Also Will Smith, Jennifer Hudson, Ava DuVernay
Halle Berry, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Hudson and Barry Jenkinsm were among numerous honorees at the Critics Choice Association’s fourth annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
Will Smith and Ava DuVernay are other big names whose accomplishments in film and TV will be celebrated across 20 award categories at the event at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel.
This is the first year the awards will also recognize achievements in television.
Berry, the first and only Black woman to win an Oscar for actress in leading role, for “Monster’s Ball” in 2002 — and who recently debuted as a director in the film “Bruised” — received the Career Achievement Award.
“Berry’s iconic performances throughout her career have showcased her brilliance as an actor and blazed the trail for Black performers who have come after her,” said Shawn Edwards, a CCA board member and executive producer of Monday’s ceremony.
“She has become the personification of excellence as she transitions from being in front of the camera to sitting in the director’s chair.”
Anderson received the Producer Award for Television for his work on the ABC series “`Black-ish,” “Grown-ish” and “Mixed-ish.” He is an executive producer as well as an actor on all three series.
Hudson, the 2007 supporting actress Oscar winner for “Dreamgirls,” received the Actress Award for Film for her performance in the Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect.”
Jenkins received the Director Award for Television for his Amazon series “The Underground Railroad.”
“2021 was an incredible year of creativity and growth in film and television, and we’re thrilled to be able to honor the changemakers who are making a difference,” said Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin.
DuVernay received the inaugural Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award, named after the late filmmaker, who died in September at age 89.
“We are truly honored to name our prestigious Trailblazer Award after Melvin Van Peebles,” said Edwards.
“Van Peebles inspired a generation of filmmakers. He was a true maverick and a visionary cinematic genius. We’re thrilled that Melvin’s son, Mario, will be presenting the award to Ava DuVernay, as the first recipient of the Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award.”
Smith received the Actor Award for Film for his work in “King Richard,” the recently released movie about the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
