Black Reel Nominations: 'Queen & Slim' and 'Us' dominate
QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures) 
US (Universal Pictures)
Newcomer Kelvin Harrison Jr., earns three individual nominations for Luce and Waves; three women nominated for Outstanding Director
The gripping story of a couple on the run from the law following a traffic stop gone wrong, Queen and Slim, received 14 nominations and in the process became the third film in Black Reel Awards history to be so honored.
Director Melina Matsoukas’ piercing examination of race and justice tied both Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls and Barry Jenkins’ If Beale Street Could Talk, scoring multiple nominations. They included Outstanding Motion Picture, Outstanding Actor (Daniel Kaluuya), Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female (Jodie Turner-Smith), Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted) and Outstanding First Screenplay for Lena Waithe, as well as Outstanding Director and Outstanding Emerging Director for Matsoukas.
In addition, the film received multiple nominations in the Outstanding Song category, for Collide (Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANGO) and Guarding the Gates (Lauryn Hill), Outstanding Score and nods in every technical category, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Costume Design and Outstanding Production Design.
Director Jordan Peele’s follow-up to his Black Reel Award winning film, Get Out, Us thrilled voters as well on the way to 12 nominations. Led by its visionary director, who garnered a record-tying four nominations including Outstanding Director, Outstanding Screenplay, Original or Adapted, and Outstanding Motion Picture. Peele also was recognized for Outstanding Voice Performer for Toy Story 4. Us also secured an Outstanding Motion Picture nomination as well as Outstanding Actress for Black Reel Award winner Lupita Nyong’o, Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female for newcomer Shahadi Wright Joseph, Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Score, Outstanding Cinematography, Outstanding Costume Design, and Outstanding Production Design.
The story of underground cult comedian Rudy Ray Moore, Dolemite Is My Name also scored double-digit nominations with 11. Led by Outstanding Actor nominee Eddie Murphy, the film received multiple nominations for its talented cast including Outstanding Supporting Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female for newcomer Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Outstanding Supporting Actor for Black Reel Award winner Wesley Snipes, Outstanding Breakthrough Actor, Male for Titus Burgess. The film also garnered noms for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Score, as well as Outstanding Costume Design for last year’s winner, Ruth E. Carter.
“I’m extremely thrilled with the choices that our Voting Academy made this year,” said Black Reel Awards founder and President, Tim Gordon. ”As we celebrate our 20th Anniversary, it is both humbling to reminisce about the journey, yet refreshing to see and experience so much new talent that graced the screen for the first time.”
Other highlights include Waves receiving nine nominations followed by the indie darling, The Last Black Man in San Francisco that scored eight nominations. Seven nominations went to the prison drama, Clemency, while both Harriet and Luce each took home six nods. In addition, three directors each received four nominations, Chinoye Chukwu, Julius Onah, and Peele.
The 20th Annual Black Reel Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 6, 2020, live streamed on BlogTalkRadio. Here is the full list of nominations.
Outstanding Motion Picture
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Eddie Murphy, John Fox & John Davis - JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
Asher Goldstein & Gil Netter - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Pamela Addy, Andrew Coles, James Frey, Michelle Knudsen, Melina Matsoukas, Lena Waithe & Brad Weston - US (Universal Pictures)
Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Ian Cooper & Sean McKittrick - WAVES (A24)
Trey Edward Shults, Kevin Turen & James Wilson
Outstanding Actor
- JIMMIE FAILS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24) - KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Luce (Neon) - KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Waves (A24) - DANIEL KALUUYA
Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures) - EDDIE MURPHY
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Actress
- CYNTHIA ERIVO
Harriet (Focus Features) - GUGU MBATHA-RAW
Fast Color (Lionsgate/Codeblack) - LUPITA NYONG’O
Us (Universal Pictures) - JODIE TURNER-SMITH
Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures) - ALFRE WOODARD
Clemency (Neon)
Outstanding Director
- MATI DIOP
Atlantics (Netflix) - KASI LEMMONS
Harriet (Focus Features) - MELINA MATSOUKAS
Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures) - JULIUS ONAH
Luce (Neon) - JORDAN PEELE
Us (Universal Pictures)
Outstanding Supporting Actor
- STERLING K. BROWN
Waves (A24) - ALDIS HODGE
Clemency (Neon) - JAMIE FOXX
Just Mercy (Warner Bros.) - JONATHAN MAJORS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24) - WESLEY SNIPES
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
Outstanding Supporting Actress
- SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
Us (Universal Pictures) - JANELLE MONAE
Harriet (Focus Features) - DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix) - TAYLOR RUSSELL
Waves (A24) - OCTAVIA SPENCER
Luce (Neon)
Outstanding Screenplay
- CLEMENCY (Neon)
Chinonye Chukwu - LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
