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‘NOVOCAINE’ Review: No Pain, Plenty for Him to Gain

Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Run time:1 hour 51 minutes
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Rating: R
Country United States
Language: English

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s new film ‘NOVOCAINE’ starts you off all warm and fuzzy, ready for a romance between co-workers Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid), who literally feels no pain, at all) and Sherry (Amber Midthunder) when a sick and twisted tale emerges filled with laughter.

Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Producers: Joby Harold, Tory Tunnell, Drew Simon
Production companies: Infrared Pictures, Safehouse Pictures, Circle of Confusion
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Cinematographer: Jacques Jouffret
Editor: Christian Wagner
Music: Lorne Balfe, Andrew Kawczynski

The NFL, Sundance Sports and Hidden Empire Film Group Collaborate for the Ultimate Training Camp “NFL Career Tour”

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The third annual NFL Career Tour is a 3-day event that took place on March 4, 5 and 6^,2025, at Hidden Empire Film Group in Santa Monica, CA.

The NFL’s Player Engagement team created the ‘NFL Career Tour’ to provide football legends and those still in the league the opportunity to learn first-hand about filmmaking and meet leaders in the film industry.

Participating on behalf of the NFL was Tracy Perlman, Senior Vice President of Player Operations; Hidden Empire are Co-CEOs Deon Taylor and Roxanne Taylor, Omar Joseph, President, and Ephraim Salaam HESC’s President of Talent Strategy and Creative Executive.

The final day of the program included the completion of a short film created by the athletes that put into practice the knowledge they learned about directing, cinematography, producing, and acting, the art of filmmaking.

I had opportunity to sit down and talk with a few of the NFL players and legends. Read below!

A Conversation with Brennan Scarlett

Brennan was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, He is a graduate of Central Catholic High, where he was a lettered athlete in football, track and field and swimming He attended California Berkely, played on the football team, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business. He transferred to Stanford University, where he also played on the football and graduated with a master’s in science management, engineering. He played 7 years in the league. 5 years with the Houston Texans and 2 years with the Miami Dolphins. Brennan retired in 2024.

Yevette Renee: With your educational background, have you considered producing, financing fundraising for film production?

Brennan Scarlett: That is a good question. I like all of it. I like the business part. How the money gets made. I want to know who is buying what and who is selling what. I see creativity in all of it. The business is very creative. You make a movie. You create a scene. You paint a picture. It is all creative.

Yevette Renee: Do you think having an interest in filmmaking as whole will help you as you grow in the film industry?

Brennan Scarlett: I think it should help. They mentioned that today, a director took acting classes so he would know how to communicate with actors and his next job was working with DeNiro.

A Conversation with Reginald Kahlil McKenzie, Jr,

Reginald graduated from Clayton Valley Charter High School, Concord, CA. and is a former #1 rated high school football player in the country. He played college football at his father’s (32 years in the NFL) and uncle’s (two Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins) alma mater, University of Tennessee, as a Defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 and played five seasons, including with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a young college student interested in becoming a sports agent?

Reginald shared that after retirement, how he looked into what the NFL had to offer its player. And if you are willing to work and learn there are many things that they offered that can be applied to the player lives. And how great it is what the NFL is doing for its player.

A Conversation with Troy Pride, jr.

Photo: ESPN

Troy graduated from Greer High School, in Greer, South Carolina. He attended Notre Dame where he excelled in football and track as a sprinter. Pride was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and is a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.

Yevette Renee: Who is your favorite director?

Troy Pride: Jordan Peele, right now. He took the world by storm with ‘Get Out.” Especially, because it was a horror film. As an actor, Denzel Washington introduced me to film. It was watching him in ‘Luther’ that got me interested.

Yevette Renee: Jordan Peele’s work reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock, what are your thoughts?

Troy Pride: it is an iteration of Alfred Hitchcock He has that other world, very disturbing and that is just what he did with Get Out.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a college student interested in sports and entertainment?

Troy Pride: First, I would give the advice to be yourself. Do not worry about what other people are doing on social media. Being yourself is when you will find your true passion.

Yevette Renee: Beginning with football until now, what is the most important things you have learned on your journey?

Troy Pride: Perseverance. I tore my ACL in my second year, and it is an 80% career ending injury for most players. I learned how resilient I was.

