Black Reel Awards of 2015


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
  • * Belle
  • * Beyond the Lights
  • * Dear White People
  • * Top Five
  • Ava DuVernaySelma
  • * Amma AsanteBelle
  • * Gina Prince-BythewoodBeyond the Lights
  • * Chris RockTop Five
  • * Justin SimienDear White People
  • Best ActorBest Actress
  • David Oyelowo – Selma
  • * Chadwick BosemanGet On Up
  • * Nate ParkerBeyond the Lights
  • * Chris Rock – Top Five
  • * Denzel WashingtonThe Equalizer
  • Gugu Mbatha-RawBelle
  • * Rosario DawsonTop Five
  • * Gugu Mbatha-Raw – Beyond the Lights
  • * Tessa ThompsonDear White People
  • * Quvenzhané WallisAnnie
  • Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress
  • Wendell Pierce – Selma
  • * Nelsan EllisGet On Up
  • * David Oyelowo – A Most Violent Year
  • * Tyler PerryGone Girl
  • * Michael K. Williams – The Gambler
  • Carmen EjogoSelma
  • * Viola DavisThe Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby
  • * Teyonah ParrisDear White People
  • * Zoe SaldanaGuardians of the Galaxy
  • * Octavia SpencerSnowpiercer
  • Best Breakthrough Performance, MaleBest Breakthrough Performance, Female
  • Tyler James Williams – Dear White People
  • * Brandon BellDear White People
  • * David GyasiInterstellar
  • * Andre HollandSelma
  • * Stephan JamesSelma
  • Teyonah Parris – Dear White People
  • * Jillian Estell – Black or White
  • * Patina Miller'
  • * 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 Thomas – Top Five
  • * Toby Whale – Belle
  • Chris Rock – Top Five
  • * Gina Prince-Bythewood – Beyond the Lights
  • * John Ridley'
  • * Misan SagayBelle
  • * Justin Simien – Dear 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
  • * ' – One9
  • * VirungaOrlando von Einsiedel
  • Morgan FreemanThe Lego Movie
  • * Vin DieselGuardians of the Galaxy
  • * Maya RudolphBig Hero 6
  • * Zoe Saldana – The Book of Life
  • * Damon Wayans Jr. – Big Hero 6
  • Best Independent FeatureBest Independent Documentary
  • The Retrieval – Chris Eska
  • * 1982 – Tommy Oliver
  • * Christmas Wedding Baby – Kiara C. Jones
  • * CRU – Alton Glass
  • * Una Vida: A Fable of Music and the Mind – Richie Adams
  • 25 to Life – Mike Brown
  • * Evolution of a CriminalDarius Clark Monroe
  • * Oscar Micheaux: The Czar of Black HollywoodBayer Mack
  • * ' – Thomas Allen Harris
  • Best Independent ShortBest Foreign Film
  • #AmeriCan – Nate Parker
  • * Muted – Rachel 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 Moran – Selma
  • * Terence BlanchardBlack or White
  • * Kathryn Bostic – Dear White People
  • * Danny Bramson and Waddy Wachtel'
  • * 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 Baby – Zoe Saldana, Tom Patricia and Robert Bernacchi
  • * Seasons of Love – Joshua A. Green and Yaron Schwartzman
  • Reggie Rock Bythewood – Gun 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 Walker – Comeback Dad
  • Best Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
  • Larenz Tate – Gun Hill
  • * Charles S. Dutton – Comeback Dad
  • * David Alan GrierAn En Vogue Christmas
  • * Ving RhamesA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Keith RobinsonLyfe's Journey
  • Cicely Tyson – The Trip to Bountiful
  • * Whoopi GoldbergA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Imani HakimThe Gabby Douglas Story
  • * LeToya LuckettSeasons of Love
  • * Zoe Saldana – Rosemary's Baby
  • Best Supporting Actor in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Supporting Actress in a TV Movie or Limited Series
  • Blair Underwood – The Trip to Bountiful
  • * Richard T. Jones – Lyfe's Journey
  • * Harry LennixThe Fright Night Files
  • * Mekhi PhiferA Day Late and a Dollar Short
  • * Bokeem WoodbineThe Fright Night Files
  • Anika Noni Rose – A 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. Williams – The Trip to Bountiful
  • Outstanding Screenplay in a TV Movie or Limited SeriesBest Television Documentary or Special
  • Reggie Rock Bythewood – Gun 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 Brown – Alex Gibney
  • * Finding the FunkNelson George
  • * ' – Jonas Åkerlund
  • * The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip-HopBilly Corben
  • * Terror at the Mall – Dan Reed