53rd Annual NAACP Image Awards Nominations

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Written By Blake Carminucci

From Left To Right: Amy Wang, Tenoch Huerta, Angela Bassett, Jonathan Majors, and Sujata Day - Michael Tullberg / John Parra / Amy Sussman / Mike Coppola / Daniel Zuchnik / Stringer

The 53rd annual NAACP Image Awards nominations have been announced. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and The Woman King were among the leading film nominees with twelve and nine nominations, respectively. Till landed six nods and Emancipation five nods. For television, Abbott Elementary received the most nominations with nine nods, and the sitcom Black-ish received seven nods. Angela Bassett received four total nominations: two for film (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Wendell & Wild); one for Television (9-1-1); and a nomination to receive the Entertainer of the Year Award.

The NAACP Image Awards is set to take place, live in front of an audience for the first time in three years, on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET on BET.

  • Voting by the public on this year’s winners is available through February 10, 2023, on the Image Awards’ platform.

  • The NAACP will also recognize winners in non-televised categories from February 20-24, 2023, in streamed presentations on the Image Awards’ platform.

Special Note: Only the film and television categories are featured on this list.

MOTION PICTURE CATEGORIES

Danielle Deadwyler and Whoopi Goldberg - Till (Orion Pictures / Eon Productions / Frederick Zollo Productions / Whoop, Inc.)

Outstanding breakthrough performance in a motion picture

  • Jalyn Hall, Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

  • Joshua Boone, A Jazzman’s Blues (Netflix)

  • Ledisi, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (Hulu)

  • Y’lan Noel, A Lot of Nothing (RLJE)

  • Yola, Elvis (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Outstanding ensemble cast in a motion picture 

  • A Jazzman’s Blues (Netflix)

  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Emancipation (Apple TV)

  • The Woman King (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

  • Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

Outstanding animated motion picture

  • DC League of Super-Pets (Warner Bros. Pictures / WAG / DC)

  • Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix)

  • Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Universal Pictures)

  • Turning Red (Pixar Animation Studios)

  • Wendell & Wild (Netflix)

Outstanding character voice-over performance – motion picture

  • Angela Bassett, Wendell & Wild (Netflix)

  • Keke Palmer, Lightyear (Walt Disney Studios)

  • Kevin Hart, DC League of Super-Pets (Warner Bros. Pictures / WAG / DC)

  • Lyric Ross, Wendell & Wild (Netflix)

  • Taraji P. Henson, Minions: The Rise of Gru (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding short-form (live action)

  • Dear Mama… (Film Independent)

  • Fannie (Chromatic Black)

  • Fathead (University of Southern California)

  • Incomplete (20th Century Digital, Hulu)

  • Pens & Pencils (Wavelength Productions/Black TV & Film Collective)

Outstanding short-form (animated)

  • I Knew Superman (Houghtonville Animation)

  • More Than I Want to Remember (MTV Entertainment Studios)

  • Supercilious (York Cinemas)

  • The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Apple Studios)

  • We Are Here (271 Films)

Outstanding breakthrough creative (motion picture)

  • Elvis Mitchell, Is That Black Enough for You?!? (Netflix)

  • Ericka Nicole Malone, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (Hulu)

  • Krystin Ver Linden, Alice (Vertical Entertainment)

  • Mo McRae, A Lot of Nothing (RLJE)

  • Stephen Adetumbi, Jarrett Roseborough, This Is My Black (Campus of Pine Forge Academy)

Outstanding motion picture

  • A Jazzman’s Blues (Netflix)

  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Emancipation (Apple TV)

  • The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

Outstanding actor in a motion picture

  • Daniel Kaluuya, Nope (Universal Pictures)

  • Jonathan Majors, Devotion (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

  • Joshua Boone, A Jazzman’s Blues (Netflix)

  • Sterling K. Brown, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul (Focus Features)

  • Will Smith, Emancipation (Apple)

Outstanding actress in a motion picture

  • Danielle Deadwyler, Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

  • Keke Palmer, Alice (Vertical Entertainment)

  • Letitia Wright, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Regina Hall, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul (Focus Features)

  • Viola Davis, The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Outstanding supporting actor in a motion picture

  • Aldis Hodge, Black Adam (Warner Bros. Pictures / New Line Cinema)