Additional participants included Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Orlando Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; Darius Harris, Dallas Cowboys; Dakoda Shepley, Dallas Cowboys; Troy Pride, Dallas Cowboys; Atorian Perry, Denver Broncos; Isaac Ukwu, Detroit Lions; Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts; K'Lavon Chaisson, Las Vegas Raiders; Tomari Fox, Las Vegas Raiders; Emany Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers; Daiyan Henley. Los Angeles Chargers; Denzel Perryman, Los Angeles Chargers; Charles Harris, Philadelphia Eagles; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; Jalyn Holmes, Washington Commanders; Miles Burris, Free Agent; Reginald McKenzie, Free Agent; Tevaughn Campbell, Free Agent; Trayvon Henderson, Free Agent; Christopher Pressley, Free Agent; Vance Walker, Legend; Amon Arnold Legend; and Brock Vereen, Legend

ABOUT NFL PLAYER ENGAGEMENT

NFL Player Engagement (PE) takes a four-pillar approach to supporting NFL players and their families during their NFL career and beyond: Continuing Education, Financial Literacy, Professional Development, and Personal Development.

Through peer-to-peer engagement and direct outreach, PE’s innovative programs and services assist players and provide them with the resources necessary to make the most of their lives on the field and away from the game.

From aiding players with building their brands and managing their finances, to supporting their physical, mental and financial well-being, the goal of the Player Engagement department is to provide the best community of care to serve, equip, empower, and support the player and his entire ecosystem during and after his playing days.

ABOUT SKYDANCE SPORTS

David Ellison founded Skydance in 2010 with the ambitious vision to establish a diversified media company to create high-quality content and engaging experiences for a global audience. Skydance’s independence, versatility and multi-platform approach have propelled the Company’s growth in live-action features, television, animation, interactive and new media. Today, more than five hundred colleagues across two continents share David’s vision and, together, have expanded Skydance’s portfolio, creating a world-class studio on the forefront of where entertainment is heading.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)
Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) is a multi-dimensional independent film company, led by founders Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor, along with a devoted management team. which has produced highly engaging films since its inception, including multiple franchises, which have been distributed both domestically and internationally.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE SPORTS COLLECTIVE (HESC)

Hidden Empire Sports Collective (HESC) is e first entertainment division from a film studio to prioritize intellectual property and content creation for athletes and sports. Sumair Khan, Co-CEO The Union, heads the new division; Rodney Guillory, President of Talent Strategy; and Ephraim Salaam, Creative Executive.

‘NOVOCAINE’: When a Man Loves A Woman

Directors: Dan Berk, Robert Olsen
Writer: Lars Jacobson
Starring: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh
Run time:1 hour 51 minutes
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Crime-romance-thriller
Rating: R
Country United States
Language: English

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen’s action thriller tells the story of Nathan Caine (Jack Quaid) a bank executive with a congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP), who puts his inability to feel to good use in order to rescue his girlfriend Sherry (Amber Midthunder) who is taken hostage by bank robbers. The film also stars Ray Nicholson, Jacob Batalon, Betty Gabriel, and Matt Walsh.

‘BLACK BAG’ Starring Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender in Theaters May 31st

Release date: May 31, 2025

Director: Steven Soderberg
Writer: David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan
Genre: Spy Thriller
Run time: 1 hour 34 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English

Director Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Black Bag’ follows intelligence officer Kathryn St. Jean Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett), who our country believes has betrayed our nation, and her husband, George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) also an agent, must decide where to place his loyalty.

Clarissa Dubose (Marisa Abela), Freddie Smalls ( Tom Burke), Dr. Zoe Vaughan (Naomie Harris), Col. James Stokes (Regé-Jean Page), Arthur Steiglitz (Pierce Brosnan), Meacham (Gustaf Skarsgård)

Socials:
Facebook
Twitter/X: @BlackBagFilm
Instagram: @BlackBagFilm
Hashtag: #BlackBag

Distributor: Focus Features in United States
Universal Pictures International
Director: Steven Soderberg
Writer: David Koepp
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Michael Fassbender, Marisa Abela, Tom Burke, Naomie Harris, Regé-Jean Page, and Pierce Brosnan
Producers: Casey Silver, Gregory Jacobs
Music: David Holmes
Production company : Casey Silver Productions

‘LOCKED’ Starring Anthony Hopkins in Theaters March 21st

Release date March 21, 2025

Director: David Yarovesky
Screenplay: Michael Arlen Ross
Based on 4x4 by Mariano Cohn, Gastón Duprat
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Bill Skarsgård, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rating; R
Run time: 1 hour 33 minutes
Country: United States
Language:English

Director David Yarovesky’s ‘LOCKED’ follows a thief whose run-of-the-mill robbery turns into a nightmare. William (Anthony Hopkins), Eddie Barrish (Bill Skarsgård), Sarah (Ashley Cartwright), Karl Michael Eklund (Michael Eklund )and Butter (Navid Charkhi.)

