‘FIRST WORD ON HORROR’ (ETCH) Docu Series from Award-Winning Author Laird Barron

Releasing exclusively via Substack on February 7, 2025

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FIRST WORD ON HORROR (ETCH) Logo

Director: Philip Gelatt
Featuring: Stephen Graham Jones, Paul Tremblay, Elizabeth Hand, Laird Barron, and Mariana Enriquez
Producer: Will Battersby
Director of Photographer: Sean Kirby
Composer: Peter Scartabello
Editor: April Merl
Sound Designer: Ben Cheah

FIRST WORD ON HORROR is a fifteen-part documentary series that profiles five of the finest horror writers working today.

Across multiple episodes, each author discusses their life, their inspirations, their philosophies, and their writing techniques while reading one of their short stories. As fact and fiction blend, secrets are revealed and the delicate alchemy that turns human experience into creative expression begins to emerge.

Award winning author Laird Barron talks about his unsettling childhood in Alaska.(ETCH)

Tribeca’s Inaugural Storytelling Summit from June 5-15, 2025

Storyteling Summit

Where Vision Meets Possibility

We’re excited to announce a new addition to this year’s program: the Tribeca Storytelling Summit — a festival-within-the-festival for the entire filmmaking community.

The multi-day summit will take place June 5-15 alongside the Festival, bringing together visionary filmmakers, storytellers, and industry leaders for thoughtfully curated panels, intimate workshops, and networking opportunities. Designed specifically to help foster collaboration and supercharge careers, this year’s inaugural Storytelling Summit will be the start of the next wave of storytelling success in TV, film, digital media, and beyond.

To kick things off, we announced our first featured speakers, including Christine VachonJulio TorresSteve Buscemi and Wren ArthurJeremy O. Harris, and our own Jane Rosenthal. When you attend our Storytelling Summit, you’ll gain insights from industry veterans like these, while also connecting with a diverse group of fellow creatives (and maybe even see a film or two).

The Tribeca Storytelling Summit is open to anyone with a story to tell. Badges are $250 and provide full access to the Summit’s programming June 5-15.

Find more details about the event at tribecafilm.com/storytellingsummit.

ACE Winners Announced for the 75th ACE Eddie Awards

ACE Logo

Winners for Outstanding Editing In Film, Television and Documentaries were announced today, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Los Angeles at UCLA’s Royce Hall

American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced today the winners for the 75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards, recognizing outstanding editing in 14 categories of film, television and documentaries. The winners were announced at the live ceremony at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Acclaimed filmmaker Jon M. Chu received the ACE Golden Eddie Filmmaker of the Year Award, recognizing a filmmaker who exemplifies distinguished achievement in the art and business of film. Film editors Maysie Hoy, ACE and Paul Hirsch, ACE received Career Achievement Awards for their outstanding contributions to film editing.

A full list of winners for the 75th Annual ACE Eddie Awards follows:

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (Drama, Theatrical):

Emilia Pérez - Juliette Welfling

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (Comedy, Theatrical):

Wicked - Myron Kerstein, ACE

BEST EDITED ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:

The Wild Robot - Mary Blee

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:

Will & Harper - Monique Zavistovski, ACE

BEST EDITED DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Chimp Crazy (102 - Gone Ape)
Evan Wise, ACE
Charles Divak, ACE
Adrienne Gits, ACE
Doug Abel, ACE

BEST EDITED MULTI-CAMERA COMEDY SERIES:
Frasier (207 - My Brilliant Sister) - Russell Griffin, ACE

BEST EDITED SINGLE CAMERA COMEDY SERIES:

What We Do in the Shadows (603 - Sleep Hypnosis)
Liza Cardinale, ACE
Dane McMaster, ACE

BEST EDITED DRAMA SERIES:

Shogun (110 - A Dream of A Dream)
Maria Gonzales, ACE
Aika Miyake

BEST EDITED FEATURE FILM (NON-THEATRICAL):
Road House
Doc Crotzer, ACE

BEST EDITED LIMITED SERIES:
Baby Reindeer (104 - Episode 4)
Peter H. Oliver
Benjamin Gerstein

BEST EDITED NON-SCRIPTED SERIES:
Welcome to Wrexham (305 - Temporary)
Tim Wilsbach, ACE
Steve Welch, ACE
Michael Brown
Michael Oliver
Tim Roche
Matt Wafaie
Jenny Krochmal
Mohamed el Manasterly

