The world’s largest group of black film critics selected Black Panther as the best picture of 2018, the African-American Film Critics Association announced Tuesday.
Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster superhero epic also nabbed best director honors for Coogler and the best song prize for Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars.”
“Selecting Disney’s Black Panther as the year’s best film was a no-brainer,” AAFCA co-founder Shawn Edwards said in a statement. “Beyond its tremendous reviews and historic box office performance, the film changed the culture and became a defining moment for Black America. … Many have waited a lifetime for a moment like this and Black Panther delivered with a multi-generational appeal never before seen.”
The Hate U Give, If Beale Street Could Talk and BlacKkKlansman also won big with two prizes each: George Tillman Jr.’s literary adaptation of Angie Thomas’ 2017 book The Hate U Give earned best supporting actor honors for Russell Hornsby and the best breakout performance award for Amandla Stenberg; Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of the 1974 James Baldwin novel If Beale Street Could Talk garnered the prize for best independent film, as well as a best supporting actress nod for Regina King; and Spike Lee’s latest pic BlacKkKlansman received the best screenplay award, as well as a best actor mention for John David Washington.
Other winners include Regina Hall, named best actress for her turn in the independent drama Support the Girls; Netflix’s Quincy for best documentary; OWN’s Queen Sugar for best TV drama; and HBO’s Insecure for best TV comedy.
Black Panther crowned the organization’s Top 10 list, which was followed by If Beale Street Could Talk, Hate U Give and A Star Is Born.
“AAFCA’s Top 10 marks the first time so many films by or about black identity have made our list, presenting storylines that reflect the diversity that lives within the black community,” AAFCA president Gil Robertson said in a statement.
AAFCA plans to announce the recipients of its Cinema Vanguard Award, ICON Award, Stanley Kramer Award and inaugural Pioneer Award in the next few weeks. Its awards ceremony is set to take place Feb. 6 at the Taglyan Complex in Los Angeles.
See the full list of winners, as well as AAFCA’s top 10 films of the year, below.
Best Film: Black Panther
Best Director: Ryan Coogler (Black Panther)
Best Screenplay: Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman)
Best Actor: John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman)
Best Actress: Regina Hall (Support the Girls)
Best Supporting Actor: Russell Hornsby (The Hate U Give)
Best Supporting Actress: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Best Breakout Performance: Amandla Stenberg (The Hate U Give)
Best Animated Film: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Independent Film: If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Foreign Film: Roma
Best Documentary: Quincy
Best Song: “All The Stars” (Black Panther)
Best New Media: Red Table Talk
Best TV Drama: Queen Sugar
Best TV Comedy: Insecure
AAFCA’s Top Ten List:
1. Black Panther (Walt Disney Studios)
2. If Beale Street Could Talk (Annapurna Pictures)
3. The Hate U Give (20th Century Fox)
4. A Star Is Born (Warner Bros. Studios)
5. Quincy (Netflix)
6. Roma (Netflix)
7. Blindspotting (Lionsgate)
8. The Favourite (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
9. Sorry to Bother You (Annapurna Pictures)
10. Widows (20th Century Fox)