Release date March 21, 2025
Distributor: The Avenue
Producers: Zainab Azizi, Sam Raimi, Ara Keshishian, Petr Jákl
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Bill Skarsgård, Ashley Cartwright, Michael Eklund, Navid Charkhi
Cinematographer: Michael Dallatorre
Music: Timothy Williams
Production companies: ZQ Entertainment, Raimi Productions

2025 Oscar Winners: A Complete List

See the full list of the 97th Oscar Winners Below!

Best Picture Winners
“Anora” - WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Pérez”
‘I’m Still Here”
“Nickel Boys”
“The Substance”
“Wicked”

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Mikey Madison, “Anora” - WINNER
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”
Karla Sofía Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”
Demi Moore, “The Substance”
Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist” - WINNER
Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown”
Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”
Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”
Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice”

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Zoe Saldana, “Emilia Perez” - WINNER
Monica Barbaro, “A Complete Unknown”
Ariana Grande, “Wicked”
Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”
Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain” - WINNER
Yura Borisov, “Anora”
Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”
Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”
Jeremy Strong, “The Apprentice”

Best Director
Sean Baker, “Anora” -WINNER
Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist
James Mangold, “A Complete Unknown”
Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Perez”
Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”

Best Original Screenplay
“Anora” Sean Baker — WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“A Real Pain”
“September 5”
“The Substance”

Best Adapted Screenplay
"Conclave," Peter Straughan — WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Nickel Boys”
“Sing Sing”

Best Animated Feature Film
“Flow” - WINNER
“Inside Out 2”
“Memoir of a Snail”
“Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Cinematography
“The Brutalist,” Lol Crawley — WINNER
“Dune: Part Two”
“Emilia Perez”
“Maria”
“Nosferatu”

Best Costume Design
“Wicked” Paul Tazewell - WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Conclave”
“Gladiator 2”
“Nosferatu”

Best Sound
“Dune: Part Two” - WINNER
“A Complete Unknown”
“Emilia Perez”
“Wicked”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Live Action Short Film
“I’m Not a Robot” - WINNER
“A Lien”
“Anuja”
“The Last Ranger”
“The Man Who Would Not Remain Silent”

Best Animated Short Film
“In the Shadow of the Cypress” - WINNER
“Beautiful Men”
“Magic Candies”
“Wander to Wonder”
“Yuck!”

Best Original score
“The Brutalist,” Daniel Blumberg — WINNER
“Conclave”
“Emilia Pérez”
“Wicked”
“The Wild Robot”

Best Original Song
"El Mal," "Emilia Pérez" (Clement Ducol, Camille & Jacques Audiard) — WINNER
“The Journey” from “The Six Triple Eight”
“Like a Bird” from “Sing Sing”
“Mi Camino” from “Emilia Perez”
“Never Too Late” from “Elton John: Never Too Late”

Best Documentary Feature Film
"No Other Land," Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham & Rachel Szor - WINNER
“Black Box Diaries”
“Porcelain War”
“Soundtrack To A Coup D’Etat”
“Sugarcane”

Best Documentary Short Film
“The Only Girl in the Orchestra” - WINNER
“Death by Numbers”
“I Am Ready, Warden”
“Incident”
“Instruments of a Beating Heart”

Best International feature Film
“I’m Still Here,” (Brazil) - WINNER
“The Girl With The Needle” (Denmark)
“Emilia Perez” (France)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” (Germany)
“Flow” (Latvia)

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
“The Substance” - WINNER
“A Different Man”
“Emilia Perez”
“Nosferatu”
“Wicked”

Best Production Design
"Wicked," Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales — WINNER
“The Brutalist”
“Conclave”
“Dune: Part Two”
“Nosferatu”

Best Film Editing
“Anora,” Sean Baker – WINNER
"Conclave," Peter Straughan
“The Brutalist”
“Conclave”
“Emilia Perez”
“Wicked”

Best Visual Effects
“Dune: Part Two” - WINNER
“Alien: Romulus”
“Better Man”
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”
“Wicked”

Best live-action short
"I'm Not a Robot" — Winner
"A Lien"
"Anuja"
"The Last Ranger"
"The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent"

Through the Lens: An Evening with Black Women Directors Presented by Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP/EMCC and the Alliance of Women Directors

A Black History Month event celebrating black women directors in Hollywood. The event took place at The Mark Theater, formerly WACO, in North Hollywood.

The discussion was opened by the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Ron Hassan and was moderated by Tanika Ray, multi-talented entertainment reporter and actress, the guest panelist included: Christine Swanson, a writer and director of film and television; Emmy-nominated Marta Cunningham, a former ballet dancer, executive producer, writer and director;Nicki Micheaux, actress, writer and director; and Princes Monique Filmz, writer and director.

