Lynn Whitfield, RaMell Ross, Kelly Rowland, and more among event attendees
First Responders Attended in Honor of Their Wildfire Relief Efforts

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) hosted the 2025 Special Achievement Awards Luncheon honoring cinematic excellence at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Sunday, February 2nd. A distinguished event celebrating the diverse and influential voices shaping the cinematic landscape, this annual invitation-only awards ceremony honored individuals for their prolific contributions to the entertainment industry.
Attendees included honorees Lynn Whitfield (Legacy Award), Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse (Next Gen Award), “Nickel Boys” and RaMell Ross (Karen & Stanley Kramer Social Justice Award), Amber Rasberry (Horizon Award), and Taura Stinson (Ascension Award).
Presenters and special guests included Keith David, Deric Augustine, Kathryn Bostic, Kelly Rowland, DeVon Franklin, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jennifer & Kat Kramer, along with AAFCA President and Founder Gil Robertson, who presided over the event.
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.