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AAFCA Announces Winners for 17th Annual Awards ceremony taking place on February 8th at The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills

LOS ANGELES, CA - Dec. 9, 2025 - The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) today announced the winners of its 17th annual AAFCA Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to cinema, along with its selections for the top ten films of the year.

Winners will be celebrated at the 17th Annual AAFCA Awards on February 8th at The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Beverly Hills. The announcement was made by AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “The cinematic voices recognized this year remind us of the power of film to challenge, inspire, and unite,” said AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson. “From bold new visions to unforgettable performances, these winners represent storytellers who are pushing the art form forward while speaking to the moment we are living in. We look forward to celebrating their achievements and the impact their work continues to have on audiences worldwide.

AAFCA’s Top 10 Films list and the winners of the 17th Annual AAFCA Awards are:

AAFCA’S TOP 10 FILMS OF THE YEAR

Sinners (Warner Bros.)
One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)
Hedda (Amazon MGM)
Frankenstein (Netflix)
Hamnet (Focus Features)
Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)
F1 (Apple/Warner Bros.)
One of Them Days (Sony Pictures Releasing)
The Knife (Relativity Media)
The Smashing Machine (A24)

WINNERS | 17TH ANNUAL AAFCA AWARDS

BEST ACTOR - Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST ACTRESS - Tessa Thompson, Hedda (Amazon MGM)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Wunmi Mosaku, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Damson Idris, F1 (Apple/Warner Bros.)

BEST DOCUMENTARY - The Perfect Neighbor (Netflix)

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE - KPop Demon Hunters (Netflix)

BEST DIRECTOR - Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST WRITING - Ryan Coogler, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

EMERGING FACE (ACTOR) - Miles Caton, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

EMERGING FACE (ACTRESS) - Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another (Warner Bros.)

BEST INDEPENDENT FEATURE - Hedda (Amazon MGM)

BEST ENSEMBLE - Sinners (Warner Bros.)

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT - The Rebel Girls

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - Hoops, Hopes & Dreams

BEST ANIMATED SHORT - Black Man, Black Man

BEST MUSIC - Ludwig Göransson, Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Motion Picture Sound Editors Announces 2025 Board of Directors Election Results

Los Angeles, CA – December 9, 2025 – Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) is proud to announce the results of its 2025 Board of Directors election.

David Barber, MPSE, has been re-elected to serve as President for an additional two-year term. The current Vice President, Eric Marks, MPSE, is stepping down after the 73rd MPSE Golden Reel Awards on March 8, 2026. Current board member Korey Pereira, MPSE, will step in as interim Vice President to complete his final year. Pereira is an Emmy and Golden Reel Award-winning Dialogue Editor for Stranger Things, and Head of Audio for the University of Texas at Austin's Moody College of Communications Department of Radio-Television-Film. Brent Findley, MPSE, has been elected to be Secretary, and Vickie Sampson, MPSE, has been elected to the Retired seat.

“It is a great honor to represent the Motion Picture Sound Editors in this capacity once more,” stated MPSE president David Barber. “I am privileged to work with this board of directors and our Executive Director, Tracie Costabile. They are all such enthusiastic, pro-active champions of sound. I look forward to building on the programs and initiatives we've put in motion these past few years.”

Notably, this newly elected Board of Directors includes members from a wide variety of countries and states, reflecting MPSE’s diverse membership across 44 countries and 6 continents.

Full election results below.

Returning Board Directors:

Peter Albrechtsen (Denmark)

Baylon Fonseca (India)

Kevin Howard (Canada)

Mark Lanza (US - CA)

Tim Muirhead (Canada)

New Board Directors:

Alex Borquez (US - CA)

Timothy Day (US - PA)

Nicholas Papaleo (US - CA)

About the Motion Picture Sound Editors

Founded in 1953, the Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) is a global community of visionary sound artists who define the sonic experience of cinema, television, and games. From the subtle nuances of dialogue to the pulse-pounding roar of action, MPSE members are the not-so-silent heroes behind the immersive audio that brings stories to life, captivating audiences worldwide.

