At the 2026 National Board of Review Awards gala in New York, filmmaker Ryan Coogler delivered an acceptance speech that turned into a call for reflection on violence and justice in America.
Coogler was honored with the Best Original Screenplay award for his acclaimed vampire drama Sinners, a film that has quickly become one of the most discussed creative achievements of the current awards season. Introduced by longtime collaborator Michael B. Jordan, Coogler’s win was a reminder of his lasting impact on cinema, but it was his emotional remarks that truly resonated.
As Coogler accepted the award, he paused to address a tragedy that unfolded days ago: the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, a case that has drawn intense scrutiny and public outcry.
Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler gets emotional accepting screenplay award at National Board of Review gala – “I can’t be here without thinking about Renee” referring to Renee Good, killed by ICE. He thought Fruitvale Station would change the world, “I was proven wrong” pic.twitter.com/SHOYVyJjaA
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 14, 2026
“I was young and naïve, and I thought the movie was going to change the world and make it so you didn’t see people executed by civil service on camera anymore,” Coogler said, referencing his breakout 2013 film Fruitvale Station, which tells the true story of Oscar Grant, a young Black man killed by police in Oakland in 2009. The film was honored by the National Board of Review early in both Coogler and Jordan’s careers.
Coogler acknowledged that his early hopes for systemic change through storytelling had been met with painful reality. “I can’t be here and not think about Minnesota,” he said. “I can’t be here and not think about Renee.”
His remarks struck a chord in a room filled with industry peers while delivering the truth that even though stories can inspire empathy and understanding, they haven’t stopped recurring acts of real-world violence.
This year, alongside Coogler’s emotional speech, Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi used his moment onstage to denounce violence against protestors in his home country, urging the film community to leverage its influence for justice.
