Unspool Hollywood

Dark Star Pictures THE PREY New Trailer

THE PREY a new film by director Jimmy Henderson’s opens in VIRTUAL THEATERS on August 21n 2020 in Los Angeles at Laemmle and in New York on Alamo On Demand and major cities.

On VOD in US and Canada on August 25th. Including on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, Direct TV, Dish Network and all major cable providers.

THE PREY was an official selection at the Busan International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival.

Directed by Jimmy Henderson (JAILBREAK) and written by Jimmy Henderson, Michael Hodgson, Kai Miller.

It stars Byron Bishop, Sahajak Boonthanakit, Nophand Boonyai, Vithaya Pansringarm (ONLY GOD FORGIVES), Gu Shangwei

THE PREY is loosely based on Richard Connell’s story of survival and adventure The Most Dangerous Game,

Undercover Chinese cop Xin (newcomer Gu Shangwei), is on a secret international mission when a surprise raid puts him in a remote Cambodian jungle prison that plays by its own rules.Ruthless warden (Vithaya Pansringarm of ONLY GOD FORGIVES ) sells prisoners as human prey for rich hunters looking for thrills in the jungle.

After years of hunting down ruthless criminals, Xin suddenly finds himself running for his life. If Xin manages to survive this sadistic game, he’ll walk out of the jungle the same way he came in: as a free man. If Xin fails, he’s just another hunting trophy.
Runtime: 93 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Language: Cambodian and Chinese (Mandarin) with English subtitles
Distributed by LA-based Dark Star Pictures.

DARK STAR PICTURES

Dark Star Pictures is a new-age North American distribution company, focused on bringing unique and targeted content to audiences across the country. The company is committed to releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in the theatrical, digital and home video space. Dark Star’s goal is to create original marketing campaigns directly catered to audiences who will embrace our brand of thought-provoking cinema. The company also services distribution companies and producers in the theatrical, digital, and festival space.

Lights, Camera, Action! Hollywood Productions Resume June 12, 2020

TCL Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Photo: Yevette Renee

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Order of the Health Officer has released the REOPENING SAFER AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR CONTROL OF COVID-19.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced that the Music, film and television production can reopen during Stage 3 on Friday, June 12, 2020. All productions prior to resuming must prepare, implement and post the required Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Reopening Protocol for Music, Film and Television Production.

There are five areas that all productions must address prior to reopening: Workplace policies and practices to protect employee health, Measures to ensure physical distancing, measures to ensure infection control, communication with employees and the public, measures to ensure equitable access to critical service.

Physical Distancing

They suggest any employee that can work from home, should do so. The workplace must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE), all visitors and employees must wear face covering.

All productions and recording sessions are required to have a written protocol before they can start work to ensure six (6) feet or more between people. With only essential cast and crew on or near the set at any time. If cast and musicians are unable to wear face coverings must be a minimum of 8 feet of social distancing. Whenever possible, workspaces are to have one directional traffic. When riding the elevator, the capacity limit is based on the ability to maintain six (6) feet distance. They also suggest easing elevator traffic by opening stairwells for up and down traffic.

All shops shall be by appointment only to prevent lines forming.

Television and film productions are required to give periodic testing to cast and crew, especially those in high-rick scenes requiring close contact without masks.

Infection Control

Ventilation must be increased in all spaces. All contracts, music sheet, scripts and other documents must be distributed digitally or printed and given to everyone. Before and after filming and other sessions, all commonly touched areas must be disinfected at least three times a day. The entire facility must be cleaned daily i.e. sets, production spaces. Minor child actors can be accompanied by up to two adults. Payment portals, props, costumes, set materials, trucks and other vehicles must be disinfected after each use.

All Productions must provide a copy of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocol to every person that come on-set or enters the production facility.

The movie extra industry will suffer a major impact with productions being told to avoid large crowd scenes.