‘Emilia Perez’

Release dates: Cannes May 18, 2024, France August 21, 2024
Director and Writer: Jacques Audiard
Based on Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard and Écoute
by Boris Razon
Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Mark Ivanir, Édgar Ramírez
Genre: Musical, Crime
Rating: R
Run time: 2 hours 12 minutes
Country: France
Languages: Spanish and English

Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez is the journey of a Mexican cartel leader Juan "Manitas" Del Monte/ Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) who enlists a lawyer Rita Mora Castro, (Zoe Saldaña) to help the cartel leader obtain surgery to become a woman. The story involves Jessi Del Monte, Manitas’ US-raised wife and mother of their children (Selena Gomez); Epifanía Flores (Adriana Paz), Emilia’s romantic partner; Gustavo Brun, Jessi’s romantic partner (Édgar Ramírez); Dr. Wasserman (Mark Ivanir) the doctor who performs gender reassignment surgery on Manitas.

Distributor: Pathé Distribution
Production companies: Why Not Productions, Page 114, Pathé, France 2 Cinéma, Saint Laurent Productions
Producers: Jacques Audiard, Pascal Caucheteux, Valérie Schermann, Anthony Vaccarello
Cinematographer: Paul Guilhaume
Editor: Juliette Welfling
Music: Clément Ducol score and Camille songs

2025 NAACP Image Awards Winners!

The star-studded 56th annual ceremony hosted by actor-comedian Deon Cole aired live Saturday, February 22, on BET and CBS from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA.

Vice President Kamala Harris received the Chairman’s Award, Dave Chappelle earned the President’s Award, and the Wayans family were inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.

The winners are:

Entertainer of the Year
WINNER - Keke Palmer
Cynthia Erivo
Kendrick Lamar
Kevin Hart
Shannon Sharpe

Outstanding Social Media Personality of the Year
WINNER - Shirley Raines
Kai Cenat
Keith Lee
RaeShanda Lias
Tony Baker

Outstanding Motion Picture
WINNER - The Six Triple Eight
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Bob Marley: One Love
The Piano Lesson
Wicked
The Piano Lesson.

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
WINNER - Martin Lawrence, Bad Boys: Ride or Die
André Holland, Exhibiting Forgiveness
Colman Domingo, Sing Sing
John David Washington, The Piano Lesson
Kingsley Ben-Adir, Bob Marley: One Love

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
WINNER - Kerry Washington, The Six Triple Eight
Cynthia Erivo, Wicked
Lashana Lynch, Bob Marley: One Love
Lupita Nyong'o, A Quiet Place: Day One
Regina King, Shirley

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
WINNER - Denzel Washington, Gladiator II
Brian Tyree Henry, The Fire Inside
Corey Hawkins, The Piano Lesson
David Alan Grier, The American Society of Magical Negroes
Samuel L. Jackson, The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
-WINNER - Ebony Obsidian, The Six Triple Eight
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Exhibiting Forgiveness
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Nickel Boys
Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
Lynn Whitfield, Albany Road

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
- WINNER - Sing Sing
Albany Road
Exhibiting Forgiveness
Rob Peace
We Grown Now

Outstanding International Motion Picture
-WINNER - Emilia Pérez
El lugar de la otra
Memoir of a Snail
The Seed of the Sacred
The Wall Street Boy - Kipkemboi

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture
-WINNER - Ebony Obsidian, The Six Triple Eight
Brandon Wilson, Nickel Boys
Clarence Maclin, Sing Sing
Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson
Ryan Destiny, The Fire Inside

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
- WINNER - The Six Triple Eight
Bob Marley: One Love
The Book of Clarence
The Piano Lesson
Wicked

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture |
- WINNER - Inside Out 2
Kung Fu Panda 4
Moana 2
Piece by Piece
The Wild Robot

Outstanding Character Voice–Over Performance – Motion Picture
- WINNER - Blue Ivy Carter, Mufasa: The Lion King
Aaron Pierre, Mufasa: The Lion King
Anika Noni Rose, Mufasa: The Lion King
Ayo Edebiri, Inside Out 2
Lupita Nyong'o, The Wild Robot

Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)
-Winner - Superman Doesn't Steal
Chocolate with Sprinkles
Definitely Not a Monster
If They Took Us Back
My Brother & Me

Outstanding Short Form (Animated)
- WINNER - Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz "Jackie Robinson"
if(fy)
Self
Walk in the Light
Nate & John

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)
- WINNER - Malcolm Washington, The Piano Lesson
David Fortune, Color Book
RaMell Ross, Nickel Boys
Titus Kaphar, Exhibiting Forgiveness
Zoë Kravitz, Blink Twice

Outstanding Youth Performance in a Motion Picture
- WINNER- Skylar Aleece Smith, The Piano Lesson
Anthony B. Jenkins, The Deliverance
Blake Cameron James, We Grown Now
Jeremiah Daniels, Color Book
Percy Daggs IV, Never Let Go

