Delroy Lindo and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Among Honorees at the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema

The Critics Choice Association announced those to be recognized at the third annual Celebration of Black Cinema, hosted by author Bevy Smith, and held on February 2, 2021.

Delroy Lindo will be receiving The Career Achievement Award, having amassed an admirable body of work on stage, television, and in film, most recently in Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. Throughout his career, Lindo has portrayed strong, impactful characters in moving and memorable films like Malcolm X, Crooklyn, and The Cider House Rules.

The other honorees at the event will include Tessa Thompson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Andra Day, John Legend, Mike Jackson, and the cast of One Night in Miami…

John Legend and Mike Jackson will be receiving The Producers Award for founding Get Lifted Film Co., which has become a standout in the industry and earning high praise on their stage and screen productions. Their current projects include documentary Giving Voice, featuring “Never Break,” an original song by Legend, and Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, both for Netflix.

Tessa Thompson will be receiving The Actors Award for starring in and serving as the executive producer of Amazon’s Sylvie’s Love, which has garnered critical acclaim. The film is a period piece taking place in ‘50’s Harlem and focuses on the romance of two young Black people while they work to build their own futures.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will be receiving The Breakthrough Award. With his recent Emmy win for HBO’s Watchmen and captivating performance as Black Panther party co-founder Bobby Seale in the critically-acclaimed Netflix drama The Trial of the Chicago 7, Yahya has become one of the most talented and in-demand actors of the year.

Receiving The Ensemble Award will be Aldis Hodge, Eli Goree, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Leslie Odom, Jr., the cast of Academy Award winner Regina King’s upcoming film One Night in Miami…, available on Amazon January 15, 2021. The movie details a meeting between four well-known leaders–Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, and Cassius Clay–on one fateful night in the city of Miami. The cast will be honored for bringing such care and grace to their respective roles.

For The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Andra Day will be receiving the Special Honoree Reward for her strong performance in the film which chronicles the pursuit of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics to punish Holiday for her political songs and audience diversity and integration.

This celebration will additionally showcase a series of informative and inspiring photographs, taken by Black filmmaker Tommy Oliver, that capture the powerful energy of the protests in Los Angeles following the murder of George Floyd earlier this year.

The celebration will benefit the Gold Program of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is a diversity and inclusion initiative to provide access and paths to filmmaking to underrepresented communities.