By Samantha Ofole-Prince
It’s the season of awards where celebrities get recognition for their projects and the Critics Choice Association (CCA) is the latest to announce honorees for their annual celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
From Academy Award-winning writer-director Spike Lee, Damson Idris to “Sinners” director Ryan Coogler, it’s a list of strong Black talent.
This event which recognizes outstanding work both onscreen and offscreen from the Black entertainment community, will honor Lee with a Career Achievement Award. Throughout his career, Lee has explored race, politics, and African American life in films such as “She’s Gotta Have It,” “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’ Better Blues,” “Jungle Fever,” “Malcolm X,” and “Da 5 Bloods.” His latest crime film “Highest 2 Lowest” is playing in theaters.
Academy Award nominee Ryan Coogler will be given the Director Award for his work on Warner Bros. Pictures’ Sinners. ” Coogler’s other directorial credits include “Fruitvale Station,” “Creed,” “Black Panther,” and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
British Nigerian actor Damson Idris, now one of Hollywood’s leading actors following his breakout role in FX’s “Snowfall,” will receive the Supporting Actor Award – Film for his work in Apple Original Films’ “F1.” Idris, who will next appear in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s “Children of Blood and Bone” for Paramount and as Miles Davis in “Miles & Juliette,” has continued to showcase his remarkable range and depth on screen. This recognition adds to a growing list of accolades for Idris who recently received a Horizon Awardfrom the American Black Film Festival.
Other honorees include Oscar and Emmy-nominated director-producer Reginald Hudlin (“House Party,” “Boomerang,” “Django Unchained”), Tessa Thompson (“Hedda”), Sterling K. Brown and Jurnee Smollett.
Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti of the Warner Bros. Pictures’ action comedy “One Battle After Another” will receive the Ensemble Award.
“It’s truly an honor to continue our tradition of celebrating excellence in Black cinema and television,” shared Shawn Edwards, executive producer of the Celebration of Black Cinema & Television. “This has been a banner year where Spike Lee — the godfather of contemporary cinema — continued to inspire with his groundbreaking vision; Ryan Coogler represented the next generation of visionary filmmakers reshaping the culture with Sinners, and a record number of Black women created unprecedented impact with a wide range of diverse and high-profile roles.”
Ovation Magazine will be at the ceremony set to take place December 9 at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
Samantha Ofole-Prince is a journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film. She serves as an Entertainment U.S. correspondent for Ovation Magazine