Tessa Thompson, Ryan Coogler and Spike Lee are among the honorees for the eighth annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television, which will be hosted by comedian Jay Pharoah and take place in Los Angeles on December 9, 2025, before airing on Starz in early 2026.
The Critics Choice Association released the full list of recipients on Tuesday.
Spike Lee will receive the organization’s Career Achievement Award. Nearly 40 years since his debut film “She’s Gotta Have It,” Lee’s illustrated credits include “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X,” “4 Little Girls,” “Da 5 Bloods” and this year’s “Highest 2 Lowest.” Lee was awarded an honorary award in 2015 and won an Oscar for screenplay three years later for “BlacKkKlansman.”
Joining Lee on the honor roll are Creed and Black Panther filmmaker Ryan Coogler, winner of the directing award for “Sinners,” and Tessa Thompson, star of Nia DaCosta’s Ibsen adaptation “Hedda,” who will be honored with the Actress Award – Film.
“It is truly an honor to continue our tradition of celebrating excellence in Black film and television,” said Shawn Edwards, executive producer of Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.
“This has been a banner year where Spike Lee – the godfather of contemporary cinema – continued to inspire with his groundbreaking vision; Ryan Coogler represented the next generation of visionary filmmakers who reshaped culture with ‘Sinners’; and a record number of black women created an unprecedented impact with a wide range of diverse and high-profile roles.”
Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante of Madelyn Hammond & Associates will produce the awards, while Starz is the event’s official media partner.
The full list of awards is below.
Spike LeeCareer Achievement Award
David Alan GrierVanguard Award (“In Living Color”, “A Soldier’s Play”, “St. Denis Medical”)
Ryan CooglerDirector Award (“Sinner”)
Producer Reginald Hudlin and director Shola LynchDocumentary Award (“Number One on The Call Sheet: Black Leading Women in Hollywood”)
Janelle JamesComedy Award (“Abbott Elementary”)
Tessa ThompsonActress Award – Motion Picture (“Hedda”)
Sterling K. BrownActor Award – Series (“Paradise”)
Jurnee SmollettActress Award – Series (“Smoke”)
Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, Ensemble Award (“One Battle After Another”)
Damson IdrisSupporting Actor Award – Motion Picture (“F1”)
Skye P. MarshallAward for Supporting Actor – Series (“Matlock”)
Tenika DavisBreakthrough Performance Award (“Spartacus: House of Ashur”)
Naya Desir-JohnsonRising Star Award (“Sarah’s Oil”)