BEST EDITED VARIETY TALK/SKETCH SHOW OR SPECIAL:
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (1103 - Boeing)
Anthony Miale, ACE

BEST EDITED ANIMATED SERIES:
X-Men '97 (105 - Remember It)
Michelle McMillan

About American Cinema Editors

American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society that has been championing the art, craft and business of film editing since 1950. Through signature events like EditFest Global, the ACE Eddie Awards and Invisible Art/Visible Artists, the organization celebrates the vital role of editors in storytelling and provides a dynamic global platform to illuminate the craft. ACE is committed to elevating the profile of film editing, fostering a diverse and inclusive community and educating future generations through a variety of active mentorship and scholarship programs. Through its programs, publications (CinemaEditor), podcasts (Editors on Editing, Global Editing Perspectives) and active educational activities, this collective of accomplished film editors is at the forefront of both preserving cinematic history while simultaneously preparing the next generation of film editors in a continuously evolving artistic climate.

2025 NAACP Image Awards Winners!

56TH lOGO

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

Amber Ruffin hosted the ceremony, where Nicole AvantRaMell RossMalcolm Washington and more were honored. Winners Marianne Jean-BaptisteColman DomingoAunjanue Ellis-TaylorEthan HerisseBrandon WilsonDanielle DeadwylerKris BowersRay FisherGreg KwederClint 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 SarandosTyler PerryQuestloveLynn WhitfieldKym WhitleyTyler LepleyRobert Ri’chardKat 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.

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. 

Monkey Wrench Films Releases “Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day”

 

In theaters February 28, 2025

Arcade Poster

Director: Ed Cunningham
Writers:  Ed Cunningham, Mike J. Nichols, and Paul Leach 
Producers: Jonathan Perkins, Seth Gordon and Mike J. Nichols
Executive Producers: Ed Cunningham, Byron Ashley, Scott Jackson, Harrison Kordestani Kerry, Cathy Loveland and Paul Campoamor
Editor: Mike J. Nichols

Arcades & Love Songs: The Ballad of Walter Day: A musical documentary following 74-year-old Walter Day - the father of esports and star of The King of Kong - as he battles a lawsuit threatening his legacy while fulfilling his dream of recording and performing the rock-opera style love songs he has been hearing in his head since having his heart broken at the height of the arcade era.

 “The Imaginary Friend” an Award Winning Extraordinary Immersive Experience Headed to Annecy International Animation Film Festival, June 10-14, 2024

Imaginary-Friend-Poster-2024-portraita

VR Director: Steve Hallema
Produces: Corine Meijers
Lead designer Koen Koopman

Become an Imaginary Friend!

A grieving child struggles to separate reality from fantasy. He creates YOU–his (imaginary) friend–to fight the monsters in his mind. Although you have fun together, he starts to grow disconnected from his surroundings... Are you helping, or just making things worse?

Synopsis: The Imaginary Friend invites you to take part in the vivid imagination of Daniel, a grieving eight-year-old struggling with the line between reality and fantasy.

Become Daniel’s imaginary friend and let him share his world with you. Discover his joys and anxieties, even help him fight his demons head-on. However, as you spend time together, Daniel’s surroundings don’t quite understand. Why is he talking to himself? Is he crazy? When his father intends to fix him, Daniel needs to figure out his feelings before disconnecting from reality completely...

About VR and its unique storytelling possibilities/ Explanation of Technical Advancements: 

One of the great possibilities of VR is its power to directly include a player in its story- telling and allow them to be (almost) entirely present in the story world. The Imaginary Friend boldly seeks to push player involvement, setting out to create a personal experience where the player can actively engage with its lead character. With this unique challenge in interactive storytelling, the project utilises an exciting development in the field of VR: Volumtetric video.

Volumetric video is a new technology that captures live performers in 3D, allowing our team to move real actors freely in the virtual space of the project. All the while, ensuring that the expressions and emotions of the performances are preserved. The team also pushes this technology further by making it interactive. Something no other Volumetric video project has done on this scale and with similar dramatic impact. Pioneering a technique called ‘head retargeting’, the team was able to subtly turn the actors head in the direction of the player. This contributes to the player feeling like they’re acknowledged by the lead character, greatly enhancing the connection you make during the experience.

