African-American Film Critics Association Names 'Moonlight' and 'Queen Sugar' Best of 2016
The African-American Film Critics Association has Queen Sugar" as the best of their respective fields.
The AAFCA, which according to its website aims to "bring greater recognition to the work of writers, directors and actors of color," hailed this year's creative offerings, with co-founder Shawn Edwards noting that there were numerous deserving recipients to choose from. Though no overt reference to the recent #OscarsSoWhite backlash facing the Academy Awards was made, Edwards made it clear that this year's honorees were a step in the right direction for Hollywood.
"It was an exceptional year in terms of the quantity and quality of films about the black experience," Edwards said in a statement. "And while this by no means solves the diversity issue in the film industry, it was definitely refreshing to have such a wide range of exceptional work to choose from to honor and celebrate with our approval."
"The number of incredible performances by black actors and actresses added to a very competitive field of performances and represents a step toward inclusion that our membership warmly embraces," added AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson in another statement. "We look forward to what 2017 has in store."
The full list of honorees in both film and television is below. The African-American Film Critics Association will hand out its awards at a ceremony in Los Angeles on February 4.
FILM
BEST PICTURE : MOONLIGHT – (A24)
BEST DIRECTOR: BARRY JENKINS, MOONLIGHT – (A24)
BEST ACTOR: DENZEL WASHINGTON, FENCES – (Paramount)
BEST ACTRESS: RUTH NEGA, LOVING – (Focus Features)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: MAHERSHALA ALI, MOONLIGHT – (A24)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: VIOLA DAVIS, FENCES – (Paramount)
BEST ENSEMBLE: The cast of HIDDEN FIGURES – (20th Century Fox)
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE 2017 – Janelle Monae for MOONLIGHT and HIDDEN FIGURES
BEST INDEPENDENT FILM: MOONLIGHT – (A24)
BEST ANIMATION FILM; ZOOTOPIA – (Disney)
BEST SONG – "VICTORY" from HIDDEN FIGURES – (20th Century Fox)
BEST DOCUMENTARY – 13th – (Netflix)
BEST FOREIGN FILM – TANNA – (Lightyear Entertainment)
BEST SCREENPLAY – AUGUST WILSON, FENCES – (Paramount)
TV
BEST TV SHOW (Drama) – QUEEN SUGAR – OWN
BEST TV SHOW (Comedy) – ATLANTA – FX
BEST TV SHOW (CABLE/NEW MEDIA – UNDERGROUND – WGN
BEST TV SHOW (Special/Limited Series) – LEMONADE – HBO
AAFCA's Top 10 Films of 2016 are as follows, in order of distinction:
1. MOONLIGHT – A24
2. FENCES – Paramount
3. HIDDEN FIGURES – 20th Century Fox
4. LION – The Weinstein Company
5. LA LA LAND – Lionsgate
6. BIRTH OF A NATION – Fox Searchlight
7. LOVING – Focus Features
8. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA – Roadside Attraction/Amazon Studios
9. HELL OR HIGH WATER – Liongsgate/CBS Films
10. QUEEN OF KATWE – Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films
AAFCA's Top 10 TV shows of 2016 are as follows, in order of distinction:
1. QUEEN SUGAR – OWN
2. UNDERGROUND – WGN
3. ATLANTA – FX
4. INSECURE – HBO
5. LUKE CAGE – NETFLIX
6. THIS IS US – NBC
7. BLACKISH – ABC
8. THE GET DOWN – NETFLIX
9. WESTWORLD – HBO
10. SURVIVOR'S REMORSE – STARZ
[via: Variety]