MOONLIGHT DOMINATED THE 2016 AAFCA AWARDS

The African American Film Critics Association has heralded 2016 as 'an exceptional year in terms of the quantity and quality of films about the black experience,' a statement that makes perfect sense upon perusal of their year-end awards. Moonlight deservedly sweeps, but their top 10 films of the year list finds space for several other acclaimed titles with black lead characters. Good work, AAFCA!

Best Picture

1. Moonlight

2. Fences

3. Hidden Figures

4. Lion

5. La La Land

6. The Birth of a Nation

7. Loving

8. Manchester by the Sea

9. Hell or High Water

10. Queen of Katwe

Best Director

Barry Jenkins (Moonlight)

Best Actress

Ruth Negga (Loving)

Best Actor

Denzel Washington (Fences)

Best Supporting Actress

Viola Davis (Fences)

Best Supporting Actor

Mahershala Ali (Fences)

Best Screenplay

August Wilson (Fences)

Best Song

'I See a Victory' (Hidden Figures)

Best Ensemble

Hidden Figures

Best Animation Film

Zootopia

Best Documentary

13th

Best Foreign Film

Tanna

Best Independent Film

Moonlight

Best Breakout Performance

Janelle Monae (Hidden Figures / Moonlight)

AAFCA FLIES THE FLAG FOR BLACK AMERICAN FILMMAKING WITH 2015 AWARDS

Doing what they're designed to do, and for which I sure can't fault them, the African-American Film Critics Association rewards a full slate of African-American themed films with its 2015 awards. Some of their choices might be more popular with the critical elite than others, and I can't say I'd have voted for Straight Outta Compton myself, but this is exactly the right response to last year's blanched-out awards season. Check out all the AAFCA's winners below:

Best Picture

1. Straight Outta Compton

2. Creed

3. Mad Max: Fury Road

4. Beasts of No Nation

5. The Martian

6. 3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets

=  Dope

8. Chi-Raq

9. Carol

10. The Big Short

11. The Danish Girl

Best Director

Ryan Coogler (Creed)

Best Actor

Will Smith (Concussion)

Best Actress

Teyonah Parris (Chi-Raq)

Best Supporting Actor

Jason Mitchell (Straight Outta Compton)

Best Supporting Actress

Tessa Thompson (Creed)

Best Screenplay

Rick Famuyiwa (Dope)

Best Song

'See You Again' (Furious 7)

Best Ensemble

Straight Outta Compton

Best Animation

The Peanuts Movie

Best Documentary

A Ballerina's Tale

Best Independent Film

Chi-Raq

Best Breakout Performance

Michael B. Jordan (Creed)