7th Annual Black Reel Television Awards

From Left to Right: Forest Whitaker, Quinta Brunson, Taye Diggs, and Melissa De Sousa - Dominik Bindl / Alberto E. Rodriguez / Stringer / Unique Nicole / Peacock

Nominees for the 7th Annual Black Reel TV Awards have been announced. Winners will be announced during the August 14, 2023 ceremony at 8 pm ET. This seventh iteration broke new ground with the institution of gender-neutral categories in the lead and supporting acting areas

The most nominated series was The Best Man: Final Chapters, Abbott Elementary, and P-Valley. Malcolm D. Lee is the creator of The Best Man: The Final Chapters which is the Peacock limited series finale and continuation of the stories that covered two feature films The Best Man (1999) and The Best Man: Holiday (2013) received 18 nominations (the most nominated series in a single year ever). Quinta Brunson’s ABC series Abbott Elementary received 16 nominations, and the Katori Hall-created Starz breakout series P-Valley received 10 nominations.

The Foundation for the Augmentation of African Americans in Film (FAAAF) hosts the Black Reel Awards (BRAs), an annual American awards ceremony, to honor excellence among African Americans and the cinematic accomplishments of the African diaspora, as determined by the foundation's voting membership.

The nominees of the 7th annual Black Reel Awards are listed below.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Bel-Air, Carla Banks Waddles, showrunner (Peacock)

• Godfather of Harlem, Chris Brancato, showrunner (MGM+)

• P-Valley, Katori Hall, showrunner (Starz)

• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Shonda Rhimes, showrunner (Netflix)

• Snowfall, Dave Andron, showrunner (FX)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series

• Jacob Anderson, Interview With the Vampire (AMC)

• Nicco Annan, P-Valley (Starz)

• Jabari Banks, Bel-Air (Peacock)

• Angela Bassett, 9-1-1 (FOX)

• Damson Idris, Snowfall (FX)

• Queen Latifah, The Equalizer (CBS)

• Patina Miller, Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz)

• Harold Perrineau, From (MGM+)

• Octavia Spencer, Truth Be Told (Apple TV+)

• Forest Whitaker, Godfather of Harlem (MGM+)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series

• Adjoa Andoh, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

• Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul (AMC)

• Brandee Evans, P-Valley (Starz)

• Aisha Hinds, 9-1-1 (FOX)

• Amin Joseph, Snowfall (FX)

• Angela Lewis, Snowfall (FX)

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

• Sarah Niles, Riches (Amazon Prime Video)

• Golda Rosheuvel, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

• Arsema Thomas, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)

• Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
  “Ballad of the Bear” (Snowfall), Amin Joseph, director – FX

• “Can’t Knock the Hustle” (Reasonable Doubt), Kerry Washington, director – Hulu

• “For They Existed” (Queen Sugar), Ava DuVernay, director – OWN

• “Mississippi Rule” (P-Valley), Katori Hall, director – Starz

• “Pocket Full of Lightning” (The Umbrella Academy), Sylvain White, director – Netflix

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

• “Charnel House” Walter Mosley, writer (Snowfall)

• “Captain Fields” Moises Verneau & Dean Imperial, writers (Godfather of Harlem)

• “For They Existed” | Ava DuVernay, writer (Queen Sugar)

• “Queen to Be” | Shonda Rhimes, writer (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story)

• “The Sit Down” | Jeanine Daniels & Dave Andron, writers (Snowfall)

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series

• Loretta Devine, P-Valley (Starz)

• Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian (Disney+)

• Lamar Johnson, The Last of Us (HBO)

• DeVaughn Nixon, Snowfall (FX)

• Nicco Parker, The Last of Us (HBO)

• Phylicia Rashad, The Good Fight (Paramount+)

• Storm Reid, The Last of Us (HBO)

• Glynn Turman, Queen Sugar (OWN)

• Forest Whitaker, Andor (Disney+)

• Keivonn Woodard, The Last of Us (HBO)

Outstanding Comedy Series

• Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson, showrunner (ABC)

• Atlanta, Donald Glover, showrunner (FX)

• Harlem, Tracy Oliver, showrunner (Amazon Prime Video)

• Unprisoned, Yvette Lee Bowser, showrunner (Hulu)

• The Upshaws, Regina Y. Hicks, showrunner (Netflix)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series

• Tichina Arnold, The Neighborhood (CBS)

• Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Cedric the Entertainer, The Neighborhood (CBS)

• Donald Glover, Atlanta (FX)

• Meagan Good, Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)

• Jasmine Cephas Jones, Blindspotting (Starz)

• Delroy Lindo, Unprisoned (HULU)

• Robin Thede, A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)

• Kerry Washington, Unprisoned (HULU)

• Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, The Ms. Pat Show (BET+)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series

• Zazie Beetz, Atlanta (FX)

• William Stanford Davis, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Ayo Edebiri, The Bear (FX on HULU)

• Brian Tyree Henry, Atlanta (FX)

• Janelle James, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Toheeb Jimoh, Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

• Danielle Pinnock, Ghost (CBS)

• Sheryl Lee Ralph, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• LaKeith Stanfield, Atlanta (FX)

• Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

• “Big Week” (Ted Lasso), Destiny Ekaragha, director – Apple TV+

• “The Goof Who Sat By the Door” (Atlanta), Donald Glover, director – FX

• “Mom” (Abbott Elementary), Ken Whittingham, director – ABC
  “Nigrescence” (Unprisoned), Numa Perrier, director – Hulu
  “Read-A-Thon” (Abbott Elementary), Dime Davis, director – ABC

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

• “Educator of the Year” (Abbott Elementary), Jordan Temple, writer – ABC

• “Franklin Institute” (Abbott Elementary), Brittani Nichols, writer – ABC

• “It Was All A Dream” (Atlanta), Donald Glover, writer – FX

• “Mom” (Abbott Elementary), Ava Coleman, writer – ABC

• “The Most Atlanta” (Atlanta), Stephen Glover, writer – FX

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series

• Quinta Brunson, Saturday Night Live (NBC)

• Don Cheadle, Dave (FXX)

• Zach Fox, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Whoopi Goldberg, Harlem (Amazon Prime Video)

• Taraji P. Henson, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Lil Rel Howery, Poker Face (Peacock)

• Orlando Jones, Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• S. Epatha Merkerson, Poker Face (Peacock)

• Leslie Odom Jr., Abbott Elementary (ABC)

• Issa Rae, A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)
  
  

Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series

• Black Girl Missing, Lifetime

• The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Malcolm D. Lee, showrunner (Peacock)

• Entergalatic, Michael Penketh & Mike Moon, producers (Netflix)

• Praise This!, Will Packer, Tim Story & James Lopez, producers (Peacock)

• Swarm, Janine Nabers, showrunner (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series

• Taye Diggs, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

• Giancarlo Esposito, Kaleidoscope (Netflix)

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

• Brian Tyree Henry, Class of 09’ (FX on HULU)

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

• Dominique Fishback, Swarm (Amazon Prime Video)

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

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

• Harold Perrineau, The Best Man: The Final Chapters (Peacock)

• Zoe Saldana, From Scratch (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series

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

• Keith David, From Scratch (Netflix)

• Danielle Deadwyler, From Scratch (Netflix)

• Tati Gabrielle, Kaleidoscope (Netflix)

• Russell Hornsby, Mike (Hulu)

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

• Lance Reddick, White Men Can’t Jump (Hulu)

• Trevante Rhodes, Bruiser (Hulu)

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

• Aisha Tyler, The Last Thing He Told Me (Apple TV+)

Outstanding Directing in a TV Movie or Limited Series

• “Aftertastes” (From Scratch), Nzingha Stewart, director – Netflix

• “Brown Girl Dreaming” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Robert Townsend, director – Peacock

• “The Party” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Charles Stone III, director – Peacock

• “Running Scared” (Swarm), Ibra Ake, director – Amazon Prime Video

• “The Wedding” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Malcolm D. Lee, director – Peacock

Outstanding Writing in a TV Movie or Limited Series

• “The Audacity of Hope” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), James Bland & Malcolm D. Lee, writers – Peacock

• “Brown Girl Dreaming” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Lori Lakin Hutcherson, writer – Peacock

• “Fallin’ Through the Cracks” (Swarm), Karen Joseph Adcock & Stephen Glover, writers – Amazon Prime Video

• “The Invisible Man” (The Best Man: The Final Chapters), Ayanna Floyd Davis, writer – Peacock
  “Running Scared” (Swarm), Ibra Ake & Stephen Glover, writers – Amazon Prime Video

Outstanding Variety, Sketch, or Talk – Series or Special

• A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO)

• The Daily Show With Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)

