‘The Woman King,’ ‘Wakanda Forever,’ Kendrick Lamar among winners of 14th annual AAFCA Awards

The African American Film Critics Association will host the 14th annual AAFCA Awards in March, but ahead of the celebration, it has announced the winners and special honorees who’ll be presented with awards that night.

Taking home Best Picture is The Woman King, directed by the winner of the Best Director category: Gina Prince-Bythewood. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery also secured two wins: the former’s “Lift Me Up,” performed by Rihanna, was named Best Song, with Angela Bassett winning the award for Best Supporting Actress. Glass Onion won in the Best Ensemble and Best Writing categories.

Among the other winners are Jeremy Pope, Danielle Deadwyler and Brian Tyree Henry, who won awards for their respective roles in The Inspection, Till and Causeway. Kendrick Lamar‘s We Cry Together picked up the award for Best Live Action. 

The AAFCA Awards will take place on March 1 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, where special honors will be presented to Till; Wakanda Forever producer Nate Moore; production designer Hannah Beachler; Emancipation‘s Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith; and Michael Abels, the composer of “Nope.”

“AAFCA is deeply honored to recognize some of the most captivating films and performances of the year,” says AAFCA President and co-founder Gil Robertson. “These thought-provoking stories of strength, determination and courage lift us and entertain us. It’s an honor to recognize the incredible, visionary work both in front of and behind the camera of this year’s AAFCA Award winners.”

The full list of winners/special honorees is below.

WINNERS | 14TH ANNUAL AAFCA AWARDS

Best Picture: The Woman King

Best Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King)

Best Actor: Jeremy Pope (The Inspection)

Best Actress: Danielle Deadwyler (Till)

Best Supporting Actor: Brian Tyree Henry (Causeway)

Best Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Emerging Face: Jalyn Hall (Till & Bruiser)

Emerging Filmmaker: Carey Williams (Emergency)

Best Independent Feature: Nanny

Best Animated Feature: Wendell & Wild

Best Documentary: Sidney

Best Ensemble: Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Best Writing: Rian Johnson (Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery)

Best International Feature: Saint Omer

Best Song: “Lift Me Up” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

Best Live Action Short: We Cry Together

Best Animated Short: New Moon

SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT HONOREES | 14TH ANNUAL AAFCA AWARDS

Impact Award: Till

The Innovator Award: Composer, Michael Abels (“Nope“)

Building Change Award, presented by Lowes: Production Designer, Hannah Beachler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

The Beacon Award: Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith (Emancipation)

The Ashley Boone Award: Producer, Nate Moore (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

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