‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Wins With AAFCA

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA), the world’s largest group of Black film critics, have announced their winners for the year in film, with the big prize going to Judas and the Black Messiah, the Shaka King directed film starring Daniel Kaluuya as Black Panther deputy chairman Fred Hampton. 

King’s film cleaned up from the group, earning the wins for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Kaluuya), Best Supporting Actress (Dominique Fishback), and Breakout Director (King). 

Close behind in total wins was a film from another King, this one being One Night in Miami’s helmer Regina King. The Oscar winner’s feature directing debut earned the prizes for Best Director, Best Screenplay (Kemp Powers), and Best Ensemble. 

The group also revealed its top 10 films of the year, with AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson stating, “The common theme with all of our top 10 films this year is the grace of humanity. All of these films spotlighted different circumstances that put the human spirit to a test. During a year when COVID-19 forced everyone on this planet to unite against a common threat to our health and well-being, these films spoke to the resilience and courage we all possess to overcome challenging odds. The AAFCA members were deeply heartened and inspired by these amazing stories as we also look forward to a return to ‘going to the movies’ with our family and friends.”

The AAFCA Award winners will be honored during a virtual ceremony on April 7th. 

For the full list of winners, see below: 

Best Picture: Judas and the Black Messiah
Best Director: Regina King, One Night In Miami
Best Actor: Chadwick Boseman, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 
Best Actress: Andra Day, The United States vs. Billie Holiday 
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya, Judas and the Black Messiah 
Best Supporting Actress: Dominique Fishback, Judas and the Black Messiah 
Best Screenplay: Kemp Powers, One Night in Miami 
Best Ensemble: One Night In Miami 
Best Foreign Film: Night of the Kings 
Best Documentary: All In: The Fight For Democracy 
Best Animation: Soul 
Best Short Film: Two Distant Strangers
Breakout Performance: Radha Blank 
Breakout Director: Shaka King

Top 10 Films: 

1. Judas And The Black Messiah
2. One Night In Miami
3. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
4. Nomadland
5. Night Of The Kings
6. American Skin
7. Da 5 Bloods
8. Minari
9. Miss Juneteenth
10. The United States Vs. Billie Holiday