Gina Prince-Bythewood and “The Woman King” were the big winners of the 2022 Black Film Critics Circle Awards. Together, they won Best Film, Director, and Ensemble, with Viola Davis also winning the Pioneer Award. Danielle Deadwyler won Best Actress for her performance in “Till” while Angela Bassett won Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Brendan Fraser won Best Actor while “The Whale” shared the Best Adapted Screenplay award with Best Animated Feature winner Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio.”
BEST FILM
“The Woman King”
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Produced by Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Maria Bello
TriStar Pictures
BEST DIRECTOR
Gina Prince-Bythewood
“The Woman King”
Produced by Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Maria Bello
TriStar Pictures
Best Actor
Brendan Fraser
“The Whale”
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Produced by Jeremy Dawson, Ari Handel, and Darren Aronofsky
A24
BEST ACTRESS
Danielle Deadwyler
“Till”
Directed by Chinonye Chukwu
Produced by Keith Beauchamp, Barbara Broccoli, Whoopi Goldberg, Thomas Levine, Michael Reilly, and Frederick Zollo
United Artists Releasing
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Ke Huy Quan
“Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Produced by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, and Jonathan Wang
A24
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Angela Bassett
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore
Walt Disney Pictures
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
Produced by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, and Jonathan Wang
A24
Best Adapted Screenplay
(TIE)
“The Whale”
Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by Darren Aronofsky
Produced by Jeremy Dawson, Ari Handel, and Darren Aronofsky
A24
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”
Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale
Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Lisa Henson, Gary Ungar, Alexander Bulkley, and Corey Campodonico
Netflix
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“Top Gun: Maverick”
Claudio Miranda
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, David Ellison, and Christopher McQuarrie
Paramount Pictures
BEST DOCUMENTARY
“Fire of Love”
Directed by Sara Dosa
Produced by Shane Boris, Ina Fichman, and Sara Dosa
Neon / National Geographics Documentary Films
BEST ANIMATED FILM
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”
Directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson
Produced by Guillermo del Toro, Lisa Henson, Gary Ungar, Alexander Bulkley, and Corey Campodonico
Netflix
BEST FOREIGN FILM
“RRR”
Directed by S.S. Rajamouli
Produced by D.V.V. Danayya
Variance Films
BEST Ensemble
“The Woman King”
Ensemble Cast including Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, and John Boyega
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Produced by Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Maria Bello
TriStar Pictures
Pioneer Award
Viola Davis
“The Woman King”
Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Produced by Cathy Schulman, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, and Maria Bello
TriStar Pictures
This year’s BFCC Pioneer Award is given to Viola Davis who, to quote BFCC Member K.A. GRANT (KAGrant.com), “The Woman King was truly a labor of love for her as a producer and as an actress. Not only did she work tirelessly to bring this story to life, but she changed her physical appearance to be combat ready for the film. Her contribution is immeasurable in what she has done for black women on the big screen. Her passion, and dedication to her craft embodies the very essence of the word Pioneer.”
Rising Star
Adamma Ebo
“Honk For Jesus. Save Your Soul”
Directed by Adamma Ebo
Produced by Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, Daniel Kaluuya, Rowan Riley, Amandla Crichlow, Kara Durrett,
Jessamine Burgum, Matthew Cooper, Regina Hall, and Sterling K. Brown
Focus Features
Special Mention
Nikyatu Jusu
“Nanny”
Top Films of 2022
| 2. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” (Walt Disney Pictures) |
| 3. “Top Gun: Maverick” (Paramount Pictures) |
| 4. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (A24) |
| 5. “RRR” (Variance Films) |
| 6. “Nope” (Universal Pictures) |
| 7. “Avatar: The Way of Water” (20th Century Studios) |
| 8. “Women Talking” (MGM / United Artists Releasing) |
| 9. “Till” (United Artists Releasing) |
| 10. “The Batman” (Warner Bros. Pictures) |
Black Film Critics Circle
BEST FILM:
BEST DIRECTOR:
Best Actor:
Best Actress:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (TIE):
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
BEST DOCUMENTARY:
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE:
BEST FOREIGN FILM:
BEST ENSEMBLE:
“The Woman King”
Gina Prince-Bythewood – “The Woman King”
Brendan Fraser – “The Whale”
Danielle Deadwyler – “Till”
Ke Huy Quan — “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Angela Bassett – “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” — Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
“The Whale” — Samuel D. Hunter
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” — Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale
“Top Gun: Maverick” — Claudio Miranda
“Fire of Love”
Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio”
“RRR”
“The Woman King”
Black Film Critics Circle
Founded in 2010, the Black Film Critics Circle is a membership organization comprised of film critics of color from daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and qualifying on-line publications. The organization is dedicated to honoring excellence of professionals in the theatrical motion picture industry in U.S. and World Cinema. Its mission is to celebrate contributions and achievements in film by people of the black Diaspora who work in front of and behind the camera, maintain the integrity of a true Critics organization and advance a collective vision of journalists of the black Diaspora.
