Awards season continued today with the announcement of the 2021 nominees for the Black Reel Awards!  The winners will be announced in February!

Here are the nominees:

Outstanding Motion Picture
The Harder They Fall
King Richard
Passing
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

Outstanding Director
Halle Berry – Bruised
Nia DaCosta – Candyman
Reinaldo Marcus Green – King Richard
Rebecca Hall – Passing
Jeymes Samuel – The Harder They Fall

Outstanding Actor
Mahershala Ali – Swan Song
Winston Duke – Nine Days
Jonathan Majors – The Harder They Fall
Will Smith – King Richard
Denzel Washington – The Tragedy of Macbeth

Outstanding Actress
Zazie Beetz – The Harder They Fall
Halle Berry – Bruised
Jennifer Hudson – Respect
Taylour Paige – Zola
Tessa Thompson – Passing

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Colman Domingo – Zola
Idris Elba – The Harder They Fall
Andre Holland – Passing
LaKeith Stanfield – The Harder They Fall
Jeffrey Wright – The French Dispatch

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
Aunjanue Ellis – King Richard
Regina King – The Harder They Fall
Rita Moreno – West Side Story
Ruth Negga – Passing

Outstanding Screenplay
Candyman – Nia DaCosta, Jordan Peele & Win Rosenfeld
The Harder They Fall – Jeymes Samuel & Boaz Yakin
In the Heights – Quiara Alegria Hudes
Passing – Rebecca Hall
Zola – Janicza Bravo & Jeremy O. Harris

Outstanding Documentary
Ailey
Citizen Ashe
My Name is Pauli Murray
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

Outstanding Foreign-Language Film
African America (South Africa)
Bitter Sugar (Tunisia)
Faya Dayi (Ethiopia)

Outstanding Ensemble
The Harder They Fall
In the Heights
King Richard
Passing
Zola

Outstanding Voice Performance
Eric Andre – The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Marsai Martin – Spirit Untamed
Maya Rudolph – Luca
Maya Rudolph – The Mitchells vs. The Machines
Zoe Saldana – Vivo

Outstanding Score
Candyman
The Harder They Fall
In the Heights
Passing
Respect

Outstanding Original Song
“Automatic Woman” (Bruised) – H.E.R., performer; Van Hunt, H.E.R. & Brittany Hazzard, writers
“Be Alive” (King Richard ) – Beyonce, performer; Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & DIXSON, writers
“Guns Go Bang” (The Harder They Fall) – Jay-Z & Kid Cudi, performers; Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Kid Cudi & Jeymes Samuel, writers
“The Harder They Fall” (The Harder They Fall) – Koffee, performer; Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter & Jeymes Samuel, writers
“Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)” (Respect) – Jennifer Hudson, performer; Carole King, Jennifer Hudson & Jamie Hartman, writers

Outstanding Independent Film
Concrete Cowboy
Nine Days
Test Pattern
The Water Man
Zola

Outstanding Short Film
54 Years Late
Coffee
The Door of Return
Junior
The Snakes

Outstanding Independent Documentary
100 Years from Mississippi
Big Chief, Black Hawk
I Still Breathe
Little Satchmo
Unzipped: An Autopsy of American Inequality

Outstanding Emerging Director
Halle Berry – Bruised
Janicza Bravo – Zola
Rebecca Hall – Passing
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
Jeymes Samuel – The Harder They Fall

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male
Deon Cole – The Harder They Fall
Edi Gathegi – The Harder They Fall
Joshua Henry – tick, tick…Boom!
Caleb McLaughlin – Concrete Cowboy
Anthony Ramos – In the Heights

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female
Danielle Deadwyler – The Harder They Fall
Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
Taylour Paige – Zola
Saniyya Sidney – King Richard
Demi Singleton – King Richard

Outstanding First Screenplay
In the Heights
Passing
Zola

Cinematography
The Harder They Fall
In the Heights
Passing
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

Outstanding Costume Design
Coming 2 America
The Harder They Fall
Passing
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

Outstanding Editing
Bruised
The Harder They Fall
King Richard
Respect
Zola

Outstanding Production Design
The Harder They Fall
In the Heights
Passing
The Tragedy of Macbeth
West Side Story

Winners will be announced on February 6th!

