15th Annual Black Reel Awards


The 2015 Black Reel Awards, which annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films, were announced on Thursday, February 19, 2015. Dear White People and Selma lead all films with ten nominations apiece.
Selma was the big winner of the night winning eight awards including Outstanding Picture, Director and Actor. The Trip to Bountiful and Gun Hill took home three awards followed by Dear White People with two wins.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Best FilmBest Director
Selma
Ava DuVernaySelma
  • * Amma AsanteBelle
  • * Gina Prince-BythewoodBeyond the Lights
  • * Chris RockTop Five
  • * Justin SimienDear White People
  • Best ActorBest Actress
    David OyelowoSelma
  • * Chadwick BosemanGet On Up
  • * Nate ParkerBeyond the Lights
  • * Chris RockTop Five
  • * Denzel WashingtonThe Equalizer
  • Gugu Mbatha-RawBelle
  • * Rosario DawsonTop Five
  • * Gugu Mbatha-RawBeyond the Lights
  • * Tessa ThompsonDear White People
  • * Quvenzhané WallisAnnie
  • Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress
    Wendell PierceSelma
  • * Nelsan EllisGet On Up
  • * David OyelowoA Most Violent Year
  • * Tyler PerryGone Girl
  • * Michael K. WilliamsThe Gambler
  • Carmen EjogoSelma
  • * Viola DavisThe Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby
  • * Teyonah ParrisDear White People
  • * Zoe SaldañaGuardians of the Galaxy
  • * Octavia SpencerSnowpiercer
  • Best Breakthrough Performance, MaleBest Breakthrough Performance, Female
    Tyler James WilliamsDear White People
  • * Brandon BellDear White People
  • * David GyasiInterstellar
  • * Andre HollandSelma
  • * Stephan JamesSelma
  • Teyonah ParrisDear White People
  • * Jillian Estell – Black or White
  • * Patina MillerThe Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1
  • * Amber Stevens22 Jump Street
  • * Kuoth Wiel – The Good Lie
  • Best Ensemble Best Screenplay, Adapted or Original
    Aisha Coley – Selma
  • * Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee – Get On Up
  • * Kim Coleman – Dear White People
  • * Victoria ThomasTop Five
  • * Toby Whale – Belle
  • Chris RockTop Five
  • * Gina Prince-BythewoodBeyond the Lights
  • * John RidleyJimi: All Is by My Side
  • * Misan SagayBelle
  • * Justin SimienDear White People
  • Best Feature DocumentaryBest Voice Performance
    Anita: Speaking Truth to the Power – Freida Lee Mock
  • * I Am Ali – Clare Lewins
  • * Keep On Keepin' On – Alan Hicks
  • * Nas: Time Is Illmatic – One9
  • * VirungaOrlando von Einsiedel
  • Morgan FreemanThe Lego Movie
  • * Vin DieselGuardians of the Galaxy
  • * Maya RudolphBig Hero 6
  • * Zoe SaldañaThe Book of Life
  • * Damon Wayans Jr.Big Hero 6
  • Best Independent FeatureBest Independent Documentary
    The Retrieval – Chris Eska
  • * 1982Tommy Oliver
  • * Christmas Wedding BabyKiara C. Jones
  • * CRU – Alton Glass
  • * Una Vida: A Fable of Music and the MindRichie Adams
  • 25 to LifeMike Brown
  • * Evolution of a CriminalDarius Clark Monroe
  • * Oscar Micheaux: The Czar of Black HollywoodBayer Mack
  • * Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a PeopleThomas Allen Harris
  • Best Independent ShortBest Foreign Film
    #AmeriCan – Nate Parker
  • * MutedRachel Goldberg
  • * The VoodooSteven Alexander
  • Fishing Without NetsCutter Hodierne
  • * Difret – Zeresenay Mehari
  • * The Double!Richard Ayoade
  • * Freedom Road – Shane Vermooten
  • * Half of a Yellow SunBiyi Bandele
  • Best Original or Adapted SongOutstanding Original Score
    "Glory" from Selma – Performed by John Legend and Common
  • * "It Ain't Easy" from Top Five – Performed by Questlove and Eliza Colby
  • * "It's On Again" from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 – Performed by Alicia Keys and Kendrick Lamar
  • * "Grateful" from Beyond the Lights – Performed by Rita Ora
  • * "What is Love" from Rio 2 – Performed by Janelle Monáe
  • Jason MoranSelma
  • * Terence BlanchardBlack or White
  • * Kathryn BosticDear White People
  • * Danny Bramson and Waddy WachtelJimi: All Is by My Side
  • * Mark IshamBeyond the Lights
  • Best Television Miniseries or MovieOutstanding Director in a Television Miniseries or Movie
    The Trip to Bountiful – Bill Haber and Jeff Hayes
  • * A Day Late and a Dollar Short – Jeffrey M. Hayes
  • * Gun HillReggie Rock Bythewood
  • * Rosemary's BabyZoe Saldaña, Tom Patricia and Robert Bernacchi
  • * Seasons of Love – Joshua A. Green and Yaron Schwartzman
  • Reggie Rock BythewoodGun Hill
  • * Sharon Brathwaite-Sanders and Peres Owino – Seasons of Love
  • * Shernold Edwards – A Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Dayna Lynne North – An En Vogue Christmas
  • * Kimberly WalkerComeback Dad
  • Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
    Larenz TateGun Hill
  • * Charles S. DuttonComeback Dad
  • * David Alan GrierAn En Vogue Christmas
  • * Ving RhamesA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Keith RobinsonLyfe's Journey
  • Cicely TysonThe Trip to Bountiful
  • * Whoopi GoldbergA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Imani HakimThe Gabby Douglas Story
  • * LeToya LuckettSeasons of Love
  • * Zoe SaldañaRosemary's Baby
  • Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Supporting Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
    Blair UnderwoodThe Trip to Bountiful
  • * Richard T. JonesLyfe's Journey
  • * Harry LennixThe Fright Night Files
  • * Mekhi PhiferA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Bokeem WoodbineThe Fright Night Files
  • Anika Noni RoseA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Tichina ArnoldA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Kimberly EliseA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Aisha HindsGun Hill
  • * Vanessa L. WilliamsThe Trip to Bountiful
  • Outstanding Screenplay in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Television Documentary or Special
    Reggie Rock BythewoodGun Hill
  • * Stan FosterMy Other Mother
  • * Princess Monique – Seasons of Love
  • * Russ Parr and R.L. Scott – The Fright Night Files
  • * Ryan Richmond – Lyfe's Journey
  • Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James BrownAlex Gibney
  • * Finding the FunkNelson George
  • * On the Run Tour: Beyoncé and Jay-ZJonas Åkerlund
  • * The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-HopBilly Corben
  • * Terror at the MallDan Reed