Outstanding Cinematography in a Motion Picture
- WINNER- Jomo Fray, Nickel Boys
Andrés Arochi, Longlegs
Justin Derry, She Taught Love
Lachlan Milne, Exhibiting Forgiveness
Rob Hardy, The Book of Clarence

Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary - WINNER
How to Die Alone
Poppa's House
The Neighborhood
The Upshaws

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Damon Wayans, Poppa’s House
Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood
David Alan Grier, St. Denis Medical
Delroy Lindo, UnPrisoned
Mike Epps, The Upshaws

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Kerry Washington, UnPrisoned
Natasha Rothwell, How to Die Alone
Tichina Arnold, The Neighborhood

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Damon Wayans Jr., Poppa’s House
Giancarlo Esposito, The Gentlemen
Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Danielle Pinnock, Ghosts
Ego Nwodim, Saturday Night Live
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary
Wanda Sykes, The Upshaws
Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in Abbott Elementary.

Outstanding Drama Series
- WINNER - Cross
9-1-1
Bel Air
Found
Reasonable Doubt

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
- WINNER - Michael Rainey Jr., Power Book II: Ghost
Aldis Hodge, Cross
Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Harold Perrineau, FROM
Jabari Banks, Bel-Air

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
- WINNER - Queen Latifah, The Equalizer
Angela Bassett, 9-1-1
Emayatzy Corinealdi, Reasonable Doubt
Shanola Hampton, Found
Zoe Saldaña, Lioness

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
- WINNER- Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Power Book II: Ghost
Adrian Holmes, Bel-Air
Isaiah Mustafa, Cross
Jacob Latimore, The Chi
Morris Chestnut, Reasonable Doubt

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
- WINNER - Lynn Whitfield, The Chi
Adjoa Andoh, Bridgerton
Coco Jones, Bel-Air
Golda Rosheuvel, Bridgerton
Lorraine Toussaint, The Equalizer

sion (Series, Special or Movie)
Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist - WINNER
Genius: MLK/X
Griselda
Rebel Ridge
The Madness

Outstanding Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
- WINNER - Aaron Pierre, Rebel Ridge
Colman Domingo, The Madness
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Genius: MLK/X
Kevin Hart, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Laurence Fishburne, Clipped

Outstanding Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie
- WINNER - Naturi Naughton, Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
Sanaa Lathan, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
Sofía Vergara, Griselda
Uzo Aduba, The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
- WINNER - Samuel L. Jackson, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Don Cheadle, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Luke James, Them: The Scare
Ron Cephas Jones, Genius: MLK/X
Terrence Howard, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Television (Series, Special or Movie)
- WINNER - Taraji P. Henson, Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Brandy Norwood, Descendants: The Rise of Red
Jayme Lawson, Genius: MLK/X
Loretta Devine, Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love
Sanaa Lathan, Young. Wild. Free.

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)
- WINNER - The ReidOut
Black Men’s Summit
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Laura Coates Live
NewsNight with Abby Phillip

Outstanding Talk Series
- WINNER - The Jennifer Hudson Show
Hart to Heart
Sherri
Tamron Hall Show
The Shop Season 7

Outstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition or Game Show (Series)
- WINNER - Celebrity Family Feud
Password
Rhythm + Flow
The Real Housewives of Potomac
Tia Mowry: My Next Act

Outstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)
- WINNER - Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was...
BET Awards 2024
Deon Cole: Ok, Mister
Katt Williams: Woke Foke
Saturday Night Liv

Outstanding Children’s Program
- WINNER - Gracie's Corner
Craig of the Creek
Descendants: The Rise of Red
Sesame Street
Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited–Series)
- WINNER - Leah Sava’ Jeffries, Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Caleb Elijah, Cross
Graceyn Hollingsworth, Gracie’s Corner
Melody Hurd, Cross
TJ Mixson, The Madness

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
- WINNER - Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show
Abby Phillip, NewsNight with Abby Phillip
Henry Louis Gates Jr., Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Joy Reid, The Reidout
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
- WINNER - Keke Palmer, Password
Alfonso Ribeiro, Dancing with the Stars
Nick Cannon, The Masked Singer
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Taraji P. Henson, BET Awards 2024

Outstanding Guest Performance
- WINNER - Marlon Wayans, Bel-Air
Ayo Edebiri, Saturday Night Live
Cree Summer, Abbott Elementary
Keegan-Michael Key, Abbott Elementary
Maya Rudolph, Saturday Night Live

