14th Annual Black Reel Awards


The 2014 Black Reel Awards, which annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films, were announced on Thursday, February 13, 2014. Fruitvale Station, The Butler and 12 Years a Slave lead the film nominees with 9 nominations apiece. Pastor Brown, The Watsons Go to Birmingham and Being Mary Jane lead the television nominees with 6 nominations. This year saw the Breakthrough Performance category split between genders bringing this years total categories to 26.
12 Years a Slave made Black Reel Awards history by winning 8 awards including Outstanding Motion Picture. Multiple winning films included: Captain Phillips and 20 Feet from Stardom. On the television side, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth and Being Mary Jane tied for the most wins with two.
Multiple winners included: Steve McQueen, Lupita Nyong'o, Barkhad Abdi and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Best FilmBest Director
12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen12 Years a Slave
  • * Ryan CooglerFruitvale Station
  • * Lee DanielsThe Butler
  • * Malcolm D. LeeThe Best Man Holiday
  • * George Tillman Jr.The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete
  • Best ActorBest Actress
    Chiwetel Ejiofor12 Years a Slave
  • * Idris ElbaMandela: Long Walk to Freedom
  • * Michael B. JordanFruitvale Station
  • * Isaiah WashingtonBlue Caprice
  • * Forest WhitakerThe Butler
  • Danai GuriraMother of George
  • * Halle BerryThe Call
  • * Rosario DawsonTrance
  • * LisaGay HamiltonGo for Sisters
  • * Nia LongThe Best Man Holiday
  • Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress
    Barkhad AbdiCaptain Phillips
  • * David OyelowoThe Butler
  • * Nate ParkerAin't Them Bodies Saints
  • * Tequan RichmondBlue Caprice
  • * Lakeith StanfieldShort Term 12
  • Lupita Nyong'o12 Years a Slave
  • * Melonie DiazFruitvale Station
  • * Naomie HarrisMandela: Long Walk to Freedom
  • * Octavia SpencerFruitvale Station
  • * Oprah WinfreyThe Butler
  • Best Breakthrough Performance, MaleBest Breakthrough Performance, Female
    Barkhad AbdiCaptain Phillips
  • * Chadwick Boseman42
  • * Skylan BrooksThe Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete
  • * Tequan RichmondBlue Caprice
  • * Lakeith StanfieldShort Term 12
  • Lupita Nyong'o12 Years a Slave
  • * Melonie DiazFruitvale Station
  • * Danai GuriraMother of George
  • * Lindiwe Matshikiza – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
  • * Tashiana WashingtonGimme the Loot
  • Best Ensemble Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original
    Francine Maisler12 Years a Slave
  • * Leah Daniels and Billy Hopkins – The Butler
  • * Nina Henninger – Fruitvale Station
  • * Julie Hutchinson – The Best Man Holiday
  • * Victoria Thomas42
  • John Ridley12 Years a Slave
  • * Ryan CooglerFruitvale Station
  • * Malcolm D. LeeThe Best Man Holiday
  • * Kasi LemmonsBlack Nativity
  • * Michael StarrburyThe Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete
  • Best Feature DocumentaryBest Voice Performance
    20 Feet from StardomGil Friesen and Caitrin Rogers
  • *Free Angela and all Political PrisonersJay Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
  • * God Loves UgandaRoger Ross Williams
  • * The Trials of Muhammad AliBill Siegel
  • * Venus and SerenaMaiken Baird and Michelle Major
  • Samuel L. JacksonTurbo
  • * BeyoncéEpic
  • * Keith DavidFree Birds
  • * Snoop DoggTurbo
  • * Maya RudolphTurbo
  • Best Independent FeatureBest Independent Documentary
    Blue CapriceAlexandre Moors
  • * Mother of GeorgeAndrew Dosunmu
  • * Things Never SaidCharles Murray
  • * An Oversimplification of Her BeautyTerence Nance
  • * Go for SistersJohn Sayles
  • The New BlackYoruba Richen
  • * Africa: The BeatJavier Arias Bal, Polo Vallejo and Manuel Velasco
  • * I Want My Name Back – Roger Paradiso
  • * Lenny CookeBenny and Joshua Safdie
  • * Unheard: Black Women in Civil Rights – Nev Nnaji
  • Best Independent ShortBest Foreign Film
    Black Girl in Paris – Kiandra Parks
  • * A Different Tree – Steven Caple Jr.
