I always look forward to the announcement of the Black Reel Awards, which each year pay tribute to the greatest achievements of African-Americans and people of the African Diaspora in feature and independent films and television. This year, I was especially interested in the results because 2013 was unquestionably the best year in history for African-Americans in film — behind the screen, on the screen, and in the range of stories presented, from the real-life tragedies of “12 Years a Slave,” “Fruitvale Station,” and “Captain Phillips” to the genre films that may not have had lofty artistic aspirations but still gave African-American performers and film-makers a wider range of opportunities to tell their stories, even thrillers and romantic comedies.
“12 Years a Slave,” a stunning achievement with a good chance of winning this year’s Best Picture Oscar, was the big winner at the Black Reel Awards, breaking the all-time record set by “Precious” with a sweep of eight awards: Outstanding Motion Picture, outstanding actor for Chiwetel Ejiofor, Outstanding Supporting Actress for dazzling newcomer Lupita Nyong’o, who also won Outstanding Female Breakthrough Performance, Outstanding Director for Steve McQueen, Outstanding Screenplay for John Ridley, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Score for Hans Zimmer. “The fact that in one of the strongest years for Black film in recent memory, one film was able to be so dominant is a testament to the vision of Steve McQueen, the screenplay by John Ridley and the fantastic performances of the trio of actors led by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong’o,” said Black Reel Awards creator and Executive Director, Tim Gordon. “This will be a year no one forgets.”
Other notable awards went to “Captain Phillips'” Barkhad Abdi (Outstanding Supporting Actor and Outstanding Male Breakthrough Performance) and Danai Gurira (Outstanding Actress) for her role in “Mother of George,” the story of Nigerian immigrants living in Brooklyn and struggling with infertility. Documentary honors went to “20 Feet from Stardom,” about the back-up singers who perform on hit records and are usually overlooked. A documentary about gay rights in the African-American community, “The New Black,” won the award for Outstanding Independent Documentary. Outstanding Independent Feature went to “Blue Caprice,” the story of the DC snipers.
The full list of awardees:
Outstanding Motion Picture
12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Actress
Danai Gurira | Mother of George
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi | Captain Phillips
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Lupita Nyong’o | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Director
Steve McQueen | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Screenplay
John Ridley | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Documentary
20 Feet From Stardom | Morgan Neville
Outstanding Ensemble
12 Years a Slave | Francine Maiser
Outstanding Foreign Film
War Witch | Canada
Outstanding Score
Hans Zimmer | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Original Song
“Desperation” by Judith Hill | 20 Feet From Stardom
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Barkhad Abdi | Captain Phillips
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Lupita Nyong’o | 12 Years a Slave
Outstanding Voice Performance
Samuel L. Jackson | Turbo
Outstanding Independent Feature
Blue Caprice | Alexandre Moors
Outstanding Independent Documentary
The New Black | Yoruba Richen
Outstanding Independent Short
Black Girl in Paris | Kiandra Parks
Outstanding Television Documentary
Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley | Whoopi Goldberg
Outstanding TV Movie or Mini-Series
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
Outstanding TV Movie Actor
Chiwetel Ejiofor | Dancing on Edge
Outstanding TV Movie Actress
Anika Noni Rose | The Watsons Go to Birmingham
Outstanding Supporting Actor, TV Movie
Omari Hardwick | Being Mary Jane
Outstanding Supporting Actress, TV Movie
Octavia Spencer | Call Me Crazy: A Five Film
Outstanding Director, TV Movie
Spike Lee | Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
Outstanding Screenplay, TV Movie
Mara Brock Akil | Being Mary Jane
, starring Henry Fonda, to 
, there is something about the tall man with the wry sense of humor that is very cinematic.
Bill Pullman is a former fighter pilot who leads America and the world after an alien attack.
This cold-war farce has Peter Sellers in three roles, including President of the United States. His conversation with his counterpart in the USSR is a masterpiece. (Some mature material).
Harrison Ford is the President as action hero. When Air Force One is captured by terrorists, it’s a good thing that the man who played Han Solo and Indiana Jones is on hand.
Gene Hackman plays a former President who ends up competing with small town guy Ray Romano in a mayoral race and for Maura Tierney.
Shirley MacLaine is a former first lady and Nicolas Cage is her bored Secret Service guard in this comedy-drama with some funny moments — and some touching ones, too.
Kevin Kline plays a man hired to impersonate the President (also Kline) whose challenges include fooling the First Lady (Sigourney Weaver) in this charming comedy.
Michael Douglas plays a President in love in this witty story from the man who would go on to create “The West Wing” with Martin Sheen, seen here as a Presidential aide.
The focus is on the psychiatrist who treats the President in this satire starring James Coburn.