Outstanding Animated Series
- WINNER - Gracie's Corner
Disney Jr.'s Ariel
Everybody Still Hates Chris
Iwájú
Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)
- WINNER - Cree Summer, Rugrats
Angela Bassett, Orion and the Dark
Cree Summer, The Legend of Vox Machina
Dawnn Lewis, Star Trek: Lower Decks
Keke Palmer, The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy

Outstanding Short Form Series or Special – Reality/Nonfiction /Documentary
- WINNER - The Prince of Death Row Records
In the Margins
NCAA Basketball on CBS Sports
Roots of Resistance
SC Featured

Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television)
- WINNER - Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Diarra Kilpatrick, Diarra From Detroit
Maurice Williams, The Madness
Thembi L. Banks, Young. Wild. Free.
Vince Staples, The Vince Staples Show

Outstanding New Artist
- WINNER - Doechii
Myles Smith
Samoht
Shaboozey
Tyla

Outstanding Male Artist
- WINNER - Chris Brown
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
October London
Usher

Outstanding Female Artist
- WINNER - Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doechii
GloRilla
H.E.R.

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album
- WINNER - Live Breathe Fight, Tamela Mann
Heart of a Human, DOE
Still Karen, Karen Clark Sheard
Sunny Days, Yolanda Adams
The Maverick Way Reimagined, Maverick City Music

Outstanding International Song
- WINNER - “Hmmm," Chris Brown feat. Davido
“Close," Skip Marley
“Jump," Tyla
“Love Me JeJe," Tems
“Piece of My Heart," Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album
- WINNER - “Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar
“Alright," Victoria Monét
“Alter Ego (ALTERnate Version)," Doechii, JT
“Boy Bye," Chloe Bailey
“Yeah Glo!," GloRilla

Outstanding Album
- WINNER - Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé
Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii
Cape Town to Cairo, PJ Morton
Coming Home, Usher
Glorious, GloRilla

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album
– WINNER - Wicked: The Soundtrack
Bob Marley: One Love (Soundtrack)
Genius: MLK/X (Songs from the Original Series)
Reasonable Doubt (Season 2) (Original Soundtrack)
The Book of Clarence (The Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song
- WINNER - “Working for Me," Tamela Mann
“Church Doors," Yolanda Adams
“Do It Anyway," Tasha Cobbs Leonard
“God Problems (Not By Power)," Maverick City Music feat. Miles Minnick
“I Prayed for You (Said a Prayer)," MAJOR.

Outstanding Jazz Album
- WINNER - Portrait, Samara Joy
Creole Orchestra, Etienne Charles
Epic Cool, Kirk Whalum
Javon & Nikki Go to the Movies, Javon Jackson and Nikki Giovanni
On Their Shoulders: An Organ Tribute, Matthew Whitaker

Outstanding Soul/R&B Song
- WINNER - “Residuals," Chris Brown
“16 CARRIAGES," Beyoncé
“Here We Go (Uh Oh)," Coco Jones
“I Found You," PJ Morton
“Saturn," SZA

Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song
- WINNER - “Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar
“Mamushi," Megan Thee Stallion feat. Yuki Chiba
“Murdergram Deux," LL Cool J feat. Eminem
“Noid," Tyler, the Creator
“Yeah Glo!," GloRilla

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Traditional)
- WINNER - Adam Blackstone & Fantasia, "Summertime”
Leela James feat. Kenyon Dixon, "Watcha Done Now”
Maverick City Music feat. Miles Minnick, "God Problems (Not By Power)”
Muni Long & Mariah Carey, "Made for Me”
Sounds of Blackness feat. Jamecia Bennett & Buddy McLain, "Thankful”

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration (Contemporary)
– WINNER - Wizkid feat. Brent Faiyaz, “Piece of My Heart”
FLO & GloRilla, “In My Bag”
GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, Kierra Sheard, Chandler Moore, “RAIN DOWN ON ME”
USHER & Burna Boy, “Coming Home”
Victoria Monét feat. Usher, “SOS” (Sex on Sight)

Outstanding Original Score for Television/Motion Picture
- WINNER - Star Wars: The Acolyte (Original Soundtrack)
Challengers (Original Score)
Dune: Part Two (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The American Society of Magical Negroes (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Book of Clarence (Original Motion Picture Score)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)
- WINNER - Luther: Never Too Much
Daughters
Frida
King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones
The Greatest Night in Pop

Outstanding Documentary (Television)
WINNER - Black Barbie: A Documentary -
Black Twitter: A People's History
Gospel
Simone Biles Rising
Sprint

Outstanding Short Form Documentary (Film)
– WINNER - How to Sue the Klan
Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps
Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call
Judging Juries
Silent Killer