Craft services: people will only be able to eat and drink in a designated area. The cast and crew must eat and drink in production set area in staggered schedules.

Food buffets are not allowed as well as no communal food or drink services (no coffee pots). Food must be single serve only. People who bring in their own food cannot share their food.

The date, time and name of the crew currently in session must be recorded to assist in contact tracing when necessary.

Production locations must be completely secure from the public with enough space for everyone stay six (6) to social distance.

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN Film Review

Von Rydingsvard in her Williamsburg studio on South 5th Street, surrounded by the cedar cast of katul katul, 2002.

Premieres May 29, 2020 at Film Forum in New York

Opens June 5, 2020 in the major cities of Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and more cities to be announced.

Director: Daniel Traub
Feature Documentary

Director Daniel Traub’s gives an in depth look at the life of sculptor Ursula Von Rydingsvard in his new film URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN.

A compelling story of her birth in Germany, the five years she and her family lived in a displaced person camp prior to her parents and four siblings moving to the United States, her marriage to her husband of nine-years, who was institutionalized with schizophrenia and her eventual rise as one of the few women who specialize in monument sculptors.

Ona, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 2013.

It is fascinating to see how Ursula who grew up during the war and lived in poverty and despair as a displaced person was able to rise to such great heights as an artist. Hearing her speak about being in the 3^rd grade and being elected to create posters and other art assignments in school appear to be the spark that ignited her passion for the arts. It is as though the world of art was her calling, her destiny.

One usually thinks of an artist and the creation of their work as an individua effort yet with Ursula, you see her chosen genre of working with large sculptures made out of cedar and eventually working with bronze, requires a team effort. A team she clearly admires and respect. It is a great opportunity for young artist to work and learn from a master of the arts like Ursula. She and her team have lunch together everyday, which gives you a sense of a family unit. That cohesiveness is displayed in the seamlessness of the sculptures that they create together.

Von Rydingsvard drawing cut lines on a 4x4" cedar beam, 2016.

It was intriguing watching as she traveled to Poland for the first time and see the similarities between of the large, neat stacks of wood used for heating their homes and her large stacks of 4x4 cedar blocks used in her sculptures and other Polish items that had been unknowingly created in her art. It provides an innate connection between her and her family’s homeland.

Composer Simon Taufique original scores provides a great backdrop to Ursula’s life journey from Germany to her new life in the United States.

An enjoyable film about the humbly beginnings of a woman determined to be an artist. An artist who chose a genre without many woman role models and excelled.

Production Company: Itinerant Pictures
Run time: 57 minutes
Director: Daniel Traub
Producers: Daniel Traub, Ken Kobland, Simon Taufique
Executive Producer: Morning Slayter
Editors: Ken Kobland, Melody London
Cinematographer: Daniel Traub
Composer: Simon Taufique

View Trailer Below

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN- In Virtual Theaters Starting June 5

Premieres Friday, May 29, 2020 at Film Forum in New York.

Open June 5, 2020 in the major cities of Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia with more cities to be announced.

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN is an artistic biography of one of the few women in the world working in monumental sculpture. Von Rydingsvard’s work has been featured in the Venice Biennale and is held in the collections of some of the world’s great museums, including New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. But she may be best-known for her staggering, triumphant body of work in public spaces – imposing pieces painstakingly crafted with complex surfaces including: a series of early installations reminiscent of wings in what became New York’s Battery Park; a monumental yet inviting piece outside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center and the stunning “Scientia” at M.I.T. which evokes the power of nature and the firing of brain synapses.

In Daniel Traub’s intimate documentary, he goes behind the scenes with von Rydingsvard, as she and her collaborators – cutters, metal-smiths, and others – produce new work, including challenging commissions in copper and bronze. The film also delves into the artist’s personal life, and how it has shaped her work

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN

Born in Poland during the Second World War, she was partly raised in a displaced persons camp and came to the US as a refugee with her nine-person family. Brought up in a blue-collar environment, she became a teacher and then, as a single mother, moved to New York in the 1970s to take up her artistic practice full-time.

