Black Film Critics Circle Winners: ‘American Fiction’ Takes Home Top Honors

Valerie Complex
·3 min read
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EXCLUSIVE: The Black Film Critics Circle on Wednesday voted American Fiction its Best Film of 2023, with that film’s Jeffery Wright named Best Actor and Cord Jefferson Best Director. Origin‘s Aunjanue Ellie-Taylor was named Best Actress.

The announcement was made by BFCC co-president Mike Sargent, after votes were cast and tabulated in New York City at the organization’s annual meeting earlier this week.

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Recognizing achievements in theatrical motion pictures, the BFCC awarded prizes in 13 categories. Special Signature awards are also given to industry pioneers and rising stars.

“There are certain narratives we live by as individuals, as families, as cultures, and those are the narratives that help define us. The latter part of the late 20th century, the third golden age of Black film, there was a ghettoization of Black film. A limit on the kinds of stories we were able to tell,“ Sargent said. “Now, not only do we have a multitude of different genres and stories from historical to speculative fiction, we have a record number of first-time feature film directors. So these are new voices telling a wide variety of stories.”

Added BFCC co-president Wilson Morales: First-time feature film directors like A.V. Rockwell director of A Thousand and One, Cord Jefferson director of American Fiction, and Juel Taylor director of They Cloned Tyrone have done exceptional work. 2023 was truly a banner year for Black film and filmmakers.”

Below is the full list of winners.

Best Film – American Fiction

Best Director – Cord Jefferson

Best Actor – Jeffrey Wright, American Fiction

Best Actress – Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Origin

Best Supporting Actor – Sterling K. Brown, American Fiction

Best Supporting Actress – Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple

Best Original Screenplay – Past Lives

Best Adapted Screenplay – (Tie) Oppenheimer, American Fiction

Best Cinematography – Poor Things

Best Documentary – American Symphony

Best Animated – Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Ensemble – American Fiction

BFCC SIGNATURE AWARDS

PIONEER – Lisa Cortés

This year’s BFCC Pioneer Award is given to Lisa Cortés. Lisa is an Academy Award nominated and Emmy-winning Producer and Director. She is renowned for creating challenging, visionary stories and has been distinguished by her commitment to inclusivity and empowering diverse voices. Her contributions like this year’s Little Richard: I Am Everything about the life and career of Little Richard, the one-of-a-kind rock ‘n’ roll icon who shaped the world of music and Lisa’s ongoing dedication to her craft embodies the very essence of the word Pioneer.”

RISING STAR/ BEST NEWCOMER – (tie) A.V. Rockwell & Tia Nomore

A.V. Rockwell, director of Sundance Film Festival 2023 Grand Jury Prize winning film A Thousand and One.

And Tia Nomore for feature film acting her debut in the film Earth Mama where she, to quote BFCC member Anthony Holden (Blak Cinephile) “delivers a terrific, soul-baring performance.”

SPECIAL MENTION – Colman Domingo

Special Mention this year goes to Colman Domingo who, to quote BFCC member Harrison Martin (FLIXFROG) is “The embodiment of the word thespian. Domingo is a domineering versatile actor whether he’s on stage, television, or on the silver screen. Domingo pulled off two great performances this year as the openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin and the charismatic yet abusive Albert ‘Mister’ Johnson in The Color Purple (2023).”

Top Ten

1. American Fiction

2. Oppenheimer

3. The Color Purple

4. Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

5. Origin

6. Past Lives

7. Poor Things

8. Barbie

9. Maestro

10. Anatomy of a Fall

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