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Crystal Jenkins — No Good Deed, "Letters of Intent"
Ashley Nicole Black — Shrinking, "Changing Patterns"
Brittani Nichols — Abbott Elementary, "Breakup"Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra From Detroit, "Chasing Ghosts"
Jordan Temple — Abbott Elementary, "Smoking" (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
- WINNER - Ben Watkins — Cross, "Hero Complex"
Azia Squire — Bridgerton, "Tick Tock"
Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith, "First Date"
Geetika Lizardi — Bridgerton, "Joining of Hands"
Lauren Gamble — Bridgerton, "Old Friends"

Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
- WINNER- Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks, — Young. Wild. Free.
Brandon Espy, Carl Reid — Mr. Crocket
Bree West, Chazitear, A Wesley South African Christmas
Rudy Mancuso, Dan Lagana — Música
Tina Mabry, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Cee Marcellus — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
- WINNER - RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes — Nickel Boys
Barry Jenkins — The Fire Inside
Steve McQueen — Blitz
Titus Kaphar — Exhibiting Forgiveness
Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
- WINNER - Tiffany Johnson — How to Die Alone, "Trust No One"
Ayo Edebiri — The Bear, "Napkins"
Bentley Kyle Evans — Mind Your Business, "The Reunion"
Robbie Countryman — The Upshaws, "Ain't Broke"
William Smith — The Vince Staples Show, "Brown Family"

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
- WINNER - Rapman — Supacell, "Supacell"
Carl Franklin — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, "Blame It on the Rain"
Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X, "Protect Us"
Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X, "Who We Are"
Paris Barclay — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary, or Special
- WINNER - Tina Mabry — The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can Eat
Kelley Kali — Kemba
Marcelo Gama — BET Awards 2024
Shanta Fripp — Black Men’s Summit
Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
- WINNER - RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys
Jeymes Samuel — The Book of Clarence
Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson
Reinaldo Marcus Green — Bob Marley: One Love
Steve McQueen — Blitz

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
- WINNER - Dawn Porter — Luther: Never Too Much
Bao Nguyen — The Greatest Night in Pop
Deborah Riley Draper — James Brown: Say It Loud
Jason Pollard, Sam Pollard — Ol' Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys
Nneka Onuorah — Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Words

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
- WINNER - One of Us Knows: A Thriller — Alyssa Cole
A Love Song for Ricki Wilde — Tia Williams
Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson
Neighbors and Other Stories — Diane Oliver, Tayari Jones (Foreword)
What You Leave Behind — Wanda M. Morris

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction
- WINNER - Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest — Fawn Weaver
A Passionate Mind in Relentless Pursuit: The Vision of Mary McLeod Bethune — Noliwe Rooks
Picturing Black History: Photographs and Stories that Changed the World — Daniela Edmeier, Damarius Johnson, Nicholas B. Breyfogle and Steven Conn
The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience — Nikole Hannah-Jones and The New York Times Magazine
The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America — Larry Tye

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
- WINNER - Grown Woman — Sarai Johnson
A Kind of Madness — Uche Okonkwo
AfroCentric Style: A Celebration of Blackness & Identity in Pop Culture — Shirley Neal
Masquerade — O.O. Sangoyomi
Swift River — Essie Chambers

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
- WINNER - Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America — Joy-Ann Reid
Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me — Whoopi Goldberg
By the Time You Read This: The Space Between Cheslie's Smile and Mental Illness ― Her Story in Her Own Words — Cheslie Kryst and April Simpkins
Do It Anyway: Don't Give Up Before It Gets Good — Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Sarah Jakes Roberts (Foreword)
Lovely One: A Memoir — Ketanji Brown Jackson

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
- WINNER - Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair — Tomesha Faxio
Black Joy Playbook: 30 Days of Intentionally Reclaiming Your Delight — Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggets
I Did a New Thing: 30 Days to Living Free (A Feeding the Soul Book) — Tabitha Brown
Loving Your Black Neighbor as Yourself: A Guide to Closing the Space Between Us — Chanté Griffin
Radical Self-Care: Rituals for Inner Resilience — Rebecca Moore (Author), Amberlee Green (Illustrator)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
- WINNER This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets — Kwame Alexander Bluff: Poems — Danez Smith
Good Dress — Brittany Rogers
Load in Nine Times: Poems — Frank X Walker
Song of My Softening — Omotara James

