*It was a spectacular night at the 5th Celebration of Black Cinema and Television Awards in Los Angeles last month.
The association honored some of Hollywood’s shining stars including Angela Bassett, Jonathan Majors, Kid Cudi, Michael B. Jordan, Berry Gordy, Nicco Annan, Quinta Brunson, Danielle Deadwyler, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Quincy Isaiah, and more. Host of the evening Bill Bellamy, was also in attendance to help celebrate along with celebrities like DeVon Franklin, Nicole Brown, Lauren E. Banks, and more.
Some of the event’s honorees shared what it meant for them to be recognized by the Critics Choice Association.
“My first initial reaction was for real was “okay. We’re here,” Annan said. “I say we’re here because this isn’t something- I know a lot of people are just getting to know my face, but this isn’t something that’s new for me in terms of this work and crafting story and being an actor. Coming from the theater I know the gut and the gutter in a different kind of way. So it feels beautiful and refreshing to be acknowledged in this space of “I see you.”
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As far as the status on season three of “P. Valley” Annan says, “It’s gone take some time for good grits to be good. That’s one of Uncle Clifford’s rules, you know the number?”
While Annan received the Actor Award for Television, Prince-Bythewood received the Director Award for Film, for “The Woman King.”
“It’s the Critics’ Choice, Critics are so important to how a film does,” Prince-Bythewood said. “Absolutely we make movies for an audience, it’s been beautiful to get the big audience that we’ve gotten but you want the respect as well of the critics. Their incredible reception to the film has absolutely benefitted how people have watched and viewed this film.”
When it comes to the positive reception the film has received thus far as it makes its rounds during awards season, Prince-Bythewood isn’t slightly surprised.
“When I read a script I’m the first audience,” Prince-Bythewood said. “When I was reading it I was seeing this film and it was absolutely a film that I would run to go see. So I kind of held onto that and believed that if I feel that deeply about it, that others would feel that too. We have Viola Davis attached. That’s a huge, beautiful thing.”
Other celebrities in attendance included Rhonda Ross, Sinqua Walls, Damien D. Smith, and more. Ross was on hand to support her father Berry Gordy receiving the Icon Award and shared her thoughts on the honor.
“It’s really an award for what he has done with the power of his mind,” Ross said. “The power of his thought. That he was able to take the invisible and make it visible. That he was able to stand by his own convictions and his own understanding of his own value despite what anybody else had to say about it. That to me is his biggest lesson that he leaves for all of us. That if we follow our own minds, if we understand how powerful we really are we can create the lives we want to live and that’s what he’s doing.”
Walls was in attendance to present the Breakthrough Film Award for director Nikyatu Jusu for their film “Nanny,” and shared his excitement to be at the event.
“For me, it means everything,” Walls said. “It means I’m a part of a continuing legacy. I think that so many of our ancestors and our forefathers have fought for us to have moments like this and understand that we stand on the shoulders of them, that we’re pulled in on the backs of them. To be a part of that continued growth and change it’s a gift and an understanding that I have.”
Walls also stars in the upcoming 2023 remake of the 1992 film “White Men Can’t Jump,” and spoke about what it means to be part of the reboot of the beloved 90’s film.
“Understanding legacy and being chosen to continue it, I think is the thing that is not lost on me,” Walls said. “Because they could have chosen anybody. I’m grateful that the universe thought aligned, God thought aligned, they thought aligned that it would be, be me, to be able to be a part of this continued legacy and to do it justice and you know, to pave the way for more.”
Walls also dished on working alongside his “White Men Can’t Jump” co-star Jack Harlow.
“Jack is as cool as a fan.” Walls said. “He’s one of the best scene partners and cast mates that I’ve had honestly. He came ready to play. He was focused, he was diligent. He desired to do the best work that he can. He took no breaks. I think the reason why he’s successful as an artist is because he’s committed to always becoming better as a man too. It was a gift to work with him.”
“Emancipation” actor Damien A. Smith was also at the awards ceremony and talked about his role in “Emancipation” and what it was like working with Will Smith.
“It was an amazing experience,” Damien A. Smith said. “We would be in some horrible conditions, you know, heat, mosquitos, tired, standing for long, bombs going off and he’ll [Will Smith] crack a joke and add some levity to a situation that lets us all know “alright let’s get going, let’s huddle around this guy,” because we know he’s in there with us. ..He was so focused. We knew when not to talk to him. We knew when everyone was in their character and we played in our characters. But he would jump out of character at some of the most unexpected times to make us laugh. That’s moral built.”
The pre-taped Celebration of Black Cinema & Television ceremony aired this month on KTLA — check your listings.
Check out more coverage from the event via the clip below.
As reported by Essence, additional honorees included:
Nicco Annan: Actor Award for Television
Quinta Brunson: Actress Award for Television
Elegance Bratton: Social Justice Award
Danielle Deadwyler: Actress Award for Film
Ayo Edebiri: Rising Star Award presented by IMDbPro
Quincy Isaiah: Rising Star Award presented by IMDbPro
Berry Gordy: Icon Award
Brian Tyree Henry: Supporting Actor Award
Michael B. Jordan: Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award
Nikyatu Jusu: Breakthrough Film Award
Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi: Groundbreaker Award
Gina Prince-Bythewood: Director Award for Film
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