23rd Annual Black Reel Awards Winners
Effie T. Brown, Thuso Mbedu, Debra Martin Chase, Alice Diop, and Nikyatu Jusu - Emma McIntyre / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Pierre Suu / Vivien Killilea / Stringer
The 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards was held on February 6, 2023, to celebrate and recognize outstanding work across film and television. The big winners at the awards were The Woman King taking home six awards Black Panther: Wakanda Forever taking home five awards and Inspection taking home four awards.
Four honorary awards were given out. To start, the Vanguard Award celebrated the impact of film and television producer Effie T. Brown. Then, the Sidney Poitier Trailblazer Award honored the legacy of actress Angela Bassett. Next, the Ruby Dee Humanitarian Award honored Kerry Washington’s philanthropic work. Finally, the Oscar Micheaux Impact Award is given to honor the life and legacy of film and television producer Debra Martin Chase.
The full list of winners is listed below.
Outstanding Film: The Woman King, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Cathy Schulman & Julius Tennon, producers
Outstanding Actor: Jeremy Pope, The Inspection
Outstanding Actress: Danielle Deadwyler, Till
Outstanding Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King
Outstanding Supporting Actor: Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway
Outstanding Supporting Actress: Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Screenplay: Till, Chinonye Chukwu, Michael Reilly & Keith Beauchamp, writers
Outstanding Documentary Feature: Sidney, Reginald Hudlin, director
Outstanding International Film: Saint Omer (France), Alice Diop
Outstanding Ensemble: The Woman King, Aisha Coley, casting director
Outstanding Voice Performance: Zoe Saldana, Avatar: The Way of Water
Outstanding Score: The Woman King, Terence Blanchard, composer
Outstanding Original Song: “Lift Me Up” (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) | Rihanna (performer/writer), Ryan Coogler (writer), Ludwig Gorannson (writer),
Outstanding Soundtrack: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Outstanding Independent Film: The Inspection, Elegance Bratton, director
Outstanding Short Film: North Star, P.J. Palmer, director
Outstanding Emerging Director: Nikyatu Jusu, Nanny
Outstanding Breakthrough Actor: Jeremy Pope, The Inspection
Outstanding Breakthrough Actress: Thuso Mbedu, The Woman King
Outstanding First Screenplay: The Inspection, Elegance Bratton, writer
Outstanding Cinematography: Nope, Hoyte van Hoytema, cinematographer
Outstanding Costume Design: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Ruth E. Carter, costume designer
Outstanding Editing: The Woman King, Terilyn A. Shropshire, editor
Outstanding Production Design: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Hannah Beachler, production designer
Vanguard Award: Effie T. Brown
Sidney Poitier Trailblazer Award: Angela Bassett
Ruby Dee Humanitarian Award: Kerry Washington
Oscar Micheaux Impact Award: Debra Martin Chase