• The Jennifer Hudson Show (Syndication)

• Marvel Studios Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney+)

• Yvonne Orji: A Whole Me (Max)

Outstanding Documentary

• The 1619 Project, Roger Ross Williams, Phil Bereisen, Jonathan Clasberry, Kamilah Forbes, Shoshana Guy, Naimah Jabali-Nash & Christina Turner, directors – Hulu

• Bill Russell: Legend, Sam Pollard, director – Netflix

• Dear Mama, Allen Hughes, director – FX

• Love to Love You, Donna Summer, Brooklyn Sudano & Roger Ross Williams, directors – HBO

• Surviving R. Kelly Part III: The Final Chapter, Nigel Bellis & Astral Finnie, directors – Lifetime

Outstanding Musical Score

• Entergalatic, Dot Da Genius & Patrick “Plain Pat” Roberts, composers

• Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix), Kris Bowers, composer

• Praise This! (Peacock), Jermaine Stegall, composer

• Swarm (Amazon Prime Video), Michael Uzowuru, composer

• Unprisoned (Hulu), Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, composers

Outstanding Music Supervision

• The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Erica Grayson & Toko Nagata, music supervisors
  (Peacock)

• BMF, Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton, music supervisor (Starz)

• P-Valley, Stephanie Diaz-Matos, Sarah Bromberg & Katori Hall, music supervisors (Starz)

• Queen Sugar, Aamina Gant, music supervisor (OWN)

• Rap Sh!t, Sarah Bromberg, Stephanie Diaz-Matos & Phillippe Pierre, music supervisors (Max)

Outstanding Original Song

• “A Feeling I’ve Never Been” (Queen Charlotte: A Bridergton Story), Kris Bowers (artist); Kris Bowers & Tayla Parx (writers)

• “Angel” (Entergalatic), Kid Cudi (artist); Kid Cudi, Jean Baptiste, SADPONY & Justin Raisen (writers)

• “Get It on the Floor” (P-Valley), Megan Thee Stallion & J. Alphonse Nicholson (artists);

• “Hustle, Repeat” (Godfather of Harlem), Jadakiss & Swizz Beatz (artists);

• “Something Like That” (Swarm), Ni’Jah (artist); Riley Mackin, KIRBY & Childish Gambino,
  (writers)

Outstanding Cinematography

• A Black Lady Sketch Show, Kevin Atkinson, cinematographer (HBO)

• The Equalizer, Terrence Laron Burke, cinematographer (CBS)

• Kindred, Cybel Martin, cinematographer (FX on Hulu)

• Random Acts of Flyness, Shawn Peters, cinematographer (HBO)

• Rise, Kabelo Thathe, cinematographer (Disney+)

Outstanding Costume Design

• A Black Lady Sketch Show, Michelle Page Collins, costume designer (HBO)

• The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Danielle Hollowell, costume designer (Peacock)

• Kindred, Jaclyn Banner, costume designer (FX on Hulu)

• P-Valley, Tiffany Hasbourne, costume designer (Starz)

• Swarm, Dominique Dawson, costume designer (Amazon Prime Video)

Outstanding Editing

• Kindred, Shannon Baker Davis, editor (FX on Hulu)

• Power Book II: Ghost, Spenser Reich, editor (Starz)

• Random Acts of Flyness, Jonathan Proctor & Terence Nance, editors (HBO)

• Rap Sh!t, Lynarion Hubbard, editor (Max)

• Unprisoned, Christine Armstrong, editor (Hulu)

Outstanding Makeup & Hairstyling

• A Black Lady Sketch Show, Jacqueline Knowlton, Makeup Department Head & Shavonne Brown, Hair Department Head (HBO)

• Abbott Elementary, Alisha L. Baijounas, Makeup Department Head & Moira Fraizer, Hair Department Head (ABC)

• The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Ashunta Sheriff, Makeup Department Head & Shellie Biviens, Hair Department Head (Peacock)

• Kindred, Geno Freeman, Makeup Department Head & Elizabeth Robinson, Hair Department Head (FX on Hulu)

• P-Valley, J. Denelle, Makeup Department Head & Arlene Martin, Hair Department Head (Starz)

Outstanding Production Design

• Kindred, Nora Mendis, production designer (FX on Hulu)

• Praise This!, Keith Brian Burns, production designer (Peacock)

• Random Acts of Flyness, Nora Mendis, production designer (HBO)