Hosted by Zainab Johnson, ABFF Honors celebrates legendary performers Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Giancarlo Esposito and Keke Palmer
(Black PR Wire) LOS ANGELES, CA – The seventh American Black Movie Pageant (ABFF) Honors introduced immediately (Jan.10) the honorees of its annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence within the movement image and tv business. Introduced by NICE CROWD, the 2025 ABFF Honors will happen on Monday, February 17 on the SLS lodge in Beverly Hills, CA, hosted by actress and comic Zainab Johnson. The intimate, non-televised dinner will characteristic ABFF honorees and competition companions.
The 2025 ABFF Honors recipients are:
Excellence within the Arts Award (Feminine) – an Oscar-nominated actress, acclaimed for her portrayal of Oracene Worth in King Richard, which earned her quite a few awards and nominations, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor will quickly star within the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys. This award acknowledges a extremely acclaimed artist for his or her physique of labor and distinguished profession achievements
Excellence within the Arts Award (Male) – an Emmy-nominated and award-winning actor, director, and producer, celebrated for his iconic position as Gustavo “Gus” Fring in Breaking Dangerous and Higher Name Saul, Giancarlo Esposito has earned a number of accolades together with Critics’ Selection and NAACP Picture Award. This award acknowledges a extremely acclaimed artist for his or her physique of labor and distinguished profession achievement.
Renaissance Award – an Emmy award-winning multihyphenate entertainer, Keke Palmer (Nope, Turnt Up With the Taylors) is singer/songwriter, producer, creator, tv host, and passionate voice of the millennial technology. This award is offered to a trendsetting content material creator in recognition of their excellent work and dedication to championing variety, fairness, and inclusion within the movement image and tv business, via their work.
“For many years, these unbelievable ABFF honorees have captivated audiences and formed the cultural panorama with their groundbreaking work,” stated NICE CROWD CEO and President Jeff and Nicole Friday (Jan. 10). “It’s a privilege to honor Aunjanue, Giancarlo and Keke for his or her extraordinary contributions to each the business and our shared tradition. This yr is especially particular as we welcome Zainab Johnson because the host of the ABFF Honors, celebrating her inspiring journey from profitable the 2013 ABFF Comedy Wings Competitors to now main this unbelievable celebration. We look ahead to recognizing their exceptional achievements and coming along with our superb ABFF neighborhood to honor their lasting impression.”
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is an Oscar-nominated actress, acclaimed for her portrayal of Oracene Worth in King Richard, which earned her quite a few awards and nominations, will quickly star within the adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Nickel Boys. She not too long ago appeared in Exhibiting Forgiveness, The Supremes at Earl’s All You Can Eat with Uzo Aduba and Sanaa Lathan, and Ava DuVernay’s Origin, incomes reward for her position as Isabel Wilkerson. On tv, she starred in Justified: Metropolis Primeval, earned Emmy nods for When They See Us and Lovecraft Nation, and acquired accolades for The Clark Sisters: First Women of Gospel. Her celebrated physique of labor additionally contains If Beale Avenue May Speak, The Delivery of a Nation, The Assist, and the award-winning miniseries The Guide of Negroes.
Giancarlo Esposito, an Emmy-nominated and award-winning actor, director, and producer, is well known for his iconic position as Gustavo “Gus” Fring in Breaking Dangerous and Higher Name Saul, incomes a number of accolades together with Critics’ Selection and NAACP Picture Awards. Identified for his versatility, he stars as Moff Gideon in Disney+’s The Mandalorian, Stan Edgar in Amazon Prime’s The Boys, and has led initiatives like Netflix’s Kaleidoscope and AMC’s Parish. Esposito’s filmography contains The Normal Suspects, Spike Lee’s Do the Proper Factor, Magnificence, and Megalopolis. Upcoming initiatives embrace Captain America: Courageous New World, the Russo Brothers’ The Electrical State, and Shonda Rhimes’ The Residence. He continues to captivate audiences throughout movie, tv, and streaming platforms together with his highly effective performances and memorable vary.
Keke Palmer is a multi- Emmy Award profitable actress and tv host, singer/songwriter, producer, NY Occasions best-selling creator and a passionate voice of the millennial technology. She rose to fame at 12 together with her breakout position in Akeelah and the Bee and has since starred in over 25 movies and 30 TV reveals, together with True Jackson, VP. Lately, Keke starred in Jordan Peele’s blockbuster Nope and hosted NBC’s Password with Jimmy Fallon, incomes the 2023 Emmy for Excellent Host for a Recreation Present. Along with releasing her new ebook, Grasp of Me: The Secret to Controlling Your Narrative, Palmer is ready to star within the upcoming TriStar Footage’ movie Considered one of Them Days. As CEO of KeyTV and Massive Bosses Leisure, she champions numerous creators and democratizes leisure. Palmer has made historical past because the youngest SAG-nominated actress in a lead position, the primary Black Cinderella on Broadway, and the youngest speak present host in historical past, persevering with to interrupt obstacles throughout her exceptional profession.
ABFF Honors is the American Black Movie Pageant’s annual awards season gala devoted to recognizing excellence within the movement image and tv business. Based in 2016, the ceremony pays tribute to Black artists who’ve made vital contributions to American leisure via their work in addition to those that champion variety and inclusion in Hollywood.
ABFF Honors stems from the American Black Movie Pageant (ABFF), based by Jeff Friday in 1997, the main competition of its sort showcasing Black storytelling. Since its inception, the ABFF has been devoted to supporting Friday’s conviction that Black artists deserve the identical alternatives as their mainstream counterparts. Having premiered the work and inspired the careers of lots of immediately’s most profitable filmmakers and actors, the ABFF has turn into the standard-bearer of excellence for Black American creativity.
ABFF Honors is govt produced by Nicole and Jeff Friday (NICE CROWD) in affiliation with dePasse Jones Leisure and Rikki Hughes (Magic Lemonade). Sponsors for the occasion thus far embrace: Cadillac, Ally (Presenting), and Sony Footage Leisure, Fulton Movies GA (Supporting), and SLS Resort, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Beverly Hills (Business).
For extra details about ABFF Honors go to www.abffhonors.com. Observe @AmericanBlackFilmFestival on Instagram and Fb, and @ABFF on X.
About NICE CROWD
NICE CROWD is a Los Angeles-based stay occasions firm that develops and produces properties that showcase BIPOC tradition and expertise. The corporate’s flagship occasion is the American Black Movie Pageant, based in 1997.
To study extra about NICE CROWD occasions, go to www.nicecrowd.com.
