The African American Film Critics Association

Charles Burnett Recognized With Special Achievement Honors

Los Angeles, CA (December 17, 2007) – The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has named The Great Debaters as Best Picture of 2007. Directed by Denzel Washington, The Weinstein Company release from Harpo Productions captured a majority vote by the organization comprised of African-American media professionals from across the nation. Don Cheadle was selected as Best Actor 2007 for Talk To Me, with Marion Cotillard earning recognition as Best Actress 2007 for La Vie En Rose.

“Mr. Cheadle’s work in 2007, from Reign Over Me to Ocean’s Thirteen, continually challenges and entertains us. But it was his portrayal of Ralph 'Petey' Greene in Talk To Me that cinched the honor this year,” notes AAFCA President Gil Robertson, IV. “And, although our organization gives specific consideration to work by artists of African descent, Ms. Cotillard’s astonishing portrayal of Edith Piaf is a standout performance worthy of recognition.”

AAFCA honored Ruby Dee and Chiwetel Ejiofor of American Gangster as Best Supporting

Actress and Actor of 2007. Filmmaker Kasi Lemmons was named Best Director 2007 for Talk To Me. Charles Burnett is recognized with the AAFCA Special Achievement Honor 2007, a year which saw the release of his seminal classic Killer of Sheep more than 30 years after its making.

Films in the AAFCA Top Ten include Gone Baby Gone, No Country for Old Men and Michael Clayton. “2007 embodied a year of powerful, personal filmmaking by high-profile directors who stepped up their game to create what we believe are future classics,” says AAFCA Vice President, Wilson Morales, editor of Blackfilm.com.

The African-American Film Critics Association’s

Top Ten Films of 2007

About  AAFCA

Founded in 2003, The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) honors excellence in cinema by creating awareness for films with universal appeal to black communities, while emphasizing film about the black experience and those produced, written, directed and starring performers of African descent. The association actively reviews the quality and standard of black talent, content and media coverage. AAFCA also supports the development of future black film critics and filmmakers. The organization is based in Los Angeles.

Source: The DuVernay Agency—818.980.0770

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2007 NYFCO Movie Awards

By Kam Williams

There Will Be Blood Dominates NYFCO Annual Awards    

The New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) announced its movie awards for 2007, considered an early indicator of Oscar potential, at its annual luncheon at  O'Neals' Restaurant in Manhattan on Sunday, December 9th.  There Will Be Blood emerged as the day’s big winner, netting five awards overall, including Best Picture, which it shared with "The Divine Bell and the Butterfly."

Daniel Day-Lewis was named Best Actor for his role as a voraciously greedy oil tycoon in "There Will Be Blood" while Julie Christie received Best Actress honors as an aging, married woman slowly losing her battle with Alzheimer's in "Away From Her." 

The honor for Best Director went to Paul Thomas Anderson, also for There Will Be Blood and the organization picked Michael Moore's Sicko, a scathing indictment of America's health care system, in the Best Documentary category. The Lives of Others and Persepolis tied as the Best Foreign Picture.

NYFCO is a New York-based group whose membership is composed of 24 web-based reviewers and 3 print critics with a strong online presence, including the author of this article.

The Complete List:

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posted 20 December 2007