Although it seems like this award season just didn’t get it right this year, the tide changed last weekend at the fourth annual American Black Film Festival Honors, sponsored by Cadillac.
The event, hosted by Black-ish star Deon Cole, honored Watchmen star Louis Gossett, Jr. with the Hollywood Legacy Award; Queen & Slim writer Lena Waithe with the Industry Renaissance Award and Harriet starCynthia Erivo earned the Rising Star Award. And along with Just Mercy star Jamie Foxx being honored with the Excellence in the Arts Award, the entire film was also recognized as Movie of the Year.
Earlier in the afternoon Cadillac sponsored a pre-ABFF Honors luncheon where they showcased the next generation 2021 Cadillac Escalade and CT5 with a special presentation by Global Director of Design, Crystal Windham, which were both front and center during this celebration of Black excellence.
Let’s go inside the awards show that was for us, by us.
01
Lena Waithe
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Lena Waithe ABFF Honors Dinner. Arrivals at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, CA, USA. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF)
02
Deon Cole
Courtesy of ABFF
03
CCH Pounder (center)
Courtesy of ABFF
04
Cynthia Erivo
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Cynthia Erivo attends ABFF Honors Dinner. Arrivals at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, CA, USA. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF)
05
Nafessa Williams
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Nafessa Williams attends American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
06
Logan Browning
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Logan Browning attends American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
07
Miss Lawrence
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Miss Lawrence attends American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
08
Sheryl Lee Ralph
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Sheryl Lee Ralph attends American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
09
Da'Vine Joy Randolph
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: Da'Vine Joy Randolph attends American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/WireImage)
10
Malinda Williams and Nicole Friday
PHOTO BY MICHAEL ROWE PHOTOGRAPHY
11
Alexis Kerr, GM
PHOTO BY MICHAEL ROWE PHOTOGRAPHY
12
Tiffany Haddish and Cynthia Erivo
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 23: (L-R) Tiffany Haddish and Cynthia Erivo pose with the Rising Star Award backstage during the American Black Film Festival Honors Awards Ceremony at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
13
Hosea Chanchez
PHOTO BY MICHAEL ROWE PHOTOGRAPHY
14
Deon Cole
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF
15
Leonardo DiCaprio
Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF
16
Jamie Foxx
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Jamie Foxx attends ABFF Honors Dinner. Arrivals at the Beverly Hilton on Sunday February 23, 2020 in Beverly Hills, CA, USA. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton / ABFF)