Outstanding Literary Work – Children
- WINNER - You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book — Taraji P. Henson (Author), Paul Kellam (Illustrator)
All I Need to Be — Rachel Ricketts (Author), Tiffany Rose (Illustrator) with Luana Horry
Cicely Tyson — Renée Watson (Author), Sherry Shine (Illustrator)
Crowning Glory: A Celebration of Black Hair — Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Ekua Holmes (Illustrator)
My Hair Is a Book — Maisha Oso (Author), London Ladd (Illustrator)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
- WINNER - Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York — Samarra St. Hilaire
American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators and the Race for Equality in the Sky — Sherri L. Smith and Elizabeth Wein
Barracoon Adapted for Young Readers The Story of the Last Black Cargo — Zora Neale Hurston, Ibram X. Kendi (Adapted by), Jazzmen Lee-Johnson (Illustrator)
Black Star: The Door of No Return — Kwame Alexander
Clutch Time: A Shot Clock Novel (Shot Clock, 2) — Caron Butler and Justin A. Reynolds

Outstanding Graphic Novel
- WINNER - Punk Rock Karaoke — Bianca Xunise
Big Jim and the White Boy: An American Classic Reimagined — David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson
Black Defender: The Awakening — Dr. David Washington, Mr. Zhengis Tasbolatov (Illustrator), Mr. Billy Blanks (Foreword)
Gamerville — Johnnie Christmas
Ghost Roast — Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Emily Cannon (Illustrator)

Outstanding News and Information Podcast
- WINNER - Native Land Pod
#SundayCivics
After the Uprising
Into America: Uncounted Millions
The Assignment with Audie Cornish

Outstanding Lifestyle/Self–Help Podcast
- WINNER - We Don’t Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling
Balanced Black Girl
Is This Going to Cause An Argument
The R Spot with Iyanla
Therapy for Black Girls

Outstanding Society and Culture Podcast
- WINNER - Club Shay Shay
Baby, This is Keke Palmer
Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
We Don't Always Agree with Ryan & Sterling
What now? with Trevor Noah

Outstanding Sports, Arts and Entertainment Podcast
- WINNER - Two Funny Mamas
Naked Sports with Cari Champion
Nightcap
Questlove Supreme
R&B Money Podcast

Outstanding Podcast – Limited Series/Short Form
- WINNER - Stranded
About the Journey
Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown
The Wonder of Stevie
When We Win wih Maya Rupert

Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film)
-Winner - Paul Tazewell — Wicked
Ernesto Martinez — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Megan Coates — Shirley
Gersha Phillips — The Big Cigar
Francine Jamison-Tanchuck — The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film)
- WINNER - Debi Young — Shirley
Carol Rasheed — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Rebecca Lee — Shōgun
Matiki Anoff — The Book of Clarence
Para Malden — The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Hairstyling (Television or Film)
- WINNER - Lawrence Davis — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist
Terry Hunt — Bel-Air
Nakoya Yancey — Shirley
Brian Badie — The Penguin
Andrea Mona Bowman — The Piano Lesson

Outstanding Stunt Ensemble (TV or Film)
- WINNER - Rebel Ridge
Cross
Grotesquerie
Red One
Them: The Scare

16th Annual AAFCA Awards Presented by the African American Film Critics Association in Beverly Hills on February 19th

Amber Ruffin, Colman Domingo, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Nicole Avant, Ted Sarandos, Tyler Perry and more gathered to celebrate Black excellence in film, alongside honored first responders at the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards

AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson alongside honored first responders Photo Credit: Sheri Determan for AAFCA

Amber Ruffin hosted the ceremony, where Nicole Avant, RaMell Ross, Malcolm Washington and more were honored. Winners Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Colman Domingo, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Danielle Deadwyler, Kris Bowers, Ray Fisher, Greg Kweder, Clint Bentley, and Clarence Maclin were in attendance to accept their awards alongside AAFCA President and Co-Founder Gil Robertson, who presided over the event.

Additional attendees included Ted Sarandos, Tyler Perry, Questlove, Lynn Whitfield, Kym Whitley, Tyler Lepley, Robert Ri’chard, Kat Graham, and more. AAFCA proudly included first responders as special guests at this year’s ceremony in honor of their heroic efforts during the recent LA wildfires.

Photo Credit: Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content for AAFCA Nicole Avant, Ted Sarandos, Tyler Perry attends the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards in Beverly Hills on February 19, 2025

Photo Credit: Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content for AAFCA for AAFCA Nickel Boys director, stars attends the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards in Beverly Hills on February 19, 2025

Photo Credit: Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content for AAFCA Gil Robertson, Founder AAFCA and Amber Ruffin host Amber attends the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards in Beverly Hills on February 19, 2025

Photo Credit: Arnold Turner/Eclipse Content for AAFCA Coleman Domingo attends the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards in Beverly Hills on February 19, 2025

ABOUT AAFCA
Established in 2003, AAFCA is the premier body of Black film critics in the world, actively reviewing film and television, with a particular emphasis on entertainment highlighting the Black experience in the US and throughout the rest of the African Diaspora. For more information on AAFCA and its programs visit http://AAFCA.com.