Ladj Ly, Giordano Gederlini & Alexis Manenti - LUCE (Neon)
J.C. Lee & Julius Onah - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Lena Waithe - US (Universal Pictures)
Jordan Peele
Outstanding Documentary Feature
- THE APOLLO (HBO Documentary)
Roger Ross Williams, director - THE BLACK GODFATHER (Netflix)
Reginald Hudlin, director - KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (Netflix)
Rachel Lears, director - MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL (Abramorama)
Stanley Nelson, director - TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM (Magnolia Pictures)
Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director
Outstanding International Film
- ATLANTICS (Netflix)
Senegal - THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
United Kingdom - FARMING (Momentum Pictures)
United Kingdom - IN FABRIC (A24)
United Kingdom - LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
France
Outstanding Ensemble
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Lindsay Graham & Mary Vernieu, casting directors - THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Julia Kim, casting director - JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
Carmen Cuba, casting director - US (Universal Pictures)
Terri Taylor, casting director - WAVES (A24)
Avy Kaufman, casting director
Outstanding Voice Performance
- CHIWETEL EJIOFOR (Scar)
The Lion King (Disney) - DONALD GLOVER (Simba)
The Lion King (Disney) - JAMES EARL JONES (Mufasa)
The Lion King (Disney) - KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY (Ducky)
Toy Story 4 (Disney) - JORDAN PEELE (Bunny)
Toy Story 4 (Disney)
Outstanding Score
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Scott Bomar - THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Emile Mosseri - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Devonte Hynes - US (Universal Pictures)
Michael Abels - WAVES (A24)
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Outstanding Original Song
- “COLLIDE” (QUEEN & SLIM)
Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANG, performers - “DON’T TURN BACK” (THE APOLLO)
Robert Glasper & Ledisi, performers - “GUARDING THE GATES” (QUEEN & SLIM)
Lauryn Hill, performer - “IT’S NOT OVER” (BRIAN BANKS)
Gizzle & Sam Fisher, performers - “SPIRIT” (THE LION KING)
Beyonce Knowles-Carter, performer
Outstanding Independent Feature – Awarded to the Director & Producers
- BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
Phillip Youmans, director
Ojo Akinlana, Wendell Pierce, Mose Mayer, Isaac Webb, Cassandra Youmans Jakob Johnson & Karen Kaia Livers, producers - CLEMENCY (Neon)
Chinonye Chukwu, director
Timur Bekbosunov, Julian Cautherley, Bronwyn Cornelius & Peter Wong, producers - GUAVA ISLAND (Amazon Studios)
Hiro Murai, director
Donald Glover, Carmen Cuba, Jennifer Roth & Fam Udeorji, producers - THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Joe Talbot, director/producer
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh & Khaliah Neal, producers - LUCE (Neon)
Julius Onah, director/producer
John Baker & Andrew Yang, producers
Outstanding Short Film
- AMERICA
Garrett Bradley, director - HAIR LOVE (Sony Pictures Releasing)
Matthew A. Cherry, director - IT’S NOT ABOUT JIMMY KEENE
Caleb Jaffe, director - SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT
Nikyatu Jusu, director - ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN
Yucef Mayes, director
Outstanding Independent Documentary
- 16 BARS
Sam Bathrick, director - NO LYE: AN AMERICAN BEAUTY STORY
Bayer Mack, director - THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION
Lisa Cortes & Farah Khalid, director
Outstanding Emerging Director
- CHINONYE CHUKWU
Clemency (Neon) - NIA DACOSTA
Little Woods (Neon) - MATI DIOP
Atlantics (Netflix) - MELINA MATSOUKAS
Queen & Slim (Universal) - JULIUS ONAH
Luce (Neon)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
- TITUSS BURGESS
Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix) - JIMMIE FAILS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24) - KELVIN HARRISON JR.
Waves (A24) - ALDIS HODGE
Clemency (Neon) - JONATHAN MAJORS
The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
- ABDOU BALDE
Atlantics (Netflix) - SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
Us (Universal Pictures) - DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
Dolemite is My Name (Netflix) - TAYLOR RUSSELL
Waves (A24) - JODIE TURNER-SMITH
Queen & Slim (Universal)
Outstanding First Screenplay
- ATLANTICS (Netflix)
Mati Diop & Olivier Demangel - THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
Chiwetel Ejiofor - BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
Phillip Youmans - CLEMENCY (Neon)
Chinoye Chukwu - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Lena Waithe
Outstanding Cinematography
- HARRIET (Focus Features)
John Toll - THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
Adam Newport-Berra - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Tad Radcliffe - US (Universal Pictures)
Mike Gioulakis - WAVES (A24)
Drew Daniels
Outstanding Costume Design
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Ruth E. Carter - HARRIET (Focus Features)
Paul Tazewell - HUSTLERS (STX Entertainment)
Mitchell Travers - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Shiona Turini - US (Universal Pictures)
Kym Barrett
Outstanding Production Design
- DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
Clay A. Griffith - HARRIET (Focus Features)
Warren Alan Young - THE LION KING (Disney)
James Chinlund - QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
Karen Murphy - US (Universal Pictures)
Ruth De Jong
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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