Through its vibrant network of professionals spanning 40 countries on 6 continents, the MPSE is dedicated to elevating the craft of sound and recognizing the indispensable role sound artists play in storytelling. The organization’s year-round calendar is packed with exciting events, including industry panels, educational workshops, networking opportunities, screenings and celebrations, including the prestigious Golden Reel Awards, which honor artistry and innovation in sound editing.

Committed to nurturing the next generation of sound talent, the MPSE offers mentorship programs and scholarships that provide aspiring sound professionals with the tools and support they need to achieve their goals. The MPSE further champions and celebrates the power of sound and the incredible artists who bring it to life through its quarterly publication, Wavelength.

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Chadwick Boseman Receives A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

a photo of the El Capitan theater marquee that says Celebrating Chadwick Boseman

Photo Credit: Yevette Renee

Chadwick Boseman received the 2828^th star today, on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Speaking in Chadwick’s honor were Oscar winner Viola Davis, who starred with Chadwick in ‘Ma Rainey’ Black Bottom, Ryan Coogler, who directed him in ‘Black Panther’, and his widow. Simone Ledward Boseman.

Boseman’s star in the Motion Picture category is located at 6904 Hollywood Boulevard

Photo of Chadwick Boseman Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Photo Credit: Yevette Renee

Brooke H. Cellar’s THE CRAMPS World Premiere at Fantastic Fest 2025

Director: Brooke H. Cellars
Starring: Lauren Kitchen, Brooklyn Woods, Harlie Madison, Martini Bear, Wicken Taylor, Michelle Malentina
Producers: Brooke H. Cellars, Madeleine Yawn, Wicken Taylor, Michelle Malentina, Levi Porter, Vincent Stalba
Genre: Comedy, Horror
Feature Film on 35mm
Language: English
Country: United States
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Run time: 1 hour 29 minutes

A blossoming young woman, Agnes Applewhite (Lauren Kitchen), gets a job as a shampoo girl at a lively beauty salon, which goes against the wishes of her traditional family including her sanctimonious mother and tightly wound sister. As she begins this newfound journey to find her true self, she suffers from debilitating menstrual cramps, which blur the line between reality and nightmare for her and those around her.

Part comedy, part fantastical horror and wholly unforgettable, Brooke H. Cellar's The Cramps: A Period Piece takes the audience on a mesmerizing trip where John Waters' irreverence meets the macabre stylings of Mario Bava, all wrapped in the dreamlike allure of Federico Fellini.

A blossoming young woman, Agnes Applewhite (Lauren Kitchen), gets a job as a shampoo girl at a lively beauty salon, which goes against the wishes of her traditional family including her sanctimonious mother and tightly wound sister. As she begins this newfound journey to find her true self, she suffers from debilitating menstrual cramps, which blur the line between reality and nightmare for her and those around her.

Director Brooke H. Cellars Biography

Brooke H. Cellars (she/they) is a multifaceted filmmaker. She has directed 8 short films since 2018. Her adoration for all things horror started when she was a kid. Her father was a children’s book writer and starting early on has been writing stories that were always horror themed. Her first screenplay, which she turned into a short film called THE CHILLS, won Best Screenplay at Houston Horror Fest in 2020. Her most recent short film VIOLET BUTTERFIELD: MAKEUP ARTIST FOR THE DEAD has screened in over 30 film festivals worldwide and has won multiple awards including the Abby Normal Award at Portland Horror Fest, the Audience Award at Final Girls Berlin, and both the Jury and Audience awards at Overlook Film Festival.

FF 2025 PAGE: https://www.fantasticfest.com/film-guide

@TheCrampsFilm @FantasticFest

VICIOUS Screening at FANTASTICFEST’S 2025 and Premiering on Paramount+ Oct. 10th

Paramount Pictures Presents An Atlas Independent Production “VICIOUS”

Director and writer: Bryan Bertino
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kathryn Hunter, Mary McCormack, Rachel Blanchard, Devyn Nekoda, Klea Scott, Emily Mitchell
Executive Producers: Melinda Whitaker, Shane Boucher
Producers: Richard Suckle, p.g.a., Bryan Bertino

SOMETHING YOU HATE. SOMETHING YOU NEED. SOMETHING YOU LOVE.