Outstanding Motion Picture

• DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
  Eddie Murphy, John Fox & John Davis
• JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
  Asher Goldstein & Gil Netter
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Pamela Addy, Andrew Coles, James Frey, Michelle Knudsen, Melina Matsoukas, Lena Waithe & Brad Weston
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Jordan Peele, Jason Blum, Ian Cooper & Sean McKittrick
• WAVES (A24)
  Trey Edward Shults, Kevin Turen & James Wilson

Outstanding Actor

• JIMMIE FAILS
  The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
• KELVIN HARRISON JR.
  Luce (Neon)
• KELVIN HARRISON JR.
  Waves (A24)
• DANIEL KALUUYA
  Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
• EDDIE MURPHY
  Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)

Outstanding Actress

• CYNTHIA ERIVO
  Harriet (Focus Features)
• GUGU MBATHA-RAW
  Fast Color (Lionsgate/Codeblack)
• LUPITA NYONG’O
  Us (Universal Pictures)
• JODIE TURNER-SMITH
  Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
• ALFRE WOODARD
  Clemency (Neon)

Outstanding Director

• MATI DIOP
  Atlantics (Netflix)
• KASI LEMMONS
  Harriet (Focus Features)
• MELINA MATSOUKAS
  Queen & Slim (Universal Pictures)
• JULIUS ONAH
  Luce (Neon)
• JORDAN PEELE
  Us (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actor

• STERLING K. BROWN
  Waves (A24)
• ALDIS HODGE
  Clemency (Neon)
• JAMIE FOXX
  Just Mercy (Warner Bros.)
• JONATHAN MAJORS
  The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
• WESLEY SNIPES
  Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)

Outstanding Supporting Actress

• SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
  Us (Universal Pictures)
• JANELLE MONAE
  Harriet (Focus Features)
• DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
  Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
• TAYLOR RUSSELL
  Waves (A24)
• OCTAVIA SPENCER
  Luce (Neon)

Outstanding Screenplay

• CLEMENCY (Neon)
  Chinonye Chukwu
• LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
  Ladj Ly, Giordano Gederlini & Alexis Manenti
• LUCE (Neon)
  J.C. Lee & Julius Onah
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Lena Waithe
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Jordan Peele

Outstanding Documentary Feature

• THE APOLLO (HBO Documentary)
  Roger Ross Williams, director
• THE BLACK GODFATHER (Netflix)
  Reginald Hudlin, director
• KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE (Netflix)
  Rachel Lears, director
• MILES DAVIS: BIRTH OF THE COOL (Abramorama)
  Stanley Nelson, director
• TONI MORRISON: THE PIECES I AM (Magnolia Pictures)
  Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, director

Outstanding International Film

• ATLANTICS (Netflix)
  Senegal
• THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
  United Kingdom
• FARMING (Momentum Pictures)
  United Kingdom
• IN FABRIC (A24)
  United Kingdom
• LES MISERABLES (Amazon Studios)
  France

Outstanding Ensemble

• DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
  Lindsay Graham & Mary Vernieu, casting directors
• THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
  Julia Kim, casting director
• JUST MERCY (Warner Bros.)
  Carmen Cuba, casting director
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Terri Taylor, casting director
• WAVES (A24)
  Avy Kaufman, casting director

Outstanding Voice Performance

• CHIWETEL EJIOFOR (Scar)
  The Lion King (Disney)
• DONALD GLOVER (Simba)
  The Lion King (Disney)
• JAMES EARL JONES (Mufasa)
  The Lion King (Disney)
• KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY (Ducky)
  Toy Story 4 (Disney)
• JORDAN PEELE (Bunny)
  Toy Story 4 (Disney)

Outstanding Score

• DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
  Scott Bomar
• THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
  Emile Mosseri
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Devonte Hynes
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Michael Abels
• WAVES (A24)
  Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross

