Ryan Coogler’s Superhero Saga Dominates with Ten Wins
BlackkKlansman Shut Out
Outstanding Supporting Actor winner, Michael B. Jordan and Outstanding Actor winner, Chadwick Boseman in Black Panther
The largest grossing domestic film of the year, Black Panther, also took a huge bite of the 19th Annual Black Reel Awards taking home a record-breaking ten wins at the show last night.
Director Ryan Coogler’s historic Marvel film rode the momentum of 17 nominations to a tsunami of acclaim, including Outstanding Film, Outstanding Actor (Chadwick Boseman), Outstanding Supporting Actor (Michael B. Jordan), and Outstanding Director (Coogler).
In addition, Black Panther also secured wins for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Original Song (All the Stars), as well as sweeping both Outstanding Breakthrough categories, Winston Duke (Actor) and Leticia Wright (Actress). On the technical side, veteran costume designer Ruth E. Carter took home Outstanding Costume Design; while Hannah Beachler took home Outstanding Production Design.
The period love story, If Beale Street Could Talk, based on James Baldwin’s novel and adapted to the screen by director Barry Jenkins took home four awards, including Outstanding Actress for newcomer Kiki Layne, Outstanding Supporting Actress for Regina King, as well as Outstanding Score for composer Nicholas Britell and Outstanding Cinematography for James Laxton.
The surprise of the evening was the stunning discovery that despite 11 nominations, director Spike Lee’s film, BlackkKlansman never heard it’s name called during the show. The film’s shutout removes John Singleton’s Baby Boy out of the record books, which that film received 10 nominations without a win.
Equally as impressive was the performance of the indie underdog, Sorry to the Bother You. Directed by Boots Riley, was a one-man gang taking home three Black Reel Awards and upsetting several big-budget contenders for Outstanding Screenplay, as well as winning Outstanding First Screenplay, and Outstanding Emerging Director.
Additional highlights include the story of iconic music maker, Quincy Jones’ documentary, Quincy, taking home Outstanding Documentary; festival favorite, Jinn winning for Outstanding Independent Film, as well as actress Gabourey Sidibe’s directorial debut, The Tale of Four, based on the Nina Simone song, The Four Women, taking home Outstanding Short.
Check out the other winners, below:
19th Annual Black Reel Awards Winners
Outstanding Motion Picture
Black Panther | Kevin Feige, producer
Outstanding Actor
Chadwick Boseman | Black Panther
Outstanding Actress
Kiki Layne | If Beale Street Could Talk
Outstanding Director
Ryan Coogler | Black Panther
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Michael B. Jordan | Black Panther
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Regina King | If Beale Street Could Talk
Outstanding Screenplay
Sorry to Bother You | Boots Riley
Outstanding Ensemble
Black Panther | Sarah Finn, casting director
Outstanding Documentary Feature
Quincy | Rashida Jones & Alan Hicks, directors
Outstanding Foreign-Language/World Cinema Motion Picture
Lionheart (Nigeria) | Genevieve Nnaji, director
Outstanding Voice Performance
Shameik Moore | Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Outstanding Score
If Beale Street Could Talk | Nicholas Britell, composer
Outstanding Original Song
“All the Stars” (Black Panther) | Kendrick Lamar & SZA (performers)
Outstanding Independent Feature
Jinn | Nijla Mumin
Outstanding Independent Documentary
Sammy Davis Jr.: I’ve Gotta Be Me | Samuel D. Pollard, director
Outstanding Short Film
The Tale of Four | Gabourey Sidibe, director
Outstanding Emerging Director
Boots Riley | Sorry to Bother You
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Winston Duke | Black Panther
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Letitia Wright | Black Panther
Outstanding First Screenplay
Sorry to Bother You | Boots Riley
Outstanding Cinematography
If Beale Street Could Talk | James Laxton, cinematographer
Outstanding Costume Design
Black Panther | Ruth E. Carter, costume designer
Outstanding Production Design
Black Panther | Hannah Beachler, production designer