The Forty-Year-Old-Version and won three: Outstanding Screenplay, Outstanding Independent Film and First Screenplay.
“What an unprecedented year it was for Black filmmakers and creatives and I’m delighted that this year’s winners reflected the historic nature of Black Cinema,” said Black Reel Awards founder Tim Gordon. “We are honored to have this year’s class of winners join the rich history of those acknowledged in the past as they stand on the shoulders of Black Cinematic giants who paved the way.”
Here is the full list of winners of the 21st Black Reel Awards.
Outstanding Film – Judas and the Black Messiah – Charles D. King, Ryan Cooler, and Shaka King
Outstanding Actor – Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Outstanding Actress – Viola Davis, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Outstanding Supporting – Actor Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah
Outstanding Supporting Actress – Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah
Outstanding Director – Regina King, One Night in Miami
Outstanding Screenplay – Radha Blank, The 40-Year-Old Version
Outstanding Documentary – Time, Garrett Bradley
Outstanding Ensemble – One Night in Miami, Kimberly Hardin
Outstanding Foreign-Language Film – Night of the Kings, Philippe Lacote (Senegal)
Outstanding Score – Soul, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross & Jon Batiste
Outstanding Original Song – “Speak Now” (One Night in Miami), Leslie Odom, Jr.
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male – Kingsley Ben-Adir, One Night in Miami
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance – Female Andra Day, The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday
Outstanding Voice Performance – Jamie Foxx, Soul
Outstanding Independent Film The 40-Year-Old Version – Radha Blank
Outstanding Independent Documentary – Mr. Soul!, Melissa Haizlip
Outstanding Independent Short – Canvas, Frank E. Abney III
Outstanding Emerging Director – One Night in Miami, Regina King
Outstanding First Screenplay – The 40-Year-Old Version, Radha Blank
Outstanding Cinematography – Malcolm & Marie, Marcell Rev
Outstanding Costume Design – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, Michael Wilkinson
Photos courtesy of: Warner Bros, Netflix, Patti Perret/Amazon Studios
He is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, accredited by the Cannes Film Festival, Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and more, is a member of the International Cinephile Society (ICS), The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics (GALECA), Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) and the International Press Academy. Among his many achieved goals with AwardsWatch, he has given a platform to underrepresented writers and critics and supplied them with access to film festivals and the industry and calls the Bay Area his home where he lives with his husband and son.
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