  • * African CowboyRodney Charles
  • * Sweet Honey Chile – Talibah Newman
  • * They Die by the DawnJeymes Samuel
  • War WitchKim Nguyen
  • * Better Mus' ComeStorm Saulter
  • * Home AgainSudz Sutherland
  • * Nairobi Half Life – David Gitonga
  • * Storage 24Johannes Roberts
  • Best Original or Adapted SongOutstanding Original Score
    "Desperation" from 20 Feet from Stardom – Performed by Judith Hill
  • * "Happy" from Despicable Me 2 – Performed by Pharrell Williams
  • * "In the Middle of the Night" from The Butler – Performed by Fantasia
  • * "Queen of the Field " from 12 Years a Slave – Performed by Alicia Keys
  • * "You and I Ain't Nothin' No More" from The Butler – Performed by Gladys Knight
  • Hans Zimmer12 Years a Slave
  • * Stanley ClarkeThe Best Man Holiday
  • * Ludwig GöranssonFruitvale Station
  • * Mark Isham42
  • * Rodrigo LeaoThe Butler
  • Best Television Miniseries or MovieOutstanding Director in a Television Miniseries or Movie
    Mike Tyson: Undisputed TruthSpike Lee and Mike Tyson
  • * Being Mary JaneGabrielle Union, Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil
  • * Betty and Coretta – Polly Anthony and Jaja Johnson
  • * CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story – Bill Diggins and Jill Holmes
  • * The Watsons Go to BirminghamTonya Lewis Lee
  • Spike LeeMike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
  • * Salim Akil – Being Mary Jane
  • * Rockmond DunbarPastor Brown
  • * Kenny LeonThe Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • * Charles Stone IIICrazySexyCool: The TLC Story
  • Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
    Chiwetel EjioforDancing on the Edge
  • * Keith DavidPastor Brown
  • * Omari HardwickA Christmas Blessing
  • * Ernie HudsonPastor Brown
  • * Mike TysonMike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
  • Anika Noni RoseThe Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • * Angela BassettBetty and Coretta
  • * Keke PalmerCrazySexyCool: The TLC Story
  • * Salli Richardson-WhitfieldPastor Brown
  • * Gabrielle UnionBeing Mary Jane
  • Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Supporting Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
    Omari HardwickBeing Mary Jane
  • * Richard BrooksBeing Mary Jane
  • * Danny GloverMuhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
  • * Wood HarrisThe Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • * Ernie HudsonCall Me Crazy: A Five Film
  • Octavia SpencerCall Me Crazy: A Five Film
  • * Loretta DevineSaving Westbrook High
  • * Audra McDonaldThe Sound of Music Live!
  • * Nicole Ari ParkerPastor Brown
  • * LaTanya RichardsonThe Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • Outstanding Screenplay in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Television Documentary or Special
    Mara Brock AkilBeing Mary Jane
  • * Rhonda BarakaPastor Brown
  • * Caliope Brattlestreet, Stephen Glantz and Tonya Lewis LeeThe Watsons Go to Birmingham
  • * Kate LanierCrazySexyCool: The TLC Story
  • * Kiki Tyson – Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth
  • Whoopi GoldbergWhoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley
  • * D. Channsin Berry and Bill DukeDark Girls
  • * Ava DuVernayVenus vs.
  • * Ron HowardMade in America
  • * Bob Smeaton – Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'