  • Cliff “Method Man” Smith, On the Come Up (Paramount Pictures)

  • Jalyn Hall, Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

  • John Boyega, The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Tenoch Huerta, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture

  • Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Danai Gurira, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Janelle Monáe, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix)

  • Lashana Lynch, The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Lupita Nyong’o, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding independent motion picture

  • Breaking (Bleecker Street)

  • Causeway (Apple TV)

  • Mr. Malcolm’s List (Bleecker Street)

  • Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story (Hulu)

  • The Inspection (A24)

Outstanding international motion picture

  • Athena (Netflix)

  • Bantú Mama (ARRAY)

  • Broker (NEON)

  • Learn to Swim (ARRAY)

  • The Silent Twins (Focus Features)

TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES

From left to right: Adjoa Andoh, Charithra Chandran, Shelley Conn, and Simone Ashley - Bridgerton (Netflix)

Outstanding drama series

  • Bel-Air (Peacock)

  • Bridgerton (Netflix)

  • Euphoria (HBO Max)

  • P-Valley (Starz)

  • Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding actor in a drama series

  • Damson Idris, Snowfall (FX)

  • Jabari Banks, Bel-Air (Peacock)

  • Kofi Siriboe, Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • Nicco Annan, P-Valley (Starz)

  • Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us (NBC)

Outstanding actress in a drama series

  • Angela Bassett, 9-1-1 (FOX)

  • Brandee Evans, P-Valley (Starz)

  • Queen Latifah, The Equalizer (CBS)

  • Rutina Wesley, Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • Zendaya, Euphoria (HBO Max)

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

  • Adrian Holmes, Bel-Air (Peacock)

  • Amin Joseph, Snowfall (FX)

  • Caleb McLaughlin, Stranger Things (Netflix)

  • Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

  • J. Alphonse Nicholson, P-Valley (Starz)

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

  • Adjoa Andoh, Bridgerton (Netflix)

  • Bianca Lawson, Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • Loretta Devine, P-Valley (Starz)

  • Susan Kelechi Watson, This Is Us (NBC)

  • Tina Lifford, Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

Outstanding comedy series

  • Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • Atlanta (FX)

  • black-ish (ABC)

  • Rap Sh!t (HBO Max)

  • The Wonder Years (ABC)

Outstanding actor in a comedy series

  • Anthony Anderson, black-ish (ABC)

  • Cedric The Entertainer, The Neighborhood (CBS)

  • Donald Glover, Atlanta (FX)

  • Dulé Hill, The Wonder Years (ABC)

  • Mike Epps, The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding actress in a comedy series

  • Loretta Devine, Family Reunion (Netflix)

  • Maya Rudolph, Loot (Apple TV+)

  • Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • Tichina Arnold, The Neighborhood (CBS)

  • Tracee Ellis Ross, black-ish (ABC)

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

  • Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta (FX)

  • Deon Cole, black-ish (ABC)

  • Kenan Thompson, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

  • Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

  • Janelle James, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • Jenifer Lewis, black-ish (ABC)

  • Marsai Martin, black-ish (ABC)

  • Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • Wanda Sykes, The Upshaws (Netflix)

Outstanding television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

Outstanding news/information (series or special)

  • #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Black Votes Matter Election Night 2022 Coverage (Black Star Network/YouTube)

  • ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, A Conversation with Robin Roberts (ABC)

  • Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (PBS)

  • OWN Spotlight: Viola Davis – The Woman King (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • The Hair Tales (Hulu)

Outstanding talk series

  • Hart to Heart (Peacock)

  • Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

  • Sherri (Syndicated)

  • Tamron Hall (ABC)

  • Uninterrupted: The Shop (YouTube)

Outstanding reality program, reality competition or game show (series)

  • Legendary (HBO Max)

  • Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)

  • Shark Tank (ABC)

  • Sweet Life: Los Angeles (HBO Max)

  • The Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo)

Outstanding variety show (series or special) 

  • A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO Max)

  • BET Awards 2022 (BET Networks)

  • Deon Cole: Charleen’s Boy (Netflix)

  • Martin: The Reunion (BET Networks)

  • The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding children’s program

  • Family Reunion (Netflix)

  • Raising Dion (Netflix)

  • Raven’s Home (Disney+)

  • Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

  • Waffles + Mochi’s Restaurant (Netflix)

