Black Reel Awards of 2025

Last updated

25th Black Reel Awards
DateFebruary 17, 2025 (Film)
August 18, 2025 (Television)
Highlights
Most wins Nickel Boys (6)
Most nominations Nickel Boys (13)
Outstanding Film Nickel Boys
  24th  ·
·  26th  

The 25th Annual Black Reel Awards ceremony, presented by the Foundation for the Augmentation of African-Americans in Film (FAAAF) and honoring the best films of 2024, took place on February 17, 2025. The film nominations were announced on December 19, 2024, with the ceremony streamed live on their website. [1]

Contents

The historical drama film Nickel Boys led with the most nominations at thirteen, followed closely by The Piano Lesson with twelve. Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor notably received two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Performance for her performances in Exhibiting Forgiveness and Nickel Boys. Zendaya also received dual recognition, both as an actor and producer of Challengers . [2] [3]

The nominations for the 9th Annual Black Reel Awards for Television were announced on June 18, 2025. [4] The Netflix romantic teen drama series Forever led nominations with a total of 12, followed closely by the ABC sitcom Abbott Elementary with 11. [5] The winners were announced online on August 18, 2025. [6]

Film nominees

RaMell Ross, Outstanding Director winner and Outstanding Screenplay co-winner RaMell Ross 2018 (cropped).jpg
RaMell Ross, Outstanding Director winner and Outstanding Screenplay co-winner
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Outstanding Lead Performance winner Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Mike Leigh at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped).jpg
Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Outstanding Lead Performance winner
Danielle Deadwyler, Outstanding Supporting Performance winner Danielle Deadwyler at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (cropped 3).jpg
Danielle Deadwyler, Outstanding Supporting Performance winner
Clarence Maclin, Outstanding Breakthrough Performance winner Clarence "Divine Eye" Maclin at 2024 HIFF (cropped).jpg
Clarence Maclin, Outstanding Breakthrough Performance winner
Joslyn Barnes, Outstanding Screenplay co-winner Joslyn Barnes, producer and screenwriter, at the 2024 Telluride Film Festival 03.jpg
Joslyn Barnes, Outstanding Screenplay co-winner
Lupita Nyong'o, Outstanding Voice Performance winner Lupita Nyong'o by Gage Skidmore 4.jpg
Lupita Nyong'o, Outstanding Voice Performance winner
Kris Bowers, Outstanding Score winner Kris Bowers at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival 2 (cropped).jpg
Kris Bowers, Outstanding Score winner
H.E.R., Outstanding Original Song co-winner H.E.R. at Billboard Women In Music, March 2022.jpg
H.E.R., Outstanding Original Song co-winner
Outstanding Film Outstanding Director
Outstanding Lead Performance Outstanding Supporting Performance
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance Outstanding Ensemble
Outstanding Short Film Outstanding Documentary Feature
Outstanding International Film Outstanding Independent Film
Outstanding Screenplay Outstanding First Screenplay
Outstanding Emerging Director Outstanding Voice Performance
Outstanding Score Outstanding Soundtrack
Outstanding Original Song Outstanding Cinematography
Outstanding Editing Outstanding Costume Design
Outstanding Production Design Outstanding Hairstyling & Makeup
  • The Piano Lesson – David J. Bomba, Chardae Adams and Patrick Cassidy
    • Nickel Boys – Nora Mendis, Elizabeth Herberg and Monique Champagne
    • Nine – Gilbert Ekow Ampah and Edmund Johnson

Films with multiple nominations and awards

Television winners and nominees

Comedy

Outstanding Comedy Series
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Comedy Series Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Comedy Series
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Drama

Outstanding Drama Series
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Drama Series Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Drama Series
Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
  • Paradise ("The Architect of Social Well-Being") – written by Jason Wilborn (Hulu)
    • Forever ("Forever...") – written by Mara Brock Akil and Danya Hu (Netflix)
    • Forever ("The Vineyard") – written by Norman Vance Jr. (Netflix)
    • Interview with the Vampire ("I Want You More Than Anything in the World") – written by Coline Abert and A. Zell Williams (AMC)
    • The Pitt ("12:00 P.M.") – written by Cynthia Adarkwa (HBO Max)

Television Movie or Limited Series

Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series
Outstanding Lead Performance in a TV Movie/Limited SeriesOutstanding Supporting Performance in a TV Movie/Limited Series
Outstanding Directing in a TV Movie or Limited Series Outstanding Writing in a TV Movie or Limited Series

Other programs

Outstanding Documentary Outstanding Variety, Sketch, or Talk – Series or Special

Music categories

Outstanding Musical ScoreOutstanding Music Supervision
Outstanding Original Song

Technical categories

Outstanding CinematographyOutstanding Costume Design
Outstanding EditingOutstanding Makeup & Hairstyling
Outstanding Production Design

Programs with multiple nominations and awards

References

  1. "25th Annual Black Reel Awards Nominees". Black Reel Awards. December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  2. Jackson, Angelique (December 19, 2024). "'Nickel Boys' Leads Black Reel Awards Nominees". Variety . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  3. Pedersen, Erik (December 19, 2024). "'Nickel Boys' Leads 2025 Black Reel Awards Nominations; 'Piano Lesson' Close Second". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  4. "9th Annual Black Reel TV Award Nominees". Black Reel Awards. June 18, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  5. Pedersen, Erik (June 18, 2025). "'Forever,' 'Abbott Elementary' & 'Fight Night' Lead 2025 Black Reel TV Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  6. "9th Annual Black Reel TV Award Winners". Black Reel Awards. August 18, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.