2025 African American Film Critics Awards Winners List

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) has announced the winners of its 16th annual AAFCA Awards, placing Sing Sing at the top of the list of its awarded films with three prizes.

Colman Domingo, awarded best actor by AAFCA last year for his turn as the titular character in Rustin, once again received the designation for his leading part in A24’s Sing Sing this year. Co-star Clarence Maclin was also awarded best supporting actor for his role in the story of the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at the maximum security prison. The script, written by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar, was also recognized with a best screenplay honor.

Amazon MGM Studios’ Nickel Boys, Netflix’s The Piano Lesson and Universal Pictures’ The Wild Robot follow behind with two awards each. Filmmaker RaMell Ross earned the prize for best director for his adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel, with Nickel Boys also being awarded best picture. The Piano Lesson, an adaptation of August Wilson’s 1987 play, was awarded best ensemble, with Danielle Deadwyler taking the prize for best supporting actress. The Wild Robot earned the distinction of best animated feature, with an additional award for best original score for composer Kris Bowers.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste is also among the winners, receiving the best actress honor for her starring role in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.

“This has been a defining year for cinema, with an impressive array of stories that capture the complexity, resilience and beauty of the human experience,” AAFCA president and co-founder Gil Robertson said in a statement. “We are proud to honor this year’s filmmakers and talent, whose work continues to expand the scope of humanity on screen. These films do more than entertain — they amplify voices and perspectives that deserve to be heard, and we look forward to celebrating their lasting impact.”

Sing Sing, The Piano Lesson and Nickel Boys landed on AAFCA’s list of top films of 2024 along with Emilia Pérez, which has also been awarded best international film. Exhibiting Forgiveness, also on the top 10 list, picked up the honor of best original song for “Bricks,” performed by Andra Day and co-written by the singer and Jherek Bischoff.

AAFCA previously announced the recipients of its 2025 Special Achievement Awards, bolstering the wins for The Piano Lesson, as filmmaker Malcolm Washington will receive the Emerging Director Award and actor Ray Fisher, who portrays Lymon in the movie, will get the Breakout Performance Award. Nickel Boys‘ Ross will also receive the additional honor of AAFCA’s Spotlight Award, with Six Triple Eight producer Nicole Avant set to be honored with the Beacon Award. Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-nominated costume designer Paul Tazewell, who most recently worked on Wicked and the upcoming sequel Wicked: Part Two, will receive the Innovator Award.

Winners will be celebrated at the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards, which will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles on Feb. 19. 

See the full list of winners below:

AAFCA’S TOP 10 FILMS OF THE YEAR