Interviews with curators, patrons, family, fellow artists (including luminaries such as artist Sarah Sze and museum director Adam Weinberg), as well as the artist herself, are intertwined with studio visits and behind-the-scenes footage of her mammoth creations being installed. All combine to show how, through sheer talent and determination (and countless planks of cedar), she has become one of the world’s greatest artists (and one of a very few women) working in monumental sculpture.

DANIEL TRAUB is a New York-based filmmaker and photographer. He lived in China from 1998 to 2007, working as cinematographer on documentary films for various networks and production companies, including PBS, German television ZDF and Arte. More recently, Traub directed the feature-length Barefoot Artist about Lily Yeh and her collaborative artworks in war-torn communities and Xu Bing: Phoenix about the condition of Chinese migrant laborers.

Traub’s photographs have been exhibited internationally, including solo exhibitions at the Catherine Edelman Gallery in Chicago, Slought Foundation in Philadelphia and the Lianzhou Foto Festival in China. His work can be found in public and private collections, such as The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

ABOUT THIS RELEASE
The virtual theatrical release of URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN supports local theaters, museums and arts organizations across the U.S. and Canada. Participating organizations receive a branded page and have no overhead costs in these presentations. The ticket price is $9.99 for a 48-hour streaming period. Of the proceeds, 50% benefits the presenting organization.

ICARUS FILMS
Since 1978, Icarus Films has been a leading distributor of documentary films in North America. Icarus Films meets the needs of activists, educators and service providers, challenging audiences with original creative works.

LIST OF CITY OPENINGS

JUNE 5, 2020
Berkeley (Pacific Film Archive with Q and A), Los Angeles (Laemmle Theaters), San Francisco (Roxie Theater), San Rafael (Rafael Film Center), Chicago (Gene Siskel Film Center with Q and A), Detroit (Detroit Institute Of Arts), Philadelphia (Lightbox Film Center with Q and A), Camas (Liberty Theater), Port Townsend (Rose Theater) and more.

JUNE 12, 2020
Kansas City (Nelson Atkins Museum), Hudson, NY (Time and Space Limited).

JUNE 17, 2020
Houston (MFA Houston).

View the trailer below:

I PROMISE a Documentary about Lebron James Public School in Akron

Lebron James new documentary tells the story about his Akron, Ohio school, I Promise.

Dedicated to helping underserved kids. Kids that are dealing with the same challenges Lebron faced as a child.

Lebron James is truly making a difference in the lives kids that live in his hometown of Akron.

View the trailer below.

Bad Boys For Life World Premiere in Hollywood

Run time 2:03
Action, Comedy, Crime
Rated R

The World Premiere of Bad Boys For Life with the dynamic of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Hollywood.

Tuesday's premiere comes 25 years after Bad Boys 1995 opening and 17 years after Bad Boys 2.

Giving people ample time to miss the two.

The third installment finds Detective Mike Lawry (Will Smith) leading a group of millinial police officers in AMMO and Detective Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) a police inspector looking forwad ready to retire when a mafia boss seeks revenge for his brother who was brought down by Lawry and Burnett.

Bad Boys For Life was made on a $90 million budget compared to the $19 million for the 1995 Bad Boys and $130 million for Bad Boys 2 in 2003

Directors: Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah.

Producers: Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Smith, Doug Belgrad

Screenplay: Chris Bremner, Peter Craig, Joe Carnahan.

Story by: Peter Criag, Joe Carnahan.

Based on characters by: George Gallo.