Outstanding Original Song

• “COLLIDE” (QUEEN & SLIM)
  Tiana Major9 & EARTH GANG, performers
• “DON’T TURN BACK” (THE APOLLO)
  Robert Glasper & Ledisi, performers
• “GUARDING THE GATES” (QUEEN & SLIM)
  Lauryn Hill, performer
• “IT’S NOT OVER” (BRIAN BANKS)
  Gizzle & Sam Fisher, performers
• “SPIRIT” (THE LION KING)
  Beyonce Knowles-Carter, performer

Outstanding Independent Feature – Awarded to the Director & Producers

• BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
  Phillip Youmans, director
  Ojo Akinlana, Wendell Pierce, Mose Mayer, Isaac Webb, Cassandra Youmans Jakob Johnson & Karen Kaia Livers, producers
• CLEMENCY (Neon)
  Chinonye Chukwu, director
  Timur Bekbosunov, Julian Cautherley, Bronwyn Cornelius & Peter Wong, producers
• GUAVA ISLAND (Amazon Studios)
  Hiro Murai, director
  Donald Glover, Carmen Cuba, Jennifer Roth & Fam Udeorji, producers
• THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
  Joe Talbot, director/producer
  Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Christina Oh & Khaliah Neal, producers
• LUCE (Neon)
  Julius Onah, director/producer
  John Baker & Andrew Yang, producers

Outstanding Short Film

• AMERICA
  Garrett Bradley, director
• HAIR LOVE (Sony Pictures Releasing)
  Matthew A. Cherry, director
• IT’S NOT ABOUT JIMMY KEENE
  Caleb Jaffe, director
• SUICIDE BY SUNLIGHT
  Nikyatu Jusu, director
• ZAHRA AND THE OIL MAN
  Yucef Mayes, director

Outstanding Independent Documentary

• 16 BARS
  Sam Bathrick, director
• NO LYE: AN AMERICAN BEAUTY STORY
  Bayer Mack, director
• THE REMIX: HIP HOP X FASHION
  Lisa Cortes & Farah Khalid, director

Outstanding Emerging Director 

• CHINONYE CHUKWU
  Clemency (Neon)
• NIA DACOSTA
  Little Woods (Neon)
• MATI DIOP
  Atlantics (Netflix)
• MELINA MATSOUKAS
  Queen & Slim (Universal)
• JULIUS ONAH
  Luce (Neon)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male

• TITUSS BURGESS
  Dolemite Is My Name (Netflix)
• JIMMIE FAILS
  The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)
• KELVIN HARRISON JR.
  Waves (A24)
• ALDIS HODGE
  Clemency (Neon)
• JONATHAN MAJORS
  The Last Black Man in San Francisco (A24)

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female

• ABDOU BALDE
  Atlantics (Netflix)
• SHAHADI WRIGHT JOSEPH
  Us (Universal Pictures)
• DA’VINE JOY RANDOLPH
  Dolemite is My Name (Netflix)
• TAYLOR RUSSELL
  Waves (A24)
• JODIE TURNER-SMITH
  Queen & Slim (Universal)

Outstanding First Screenplay

• ATLANTICS (Netflix)
  Mati Diop & Olivier Demangel
• THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND (Netflix)
  Chiwetel Ejiofor
• BURNING CANE (ARRAY)
  Phillip Youmans
• CLEMENCY (Neon)
  Chinoye Chukwu
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Lena Waithe

Outstanding Cinematography

• HARRIET (Focus Features)
  John Toll
• THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO (A24)
  Adam Newport-Berra
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Tad Radcliffe
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Mike Gioulakis
• WAVES (A24)
  Drew Daniels

Outstanding Costume Design

• DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
  Ruth E. Carter
• HARRIET (Focus Features)
  Paul Tazewell
• HUSTLERS (STX Entertainment)
  Mitchell Travers
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Shiona Turini
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Kym Barrett

Outstanding Production Design

• DOLEMITE IS MY NAME (Netflix)
  Clay A. Griffith
• HARRIET (Focus Features)
  Warren Alan Young
• THE LION KING (Disney)
  James Chinlund
• QUEEN & SLIM (Universal Pictures)
  Karen Murphy
• US (Universal Pictures)
  Ruth De Jong