Taraji P. Henson and Jeffrey Wright, two exceptional actors in the industry, will be honored at the 6th annual ABFF Honors presented by Nice Crowd. This prestigious event, established in 2016, is dedicated to recognizing excellence in the motion picture and television industry. On March 3rd, at the SLS in Beverly Hills, the intimate and non-televised dinner will take place, with actor and comedian Tommy Davidson as the host.
Excellence in the Arts Awards
Taraji P. Henson and Jeffrey Wright will both receive the Excellence in the Arts awards. This recognition is presented to individuals with remarkable bodies of work and career achievements. Last year, the two actors sat down for Variety’s Actors on Actors series, where they discussed their outstanding performances in “The Color Purple” and “American Fiction” respectively. Recently, Wright received his first Academy Award nomination for his exceptional performance, while Henson added a Screen Actors Guild award nomination to her already impressive list of career accolades, including a Golden Globe and Emmy nomination.
Hollywood Legacy Award
Garrett Morris, an actor, comedian, writer, and singer, will be honored with the Hollywood Legacy award. This award recognizes Morris as a trailblazing artist who has inspired the next generation for over four decades in the entertainment industry. Morris holds the distinction of being the first Black cast member on “Saturday Night Live” and will also be receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 1st.
Industry Visionary Award
Screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil will receive the Industry Visionary award for her commitment to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the motion picture and television industry. Akil is responsible for writing and producing over 400 episodes of television, including popular shows such as “Girlfriends,” “The Game,” and “Being Mary Jane.”
“For decades, these esteemed ABFF Honorees have elevated their projects and brought joy to audiences across the world,” said Jeff and Nicole Friday, CEO and President of Nice Crowd. “It is our honor to recognize Garrett, Taraji, Jeffrey, and Mara for all their contributions to culture and the industry throughout their remarkable careers. We look forward to celebrating their many achievements and gathering with our fantastic ABFF partners.”
Fan Favorite Movie of the Year
During the gala, the ABFF fan favorite movie of the year will be revealed. This award recognizes the most outstanding narrative feature-length motion picture directed by a person of African descent. The winner is selected through an online poll of more than 100,000 festival alumni. Nominees for the fan favorite award include “A Thousand and One” directed by A.V. Rockwell, “American Fiction” directed by Cord Jefferson, “Origin” directed by Ava DuVernay, “The Color Purple” directed by Blitz Bazawule, “They Cloned Tyrone” directed by Juel Taylor, and “The Equalizer 3” directed by Antoine Fuqua.
ABFF Honors is executive produced by Nice Crowd’s Nicole and Jeff Friday, in association with dePasse Jones Entertainment and Magic Lemonade’s Rikki Hughes. The event is sponsored by Cadillac, Amazon MGM Studios, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Fulton Films.
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