Outstanding performance by a youth (series, special, television movie or limited-series)

  • Alaya “That Girl Lay Lay” High, That Girl Lay Lay (Nickelodeon)

  • Cameron J. Wright, Family Reunion (Netflix)

  • Elisha Williams, The Wonder Years (ABC)

  • Khali Spraggins, The Upshaws (Netflix)

  • Ja’Siah Young, Raising Dion (Netflix)

Outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble

  • Jada Pinkett-Smith, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Willow Smith, Red Table Talk (Facebook Watch)

  • Jennifer Hudson, The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndicated)

  • Kevin Hart, Hart to Heart (Peacock)

  • Lester Holt, NBC Nightly News (NBC)

  • Tracee Ellis Ross, The Hair Tales (Hulu)

Outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble

  • Keke Palmer, Password (NBC)

  • Lizzo, Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Amazon Studios)

  • Tabitha Brown, Tab Time (YouTube Originals)

  • Taraji P. Henson, BET Awards 2022 (BET Networks)

  • Trevor Noah, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

Outstanding short form series or special – reality/nonfiction

  • Black Independent Films: A Brief History (Turner Classic Movies)

  • Daring Simone Biles (Snap)

  • Historian’s Take (PBS)

  • NFL 360 (NFL Network)

  • Omitted: The Black Cowboy (ESPN)

  • Carl Weber’s The Black Hamptons (BET Networks)

  • From Scratch (Netflix)

  • The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)

  • Women of the Movement (ABC)

Outstanding actor in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

  • Morris Chestnut, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Samuel L. Jackson, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)

  • Terrence Howard, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Trevante Rhodes, Mike (Hulu)

  • Wendell Pierce, Don’t Hang Up (Bounce TV)

Outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

  • Niecy Nash-Betts, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix)

  • Regina Hall, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Sanaa Lathan, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Viola Davis, The First Lady (Showtime)

  • Zoe Saldaña, From Scratch (Netflix)

Outstanding supporting actor in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

  • Glynn Turman, Women of the Movement (ABC)

  • Keith David, From Scratch (Netflix)

  • Omar Benson Miller, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey (Apple TV+)

  • Russell Hornsby, Mike (Hulu)

  • Terrence “TC” Carson, A Wesley Christmas (AMC)

Outstanding supporting actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special

  • Alexis Floyd, Inventing Anna (Netflix)

  • Danielle Deadwyler, From Scratch (Netflix)

  • Melissa De Sousa, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Nia Long, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

  • Phylicia Rashad, Little America (Apple TV+)

Outstanding guest performance

  • Amanda Gorman, Sesame Street (HBO Max)

  • Chance the Rapper, South Side (HBO Max)

  • Colman Domingo, Euphoria (HBO Max)

  • Glynn Turman, Queen Sugar (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • Gabourey Sidibe, American Horror Stories (FX)

Outstanding Animated Series

  • Central Park (Apple TV+)

  • Eureka! (Disney Junior)

  • Gracie’s Corner TV (YouTube)

  • The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

  • Zootopia+ (Disney+)

Outstanding character voice-over performance (television)

  • Billy Porter, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

  • Cedric the Entertainer, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

  • Chris Bridges, Karma’s World (Netflix)

  • Cree Summer, Rugrats (Nickelodeon)

  • Kyla Pratt, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (Disney+)

Outstanding short form series – comedy or drama 

  • Between The Scenes – The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

  • Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans (Facebook Watch)

  • Rise Up, Sing Out (Disney+)

  • Sunday Dinner (Youtube)

  • Zootopia+ (Disney+)

Outstanding breakthrough creative (television)

  • Amy Wang, From Scratch (Netflix)

  • Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Kindred (FX)

  • Hannah Cope, Karma’s World (Netflix)

  • Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  • Syreeta Singleton, Rap Sh!t (HBO Max)

DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES

Sidney Poitier - Sidney (Apple TV+ / Network Entertainment / Harpo Productions)

Outstanding documentary (television)

  • Black Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)

  • Everything’s Gonna be All White (Showtime)

  • Frontline (PBS)

  • Race: Bubba Wallace (Netflix)

  • Shaq (HBO Max)

Outstanding documentary (film)

  • Civil (Netflix)

  • Descendant (Netflix)

  • Is That Black Enough For You?!? (Netflix)

  • Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple TV+)

  • Sidney (Apple TV+)

WRITING CATEGORIES

Andy García, Gloria Estefan, Adria Arjona, and Diego Boneta - Father of the bride (Warner Bros. Pictures / HBO Max / Plan B Entertainment)

Outstanding writing in a television movie or special

  • Bree West, A Wesley Christmas (BET Networks)

  • Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams, Entergalactic (Netflix)

  • Jerrod Carmichael, Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel (HBO Max)

  • Lil Rel Howery, Lil Rel Howery: I said it. Y’all Thinking it (HBO Max)

  • Matt Lopez, Father of the Bride (HBO Max)

Outstanding writing in a motion picture 

  • Charles Murray, The Devil You Know (Lionsgate)

  • Dana Stevens, Maria Bello, The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Jordan Peele, Nope (Universal Pictures)

  • Krystin Ver Linden, Alice (Vertical Entertainment)

  • Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding writing in a comedy series

  • Aisha Muharrar, Hacks – “Episode 206” (HBO Max)

  • Ayo Edebiri, Shana Gohd, What We do in the Shadows – “Episode 405” (FX)

  • Brittani Nichols, Abbott Elementary – “Student Transfer” (ABC)

  • Karen Joseph Adcock, The Bear – “Episode 105” (FX)

  • Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary – “Development Day” (ABC)

Outstanding writing in a drama series

  • Aurin Squire, The Good Fight – “Episode 603” (Paramount+)

  • Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Kindred – “Episode 101” (FX)

  • Davita Scarlett, The Good Fight – “Episode 604” (Paramount+)

  • Joshua Allen, From Scratch – “Episode 105” (Netflix)

  • Marissa Jo Cerar, Women of the Movement – “Episode 101” (ABC)

DIRECTING CATEGORIES

Naomi Ackie - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (TriStar Pictures / Compelling Pictures / Black Label Media / Primary Wave Entertainment / Muse of Fire Productions / West Madison Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II)

Outstanding directing in a motion picture

  • Antoine Fuqua, Emancipation (Apple)

  • Chinonye Chukwu, Till (United Artists Releasing/Orion Pictures)

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood, The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Kasi Lemmons, I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Sony Pictures Releasing)

  • Ryan Coogler, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

Outstanding directing in a documentary (television or motion picture)

  • Nadia Hallgren, Civil (Netflix)

  • Reginald Hudlin, Sidney (Apple TV+)

  • Sacha Jenkins, Everything’s Gonna Be All White (Showtime)

  • Sacha Jenkins, Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues (Apple TV+)

  • W. Kamau Bell, We Need to Talk About Cosby (Showtime)

Outstanding directing in a comedy series

  • Angela Barnes, Atlanta – “The Homeliest Little Horse” (FX)

  • Bridget Stokes, A Black Lady Sketch Show – “Save My Edges, I’m a Donor!” (HBO Max)

  • Dee Rees, Upload – “Hamoodi” (Amazon Studios)

  • Iona Morris Jackson, black-ish – “If A Black Man Cries in the Woods” (ABC)

  • Pete Chatmon, The Flight Attendant – “Drowning Women” (HBO Max)

Outstanding directing in a drama series

  • Debbie Allen, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey – “Robyn” (Apple TV+)

  • Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul – “Axe and Grind” (AMC)

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood, Women of the Movement – “Mother and Son” (ABC)

  • Hanelle Culpepper, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey – “Sensia” (Apple TV+)

  • Kasi Lemmons, Women of the Movement – “Episode 106” (ABC)

 

Outstanding directing in a television movie or special

  • Anton Cropper, Fantasy Football (Paramount+)

  • Marta Cunningham, 61st Street (AMC)

  • Sujata Day, Definition Please (Netflix)

  • Tailiah Breon, Kirk Franklin’s The Night Before Christmas (Lifetime)

  • Tine Fields, Soul of a Nation: Screen Queens Rising (ABC)

 

Viola Davis, Quinta Brunson, Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, and Zendaya - Gilbert Flores / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / Amy Sussman / David M. Benett / Jeff Kravitz

Entertainer of the year

  • Angela Bassett

  • Mary J. Blige

  • Quinta Brunson

  • Viola Davis

  • Zendaya

View music and other nominations here.

Blake Carminucci
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