Cast: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Charles Melton, Paola Nunez, Kate del Castillo, Nicky Jam, Joe Pantoliano

Music: Lorner Balfe

Cinematographer: Robrecht Heyvaert

Editor: Dan Lebental, Peter McNulty

Production Company: Columbia Pictures, 2.0 Entertainment, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing

Films Coming To The Screen In Los Angeles This Week: Bad Boys, Dolittle, Just Mercy

January 17, 2020

Bad Boys For Life

Run time: 2:03
Genre: Action, Comedy
Rated R

Detective Mike Lawry (Will Smith) leading a group of millennials police officers in AMMO and Detective Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) a police inspector looking forward ready to retire when a mafia boss seeks revenge for his brother who was brought down by Lawry and Burnett.

Dolittle

Run time: 1:06
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure
Rated PG

Withdrawing from the world after the death of his wife, Lily (Kassia Smutniak), Doctor Dolittle (Robert Downey Jr.), a renowned veternarian, finds a renewed purpose when he sets on a voyuage to save the Queen, Queen Victoria when an unknown illness threatens her life.

Director: Stephen Gaghan
Producer: Joe Roth, Dan Gregor, Doug Mand
Story by: Thomas Shepherd
Based on Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting
Cast: Antonia Banderas, Michael Sheen, Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Kumail Nanjiani, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Craig Robinson, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, Marion Cotillard,
Music: Danny Elfman
Cinematography: Guillermo Navarro
Editor: Craig Alpert, Nick Moore
Production: Media Rights Capital, Team Downey, Roth Films
Distriblutor: Universal Pictures

Just Mercy

Run time: 2:16
Genre: Legal Drama
Rated: PG-13

A true story of Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx) wrongly convicted for murder in Alabama on a false witness and coercion by corrupt police and sentenced to death by the presiding judge. With the dedication of Harvard educated lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan), the newly appointed director of Alabama Capital Representation Resource Center, who became McMillian's appeals attorney.

With Brie Larson as Eva Ansley, Robert Morgan as Herbert Richarsonim Blake Nelson as Ralph Myers, Rafe Spall as Tommy Chapman, O'Shea Jackson Jr. Screenplay by Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham. Based on Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson.
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Produced by Gip Netter, Asheer Goldstein, Michael B. Jordan. Music by Joel P. West. Cinematographer by Brett Pawlak. Edited by Nat Sanders. Production companies are Endeavor Content, Once Community, Participant Media, Macro Media, Gil Netter Productions Outlier Society.

Nominees For The 51st NAACP Image Awards Are Announced

On Monday, Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP and Connie Orlando, Executive Vice-President, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy with BET Networks, announced the strong list of great performances for 51^st NAACP Image Awards and the first year on BET Networks, as it celebrates its 40^th year

With special awards going to Entertainer of the Year, Activist of the Year, and Youth Activist of the Year. This year’s Entertainer of the Year nominees are Angela Basset, Billy Porter, Lizzo, Regina King, and Tyler Perry.

“Harriet”, the herstory of Harriet Tubman is leading the pack with 10 nominations. Netflix dominates the Television Categories with 30 nominations.

NAACP Image Awards is celebrating 51-years with a two-hour Live TV special to air on BET Networks for the first time on Saturday, February 22, 2020.

The full list of nominees are listed below by category.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Angela Basset

Billy Porter
Lizzo
Regina King
Tyler Perry

TELEVISION CATEGORIES

Outstanding Comedy Series “Ballers” (HBO)
“black-ish” (ABC)
“Dear White People” (Netflix)
“grown-ish” (Freeform)
“theNeighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)
Cedric The Entertainer – “theNeighborhood” (CBS)
Don Cheadle – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO)
Tracy Morgan – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Logan Browning – “Dear White People” (Netflix)
Jill Scott – “First Wives Club” (BET+)
Tiffany Haddish – “The Last O.G.” (TBS)
Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)
Yara Shahidi – “grown-ish” (Freeform)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Deon Cole – “black-ish” (ABC)
Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC)Terry Crews– “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (NBC)
Tituss Burgess – “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Halle Bailey – “grown-ish” (Freeform)
Loretta Devine – “Family Reunion” (Netflix)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Regina Hall – “Black Monday” (Showtime)
Tichina Arnold – “the Neighborhood” (CBS)

