Black excellence lit up the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles as the Critics Choice Association hosted its eighth annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
With Jay Pharoah returning as host and a live performance by Aiyana-Lee, the evening honored a wide range of Black creatives whose work is shaping the present and future of entertainment.
Academy Award–winning filmmaker Spike Lee received the Career Achievement Award, introduced by Sinners director Ryan Coogler. The moment felt especially full circle, as Coogler had just received the Director Award for his own trailblazing work, presented by cast members Michael B. Jordan, Delroy Lindo, Wunmi Mosaku, and Miles Caton.
“Without Spike and his work, the reality is I’m not here,” Coogler said while introducing Lee. The sentiment was echoed throughout the night, with tributes that reflected on intergenerational influence and the growing presence of Black creatives across genres and formats.
Lee used his time on stage to reflect on his family legacy, the barriers Black artists still face, and the joy of creating art that matters. As he approaches the 40th anniversary of She’s Gotta Have It, he reminded the room that his journey began with the support of his grandmother, who used her Social Security checks to help fund his early films.
Among the most moving moments of the evening came when veteran actor and comedian David Alan Grier received the prestigious Vanguard Award. Presented by CCA Board Member Shawn Edwards, the honor recognized Grier’s over four decades of artistry and influence across stage, screen, and television.
Tessa Thompson received the Film Actress Award for her role in Hedda, presented by Michael B. Jordan, while Sterling K. Brown was honored as Best Actor in a Series (Paradise), presented by series creator Dan Fogelman.
The cast of One Battle After Another — Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, and Chase Infiniti — accepted the Ensemble Award. Their director, Paul Thomas Anderson, presented the award with heartfelt praise for their performances and their power as Black women leading a revolutionary narrative.
Comedian Janelle James closed out the night with the Comedy Award for Abbott Elementary, bringing the house down with a perfectly timed jab at Hollywood’s ongoing studio shakeups: “This is gonna be shown on TV at some point, so thank you ABC, Disney, WB, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount, maybe Tubi at some point.”
The full list of 2025 honorees:
- David Alan Grier, Vanguard Award (St. Denis Medical)
- Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Ensemble Award (One Battle After Another)
- Tenika Davis, Breakthrough Performance Award (Spartacus: House of Ashur)
- Naya Desir-Johnson, Rising Star Award (Sarah’s Oil)
- Skye P. Marshall, Supporting Actress Award — Series (Matlock)
- Ryan Coogler, Director Award (Sinners)
- Reginald Hudlin & Shola Lynch, Documentary Award (Number One on the Call Sheet)
- Spike Lee, Career Achievement Award
- Sterling K. Brown, Actor Award — Series (Paradise)
- Jurnee Smollett, Actress Award — Series (Smoke)
- Damson Idris, Supporting Actor Award — Film (F1)
- Tessa Thompson, Actress Award — Film (Hedda)
- Janelle James, Comedy Award (Abbott Elementary)
The event will air and stream exclusively on Starz in early 2026.
Photo Credit: Instagram – DavidAlanGrier
