‘Sinners’ Leads Black Reel Awards Nominees

Ryan Coogler’s blockbuster vampire movie “Sinners” is the most-nominated film at the 26th annual Black Reel Awards.

The Warner Bros. film earned a record-breaking 21 nominations, the most in the Black Reel Awards’ history, including nods for outstanding film, outstanding director (Coogler), outstanding lead performance (Michael B. Jordan), three nominations for outstanding supporting performance (Miles Caton, Delroy Lindo and Wunmi Mosaku) and four nominations in the original song category. Joining “Sinners” in the outstanding film category are “Hedda,” “Highest 2 Lowest,” “One of Them Days” and “Wicked: For Good.”

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“The Black Reel Awards have always been about celebrating the brilliance and resilience of Black storytellers,” said Tim Gordon, founder and director of the Black Reel Awards, announcing the nominees. “This year’s nominees represent the very best of our culture, creativity, and community. We are thrilled to honor their contributions and look forward to sharing their achievements with the world.”

The second most-lauded film is Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest,” which earned 11 nominations, including for Denzel Washington, A$AP Rocky, and Jeffrey Wright’s standout performances. Other top contenders include R.T. Thorne’s “40 Acres” and Rungano Nyoni’s “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl,” each earning nine nominations; “One of Them Days,” starring Keke Palmer and SZA, with eight nominations; and “Hedda,” directed by Nia DaCosta and starring Tessa Thompson, with six nominations.

The outstanding lead performance contenders are Danielle Deadwyler (“40 Acres”), Cynthia Erivo (“Wicked: For Good”), André Holland (“Love, Brooklyn”), Chase Infiniti (“One Battle After Another”), Dwayne Johnson (“The Smashing Machine”), Jordan (“Sinners”), Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Palmer (“One of Them Days”), Thompson (“Hedda”), and Washington (“Highest 2 Lowest”).

Founded in 2000, the Black Reel Awards, also known as The Bolts, is the longest-running awards organization dedicated to honoring excellence in film and television by African Americans and those of the African diaspora. Winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony on February 16. Additional information about the awards and the full list of nominees can be found at blackreelawards.com.