When Polly (Dakota Fanning) receives a mysterious Box from an unexpected late-night visitor, it comes with a simple instruction: place three things inside: something you need, something you hate, and something you love. What begins as a strange ritual quickly unravels into a waking nightmare. Trapped in a terrifying world where reality bends and memory betrays, Polly must navigate a series of impossible choices. As time slips away, she’s forced to confront the darkness not just around her, but within her—before it consumes everything and everyone she’s ever known.

#VICIOUS

More Information on FANTASTIC FEST:

https://www.fantasticfest.com/

THE COMPATRIOTS View New Trailer: VOD Release September 16th, United States and Canada

Credit: Blue Harbor Entertainment

Director and writer: Spencer Cohen
Starring: Rafael Silva, Denis Shepherd, Dakota Lustick, Caroline Portu, Jaison Hunter. Brandon Grimes
Producers: Jennifer Potts and on Alberto Sayan

THE COMPATRIOTS’ release overlaps with the United States’ Citizen Day on September 17, 2025, and shows the importance of these stories about immigration, identity, and belonging in American films.

Film Website: www.thecompatriotsfilm.com

@thecompatriotsfilm #TheCompatriotsFilm

REGRETTING YOU In Theatres October 24, 2025: View New Trailer!

Paramount Pictures Presents In association with Constantin Film and Domain Entertainment and north.five.six. A Constantin Film Production, A Harbinger Pictures and Frayed Pages Production

WHEN LIFE PULLS YOU DOWN, LOVE LIFTS YOU UP ❤️

Director: Josh Boone
Based on the book by Colleen Hoover
Screenplay by Susan McMartin
Starring: Allison Williams, Mckenna Grace, Dave Franco, Mason Thames, Sam Morelos with Scott Eastwood with Willa Fitzgerald and Clancy Brown
Rating: Not yet been rated

Director Josh Boone's new film is his take on the bestselling book, REGRETTING YOU that introduces audiences to Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) and her daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) as they explore what’s left behind after a devastating accident reveals a shocking betrayal and forces them to confront family secrets, redefine love, and rediscover each other.

REGRETTING YOU is a story of growth, resilience, and self-discovery in the aftermath of tragedy, also starring Dave Franco and Mason Thames with Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald, in theatres this October.

#RegrettingYouMovie

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The 5th Annual Next Gen Panel Presented by AAFCA x SAG-AFTRA Foundation Takes Place Today

On Sunday, July 20^th, the African American Film Critics Association and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation hosted the 5^th Annual Next Gen Panel at the Meryl Streep Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The panel of young stars on the rise is DaVinchi, Taylor, Ernest Kingsley Jr., Myles Truitt, who all have a bright future ahead.

‘The Omro Heist’ on TVOD and Digital release on July 29, 2025

Director: Jamie Bailey
Story: Simon Phillips
Writers: Jamie Bailey, Simon Phillips
Starring: Simon Phillips, Anthony Crivello, Damir Kovic, Heather Arendt, Nick Biskupek, Ken Bressers, Al Dias, Cali Felix, Justin Gordon, Tony Lee Gratz, Alicia Hinson, Mackenzie Jones, Kristen McCabe, Adam Huel Potter

Director Jamie Bailey new film The Omro Heist tells what happens when in FBI agent goes undercover during a bank siege and finds out it is more than just a bank robbery and criminals are the only ones criming.

Producers: Ken Bressers, Anthony Crivello
Executive producer: Simon Phillips
Composer: Darren Morze
Cinematographer: Jamie Bailey
Editor: Jamie Bailey
Sound: Donnie Ivey

“Pay Dirt: The Story of Supercross” a Documentary Narrated by Josh Brolin Available July 18th, 2025, on TVOD/Digital Globally

Director: Paul Taublieb
Narrator: Josh Brolin
Appearances: Hall of Fame legends Jeremy McGrath, Bob Hannah, Ricky Johnson, and Ricky Carmichael
Run time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Country: United States

Paul Taubliebhe ‘s documentary “Pay Dirt: The Story of Supercross" tells the compelling story days of the sport of Supercross in 1972. And Michael Goodwin, a man who created the sport and now serving a double-life sentence without the possibility of parole for murdering his ex-business partner, featuring the biggest names, past and present of the most underappreciated, demanding, dramatic motorsports across the planet.