“Who Is Stan Smith?” Opens May 3rd in Los Angeles and New York and in over 50 Markets May 10th: View New Clip: View New Clip

Key Arta

Release date: May 3, 2024
Director:  Danny Lee
Run time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA

“Who Is Stan Smith?” film tells the story of the groundbreaking athlete who went from being one of the world’s greatest tennis stars, to a leading civil rights and AIDS activist, blazing a trail along the way with his namesake Adidas sneakers – the iconic shoe that has become a fashion statement for hip hop musicians and celebrities for more than 50 years. The film features extensive interviews with Stan Smith, his family, and many of the world’s most famous athletes and celebrities including John McEnroe, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Donald Dell.

Release date: May 3, 2024
Director:  Danny Lee
Run time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA
Distributor: Monkey Wrench Films helmed by Tom Putnam  and Henry C. Lystad
Executive producers: LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson, Alexandra Dell, and Donald Dell
Producers: UNINTERRUPTED within  The SpringHill Company (TSHC), and in association with CALICO

“Wild Eyed and Wicked” June 11th      Release on TVOD/Digital and Cable On Demand: Check out new trailer

Wild Eyed and Wicked key art

Release: June 11th on TVOD/Digital and Cable On Demand
Director and Writer: G.S. Foxwood
Starring: Molly Kunz, Michael X. Sommers, Stefanie Estes, and Colleen Camp
Genre: Horror
Run time: 1 hour 39 minutes
Country: United States

G.S. Foxwood’s feature film debut, the fantasy psychological horror film  "Wild Eyed and Wicked" stars Molly Kunz (Widows, The Irrational), Michael X. Sommers (Sense8), Stefanie Estes (Soft & Quiet), and the iconic Colleen Camp (Clue).

It follows Lily Pierce (Kunz) in her attempt to strike back at the medieval creature that’s haunted her family for generations. In order to do so, she must reconnect with her estranged father, Gregory (Sommers), a disgraced history professor, and learn how to draw upon a time of steel and blade when armor-clad knights rode out and dueled monsters to the death. 

Estes, Camp, and Claire Saunders round out the cast and story. Shot in 16 days, the real-life family farm outside of Philadelphia where the movie was shot is also where the film’s writer/director grew up and now lives. The story of Lily Pierce is inspired by Elizabeth Foxwood  experiences helping herself and others build paths to recovery regarding trauma and mental health battles, all part of her world as a medical doctor in NYC and Pennsylvania.

Follow on social media
Website: 
www.wildeyedandwicked.com
Instagram:  @wild_eyed_and_wicked

Distributor: Gravitas Ventures 
Director and Writer: G.S. Foxwood
Starring: Molly Kunz, Michael X. Sommers, Stefanie Estes, and Colleen Camp
Producers: Big Bad Film’s Powell Robinson and Patrick R Young, Executive Producer: Elizabeth Foxwood, New Mythology Productions.

All Is Well Pictures in Association With Ford Foundation, and Scandobean Productions’ PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: The Corky Lee Story Premieres on PBS May 13th

POSTER-THEATRICAL-FINAL


Director: Jennifer Takaki
Run Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Language: English
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Documentary Feature
Country: USA

PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: The Corky Lee Story an OFFICIAL SELECTION: DOC NYC, CAAMFest, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (LAAPFF), Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) and many more.

9.11 SIKH 2001 (Credit Corky Lee
9.11 SIKH 2001 (Credit Corky Lee

For 50 years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the Covid pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.

Corky Lee was born in 1947 in New York to Chinese immigrants who owned two laundries in Queens. He majored in history at Queens College and became a community organizer in Manhattan’s Chinatown in the 1970s. Over the next five decades he photographed countless protests and cultural events in the Asian American Pacific Islander community. Lee’s photographs documented the birth and growth of the Asian American movement for social justice and he became known as “The Undisputed, Unofficial, Asian American Photographer Laureate.”   His death in 2021 at the age of 73 due to Covid was mourned in the press worldwide

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki  is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV.  In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story” which premiered at DOC NYC and was supported by the Ford Foundation and The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM). She was awarded the prestigious Better Angels Lavine Fellowship in 2023.

SOCIAL MEDIA/CONNECT:

Website: https://photographicjustice.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CorkyLeeStory
X/Twitter: @corkyleestory
Instagram: @corkyleestory

Director: Jennifer Takaki
Run Time: 1 hour 27 minutes
Language: English
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Documentary Feature
Country: USA
Executive Producers:  George and Hillary Hirose, Lily M. Fan
Producers: Jennifer Takaki, Linda Lew Woo
Co-Producers: David Koh, Nicole DiMiceli
Editor: Linda Hattendorf