Outstanding Drama Series

“Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
“Greenleaf” (OWN)
“Queen Sugar” (OWN)
“The Chi” (Showtime)
“Watchmen” (HBO)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Billy Porter – “Pose” (FX Networks)
Forest Whitaker – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Kofi Siriboe – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz)
Sterling K. Brown – “This Is Us” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Angela Bassett – “9-1-1” (FOX)
Regina King – “Watchmen” (HBO)
Rutina Wesley – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Simone Missick – “All Rise” (CBS)
Viola Davis – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Delroy Lindo – “The Good Fight” (CBS All Access)

Giancarlo Esposito – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)

Harold Perrineau – “Claws” (TNT)
Nigél Thatch – “Godfather of Harlem” (EPIX)
Wendell Pierce – “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan” (Prime Video)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

CCH Pounder – “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS)
Lynn Whitfield – “Greenleaf” (OWN)
Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Susan Kelechi Watson – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Tina Lifford – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)

Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

American Son (Netflix)
Being Mary Jane (BET Networks)
Native Son (HBO)
True Detective (HBO)
When They See Us (Netflix)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Ethan Henry Herisse – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America)
Jharrel Jerome – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Mahershala Ali – “True Detective” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special

Aunjanue Ellis – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)
Kerry Washington – “American Son” (Netflix)
Niecy Nash – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Octavia Spencer – “Truth Be Told” (Apple TV+)

Outstanding News/Information (Series or Special)

PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools (PBS)
Surviving R. Kelly (Lifetime)
The Breakfast Club (REVOLT)
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman (National Geographic)
Unsung (TV One)

Outstanding Talk Series

“Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“The Real” (Syndicated)
“The Shop: Uninterrupted” (HBO)
“The Tamron Hall Show” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series/Game Show

“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
“Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
“Rhythm + Flow” (Netflix)
“Sunday Best” (BET Networks)
“The Voice” (NBC)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)

“2019 Black Girls Rock!” (BET Networks)
“Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones” (Netflix)
“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)
“Saturday Night Live” (NBC)
“Wanda Sykes: Not Normal” (Netflix)

Outstanding Children’s Program

“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
“Family Reunion” (Netflix)
“Kevin Hart’s Guide to Black History” (Netflix)
“Marvel’s Avengers: Black Panther’s Quest” (Disney XD)
“Motown Magic” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-Series)

Caleel Harris – “When They See Us” (Netflix)
Lonnie Chavis – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Lyric Ross – “This Is Us” (NBC)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Angela Rye – “Young Gifted and Broke: A BET Town Hall” (BET Networks)
Jada Pinkett Smith – “Red Table Talk” (Facebook Watch)
Lester Holt – “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” (NBC)
Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Meghan McCain, Abby Huntsman, Ana Navarro – “The View” (ABC)

Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble

Iyanla Vanzant – “Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
LL Cool J – “Lip Sync Battle” (Paramount Network)
Regina Hall – “2019 BET Awards” (BET Networks)
Steve Harvey – “Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC)
Wayne Brady – “Let’s Make A Deal” (CBS)

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy or Drama Series

Blair Underwood – “Dear White People” ( Netflix)
David Alan Grier – “Queen Sugar” (OWN)
Kelly Rowland – “American Soul” (BET Networks)
MAJOR. – “STAR” (FOX)
Sanaa Lathan – “The Affair” (Showtime)

RECORDING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Album

“Cuz I Love You” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“Homecoming: The Live Album” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
“I Used To Know H.E.R.” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
“Sketchbook” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
“Worthy” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)

Outstanding New Artist

Ari Lennox (Dreamville/Interscope Records)
Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
Lucky Daye (Keep Cool/RCA Records)
Mahalia (Burkmar/Warner Music UK)
Mykal Kilgore (Affective Music)

