Amazon MGM Studios’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys emerged as the top winner at the 25th Black Reel Awards. The film earned six honors during Monday’s virtual ceremony, including Outstanding Film and Outstanding Director for RaMell Ross.
Produced by Joslyn Barnes, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, and David Levin, Nickel Boys also received awards for Outstanding Screenplay, Outstanding Emerging Director, Outstanding First Screenplay, and Outstanding Cinematography. The film’s recognition comes on the heels of its nominations for Best Picture and Adapted Screenplay at the Oscars.
Netflix’s The Piano Lesson was among the other top recipients, garnering four awards. Danielle Deadwyler won for Outstanding Supporting Performance, while the film also secured accolades for Outstanding Ensemble, Outstanding Hairstyling & Makeup, and Outstanding Production Design.
Additional honors were distributed to several other projects. Marianne Jean-Baptiste took home the Outstanding Lead Performance award for her role in Hard Truths, which also won Outstanding International Film. In the documentary category, Luther: Never Too Much—directed by Dawn Porter—was recognized, while The Wild Robot received awards for both Outstanding Voice Performance (Lupita Nyong’o) and Outstanding Score (composer Kris Bowers). We Grown Now, directed by Minhal Baig, earned the title of Outstanding Independent Film, and Huriyyah Muhammad was celebrated for her work on the short film Chocolate With Sprinkles.
Other winners included the Outstanding Original Song award for “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight, performed by H.E.R. and written by Diane Warren; Wicked for Outstanding Soundtrack and Outstanding Costume Design (Paul Tazewell); and Stephanie Filo for Outstanding Editing on We Grown Now.
With this sweep, Nickel Boys solidified its position as a standout work of Black cinematic excellence at this year’s Black Reel Awards.
