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AAFCA Honored MOONLIGHT as Top Film & QUEEN SUGAR as the Top TV Show

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION (AAFCA) HONORED MOONLIGHT AS THE TOP FILM OF HISTORIC 2016  & QUEEN SUGAR AWARDED AS THE TOP TV SHOW 

  • Denzel Washington, Ruth Negga, Mahershala Ali and Viola Davis Received Acting Wins from the Nation’s Premiere Black Critics Group 
  • Ava DuVarney’s 13th and Beyonce’s Lemonade also take key honors 
  • Sidney Poitier Received Lifetime Achievement Award (Sandra Kramer accepted on his behalf
  • February 8, 2017AWARDS GALA TOOK PLACE AT THE TAGLYAN COMPLEX IN LOS ANGELES

LOS ANGELES (February 9, 2016) – Movies, documentaries and TV shows about the black experience were in abundance in 2016 making it a truly historic year in terms of the number of movies, documentaries, TV shows released, and the number of blacks represented in front and behind the camera.

AAFCA held its 8th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, CA.

Those in attendance included host Nischelle Turner, Janelle Monae (Breakout Star Award Recipient), Barry Jenkins (Moonlight Director) Lee Daniels (Vanguard Award Recipient), John Singleton, Queen Sugar Cast (Dawn Lyen-Gardner, Timon Kyle Durrett, Omar J. Dorsey, Tina Lifford, Dondre Whitfield), Sanaa Lathan (Shots Fired), Alano Miller (Underground), DeWanda Wise (Shots Fired), director Anthony Hemingway (Underground Director), Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jovan Adepo (Fences), Joe Morton (Scandal), Tommy Davidson, Anna Marie Horsford, Demetrius Shipp Jr. (All Eyez On Me), Laz Alonso, Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Game), Aisha Hinds (Underground), Misha Green (Underground Creator), Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Eva Marcille, Rhyon Nicole (Surviving Compton), Marcus Scribner (Black-ish), Kendrick Sampson (How To Get Away With Mu

Janelle Monae

Cast of ‘Queen Sugar
L-R: Omar J. Dorsey, Tina Lifford, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Timon Kyle Durrett, Dondre Whitfield

“Our members had a plethora of outstanding movies, documentaries and TV shows to choose from this year,” says AAFCA Co-founder Shawn Edwards. “It was an exceptional year in terms of the quantity and quality of films about the black experience. 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.”

There were several movies released last year that are considered masterpieces. However, it was “Moonlight” that dominated this year’s voting for the 8th AAFCA Awards. The independent film which chronicles the life of a young black man from childhood to adulthood as he struggles to find his place in the world while growing up in a rough neighborhood of Miami completely resonated with the majority of the members of the association. The A24 Pictures film earned multiple awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor. Awards were also given to singer/actress Janelle Monae for Best Breakout Performance. She delivered star-making performances this year in both “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures.” The top acting honors went to Denzel Washington and Ruth Negga for their roles in Fences and Loving.

“2016 provided our membership with many great films to choose from,” says AAFCA President and Co-founder, Gil Robertson. “Every movie and TV show on our Top 10 Lists could have easily been number one. The number of incredible performances by black actors and actresses added to a very competitive field of performances and represents a step towards inclusion that our membership warmly embraces. We look forward to what 2017 has in store.”

The following is a complete list of 2016 AAFCA Awards winners. 

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 – 13  (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 Top Ten 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. LALA 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 – Lionsgate/CBS Films
  10. QUEEN OF KATWE – Walt Disney Pictures/ESPN Films

AAFCA Top Ten 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

As previously announced, AAFCA’s Special Achievement Honors, presented by Morgan Stanley, was presented on Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the California Yacht Club. This year’s honorees include director, Anthony Hemingway; producer/director, Lee Daniels and animator, Floyd Norman. Chicago Tribune film critic, Michael Phillips will receive the organization’s Roger Ebert Award and Fox Animation President, Vanessa Morrison will receive the Ashley Boone Award.

About AAFCA 

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is the premiere organization of African-American film media professionals. Founded in 2003, AAFCA’s members represent a geographically diverse cross-section of media covering the cinematic arts. The organization honors excellence in cinema by creating awareness for films with universal appeal to black communities, while emphasizing film about the black experience and those produced written, directed and starring performers of African descent. The association actively reviews the quality and standard of black talent, content and media coverage. AAFCAalso supports the development of future black film critics and filmmakers.

About AAFCA 

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is the premiere organization of African-American film media professionals. Founded in 2003, AAFCA’s members represent a geographically diverse cross-section of media covering the cinematic arts. The organization honors excellence in cinema by creating awareness for films with universal appeal to black communities, while emphasizing film about the black experience and those produced written, directed and starring performers of African descent. The association actively reviews the quality and standard of black talent, content and media coverage. AAFCA also supports the development of future black film critics and filmmakers.

CONTACT: Jeaunine Askew 323-878-2399 | info@aafca.com

Photo Credit: Sheri Determan

Troy

Troy D. Johnson is the President, founder and webmaster of AALBC.com, LLC (The African American Literature Book Club). Launched in March of 1998, AALBC.com has grown to become the largest and most frequently visited website dedicated to books and films by and about people of African descent.