Outstanding Male Artist

Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Khalid (RCA Records)
Lil Nas X (Columbia Records)
(BOE Music Group/EMPIRE)
PJ Morton (Morton Records)

Outstanding Female Artist

Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
E.R. (RCA Records)
Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)
Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Song – Traditional

“Enough” – Fantasia (Rock Soul Inc./BMG)
“Jerome” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“SPIRIT” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
“Stand Up” – Cynthia Erivo (Back Lot Music)
“Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary

“Before I Let Go” – Beyoncé (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
“Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)
“Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)
“Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)
“Motivation” – Normani (Keep Cool/RCA Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

“Brown Skin Girl” – Blue Ivy, SAINt JHN, Beyoncé & WizKiD (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)
“No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records)

“Say So” – PJ Morton feat. JoJo (Morton Records/EMPIRE)

“Shea Butter Baby” – Ari Lennox feat. J. Cole (Dreamville/Interscope Records)

“Show Me Love” – Alicia Keys feat. Miguel (RCA Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

“Carib” – David Sanchez (Ropeadope)

“Center of The Heart” – Najee (Shanachie)

“Love & Liberation” – Jazzmeia Horn (Concord Jazz)

“SoulMate” – Nathan Mitchell (Enm Music Group)

“The Dream Is You: Vanessa Rubin Sings Tadd Dameron” – Vanessa Rubin (Vanessa Rubin)

Outstanding Gospel/Christian Song (Traditional or Contemporary)

“I Made It Out” – John P. Kee feat. Zacardi Cortez (Kee Music Group/Entertainment One)

“Laughter” – Bebe Winans feat. Korean Soul (Regimen Records)

“Love Theory” – Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Records/RCA Records)

“Not Yet” – Donnie McClurkin (Camdon Music/RCA Inspiration)

“Victory” – The Clark Sisters (Karew Records/Motown Gospel/Capitol CMG)

Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album

“Hard Place” – H.E.R. (RCA Records)

“Juice” – Lizzo (Nice Life Records/Atlantic Records)

“No Guidance” – Chris Brown feat. Drake (Chris Brown Entertainment/RCA Records)

“Steady Love” – India.Arie (India.Arie Inc./BMG)

“Talk” – Khalid (RCA Records)

Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album

“Harriet (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Terence Blanchard (Back Lot Music)

“Queen & Slim The Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Motown Records)

“The Lion King: The Gift” – Beyoncé w/Various Artists (Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records)

“The Lion King Original Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Various Artists (Walt Disney Records)

“Us (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)” – Michael Abels (Back Lot Music)

LITERATURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

“New Daughters of Africa” – Margaret Busby (HarperCollins Publishers)

“Out of Darkness, Shining Light” – Petina Gappah (Simon and Schuster)

“Red at the Bone” – Jacqueline Woodson (Riverhead Books PRH)

“The Revisioners” – Margaret Wilkerson Sexton (Counter Point Press)

“The Water Dancer” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (One World)

Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction

“Breathe: A Letter to My Sons” – Dr. Imani Perry (Beacon Press)

“STONY THE ROAD: Reconstruction, White Supremacy, and the Rise of Jim Crow” – Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (Penguin Press)

“The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations” – Toni Morrison (Alfred A. Knopf)

“The Yellow House” – Sarah M. Broom (Grove Atlantic)

“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker: A Memoir in Essays” – Damon Young (HarperCollins Publishers)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

“American Spy” – Lauren Wilkinson (Random House)

“I Am Dance: Words and Images of the Black Dancer” – Hal Banfield (Author), Javier Vasquez (Illustrator), (Literary Revolutionary)

“More Than Pretty: Doing The Soul Work To Uncover Your True Beauty ” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)

“Such A Fun Age” – Kiley Reid (Penguin Publishing Group)

“The Farm” – Joanne Ramos (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography

“Free Cyntoia: My Search for Redemption in the American Prison System” – Cyntoia Brown-Long (Atria Books)

“Finding My Voice: My Journey to the West Wing and the Path Forward” – Valerie Jarrett (Viking Press)

“More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)” – Elaine Welteroth (Viking Press)

“My Name Is Prince” – Randee St. Nicholas (HarperCollins Publishers)

“The Beautiful Ones” – Prince (Author), Dan Piepenbring (Edited by), (Random House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

“Inspire Your Home: Easy, Affordable Ideas to Make Every Room Glamorous” – Farah Merhi (Tiller Press)

“Letters to the Finishers (who struggle to finish)” – Candace E. Wilkins (New Season Books)

“More Than Pretty: Doing the Soul Work that Uncovers Your True Beauty” – Erica Campbell (Howard Books)

“Vegetables Unleashed” – José Andres (HarperCollins Publishers)

“Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, And Opportunity For Black Women In America” – Karen Arrington (Author), Joanna Price (Illustrator), Sheryl Taylor (Forward) (Mango Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry

“A Bound Woman Is a Dangerous Thing: The Incarceration of African American Women from Harriet Tubman to Sandra Bland” – DaMaris B. Hill (Bloomsbury Publishing)

“Felon: Poems” – Reginald Dwayne Betts (W.W. Norton Company)

“Honeyfish” – Lauren K. Alleyne (New Issues Poetry and Prose)

“Mistress” – Chet’la Sebree (New Issue Poetry and Prose)

“The Tradition” – Jericho Brown (Copper Canyon Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

“A Place to Land: Martin Luther King Jr. and the Speech That Inspired a Nation” – Barry Wittenstein (Author), Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator), (Penguin Random House)

“Hair Love” – Matthew A. Cherry (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Kokila)

“Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment” – Parker Curry (Author), Jessica Curry (Author), Brittany Jackson (Illustrator), (Aladdin Books)

“Ruby Finds a Worry” – Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Publishing)

“Sulwe” – Lupita Nyong’o (Author), Vashti Harrison (Illustrator), (Simon & Schuster, BFYR)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

“Around Harvard Square” – C.J. Farley (Akashic Books)

“Her Own Two Feet: A Rwandan Girl’s Brave Fight to Walk” – Meredith Davis (Author), Rebeka Uwitonze (Author), (Scholastic Inc.)

“Hot Comb” – Ebony Flowers (Author), Ebony Flowers (Illustrator), (Drawn and Quarterly)

“I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” – Gilly Segal (Author), Kimberly Jones (Author), (Sourcebooks Fire)

“The Forgotten Girl” – India Hill Brown (Scholastic Inc.)

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Outstanding Motion Picture

“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)

“Harriet” (Focus Features)

“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

“Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture

Chadwick Boseman – “21 Bridges” (STX Films)

Daniel Kaluuya – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

Eddie Murphy – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)

Michael B. Jordan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Winston Duke – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture

Alfre Woodard – “Clemency” (Neon)

Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

Lupita Nyong’o – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Naomie Harris – “Black and Blue” (Screen Gems/Sony Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture

Jamie Foxx – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Leslie Odom, Jr. – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

Sterling K. Brown – “Waves” (A24)

Tituss Burgess – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)

Wesley Snipes – “Dolemite Is My Name” (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture

Da’Vine Joy Randolph – “Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)

Janelle Monáe – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

Jennifer Lopez – “Hustlers” (STX Films)

Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)

Octavia Spencer – “Luce” (Neon)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in Motion Picture

Cynthia Erivo – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

Jodie Turner-Smith – “Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

Marsai Martin – “Little” (Universal Pictures)

Rob Morgan – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Shahadi Wright Joseph – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture

“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)

“Harriet” (Focus Features)

“Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

“Us” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

“Clemency” (Neon)

“Dolemite is My Name” (Netflix)

