Critics Choice Association Celebrates Black Film and Television Tonight – Los Angeles Sentinel | Los Angeles Sentry

Halle Berry and Barry Jenkins will be among the many award winners tonight at the Critics Choice Association’s fourth annual celebration of black film and television.

Will Smith and Ava DuVernay are other big names whose film and television accomplishments will be celebrated in 20 award categories at the event at the Fairmont Century Plaza. This is the first year that the awards will also recognize achievement in television.

Berry, the first and only black woman to win an Oscar for Actress in the Leading Role, for “Monster’s Ball” in 2002 – and who recently made her directorial debut in the film “Bruised” – will receive the Career Achievement Award.

“Berry’s iconic performances throughout her career have shown her acting talent and Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Hudson paved the way for black performers who have followed her,” said Shawn Edwards, board member of the CCA and executive producer of Monday’s ceremony.

“She has become the personification of excellence as she moves from in front of the camera to sitting in the director’s chair.” Anderson will receive the Producer Award for Television for his work on the ABC series “Black-ish”, “Grown-ish” and “Mixed-ish”. He is executive producer and actor of the three series.

Hudson, the 2007 Oscar-winning supporting actress for “Dreamgirls”, will receive the Film Actress Award for her performance in Aretha Franklin’s biopic “Respect”. Jenkins will receive the Director Award for Television for his Amazonian series “The Underground Railroad”.

“2021 has been an incredible year of creativity and growth in film and television, and we are thrilled to be able to honor the change makers who are making a difference,” said Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Association.

Jennifer has both starred in and produced ‘Respect’, giving the performance of a lifetime. Barry transformed the small screen with his innovative and thought-provoking series, ‘The Underground Railroad’, which he wrote, produced and directed , and Anthony went on to become one of the most prolific and admired producers on television with “Black-ish,” “Enlarged,” and “Mixed.”

DuVernay will receive the first Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award, named after the late filmmaker, who died in September at the age of 89. “We are truly honored to name our prestigious Trailblazer Award after Melvin Van Peebles,” said Edwards.

“Van Peebles inspired a generation of filmmakers. He was a real maverick and a visionary genius of cinema. We are delighted that Melvin’s son, Mario, presents the award to Ava DuVernay, as the first recipient of the Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award. Smith will receive the Actor Award for Film for his work in “King Richard”, the recently released film about the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.

Will also be in the spotlight during the event:
– Antoine Fuqua with the Director’s Award for cinema;
– The cast of “The Harder They Fall”, including Jonathan Majors, Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, LaKeith Stanfield, Deon Cole, RJ Cyler, Edi Gathegi and Danielle Deadwyler, with the Ensemble Prize;
– Actress Ruth Negga with a special award honored for her work in the film “Passing”;
– Actress Danielle Brooks with the Actress Award for Television for her work in the film “Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia”;
– French actor Omar Sy with the Actor’s Award for Television for his work in “Lupine”;
– Robin Thede with the Showrunner Award for HBO’s “A Black LadySketch Show”;
– Toheeb Jimoh with the Breakthrough Award for “Ted Lasso”;
– Kenan Thompson with a special award honored for “Saturday Night Live” and “Kenan”;
– Patina Miller with a special prize for the Starz series “Power Book III: Raising Kanan”; and
– Natasha Rothwell with a special award for HBO’s “The White Lotus”. The ceremony will be hosted by Niecy Nash.