“Luce” (Neon)

“Queen & Slim” (Universal Pictures)

“The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television or Film)

Alfre Woodard – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)

Donald Glover – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)

James Earl Jones – “The Lion King” (Walt Disney Studios)

Lupita Nyong’o – “Serengeti” (Discovery Channel)

Sterling K. Brown – “Frozen II” (Walt Disney Studios)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

“Miles Davis: Birth Of The Cool” (Eagle Rock Entertainment)

“The Black Godfather” (Netflix)

“The Apollo” (HBO)

“Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” (Magnolia Pictures)

“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” (HBO)

Outstanding Documentary (Television – Series or Special)

“Free Meek” (Prime Video)

“Hitsville: The Making of Motown” (Showtime)

“Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” (Netflix)

“Martin: The Legacy of A King” (BET Networks)

“ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke” (Netflix)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Cord Jefferson – “The Good Place” – Tinker, Tailor, Demon, Spy (NBC)

Gloria Calderon Kellett, Mike Royce – “One Day at a Time” – Ghosts (Netflix)

Jason Kim – “Barry” – Past=Present x Future Over Yesterday (HBO)

Karen Gist, Peter Saji – “Mixed-ish” – Let Your Hair Down (ABC)

Trevor Noah – “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Steve King’s Comments Meet Trevor Noah: Racism Detective (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Ava DuVernay, Michael Starrbury – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)

Damon Lindelof, Cord Jefferson – “Watchmen” – The Extraordinary Being (HBO)

Nichelle Tramble Spellman – “Truth Be Told” – Monster (Apple TV+)

Nkechi Okoro Carroll – “All American” – Hussle & Motivate (The CW)

Pat Charles – “Black Lightning” – The Book of Secrets: Chapter One: Prodigal Son (The CW)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Cas Sigers-Beedles – “Twas the Chaos Before Christmas” (BET)

Melissa Bustamante – “A Christmas Winter Song” (Lifetime)

Patrik-Ian Polk – “Being Mary Jane” (BET Networks)

Suzan-Lori Parks – “Native Son” (HBO)

Yvette Nicole Brown – “Always a Bridesmaid” (BET Networks)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)

Chinonye Chukwu – “Clemency” (Neon)

Destin Daniel Cretton, Andrew Lanham – “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Doug Atchison – “Brian Banks” (Bleeker Street and ShivHans)

Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Kasi Lemmons, Gregory Allen Howard – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

Anya Adams – “GLOW” – Outward Bound (Netflix)

Justin Tipping – “Black Monday” -7042 (Showtime)

Ken Whittingham – “Atypical” – Road Rage Paige (Netflix)

Randall Winston – “Grace and Frankie” – The Pharmacy (Netflix)

Shaka King – “Shrill” – Pool (Hulu)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Ava DuVernay – “When They See Us” – Part Four (Netflix)

Carl H. Seaton, Jr. – “Snowfall” – Hedgehogs (FX Networks)

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson – “Power” – Forgot About Dre (STARZ)

Debbie Allen – “Grey’s Anatomy” – Silent All These Years (ABC)

Jet Wilkinson – “The Chi” – The Scorpion and the Frog (Showtime)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)

Codie Elaine Oliver – “Black Love” (OWN)

Janice Cooke – “I Am Sombody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story (Lifetime)

Kenny Leon – “American Son” (Netflix)

Rashid Johnson – “Native Son (HBO)

Russ Parr – “The Bobby Debarge Story” (TV One)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Film)

Ejiofor – “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” (Netflix)

Jordan Peele – “Us” (Universal Pictures)

Kasi Lemmons – “Harriet” (Focus Features)

Mati Diop – “Atlantics” (Les Films du Bal Presente en Co-Production avec Cinekap et Frakas Productions en Co-Production avec Arte France Cinema et Canal+ International for Netflix)

Reginald Hudlin – “The Black Godfather” (Netflix)