Ryan Coogler’s film Sinners dominated the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors ceremony on Thursday night, winning four major awards as part of its ongoing success during awards season. The movie, which had received an impressive 18 nominations, continues to solidify its acclaim with nine total wins so far.
Coogler earned the top honors for outstanding writing and directing in a motion picture, while actors Wunmi Mosaku and Delroy Lindo took home the awards for outstanding supporting actress and actor, respectively. These victories mark another impressive milestone for the film, cementing its position as a standout project this year.
Overview of the NAACP Image Awards Creative Honors
The Creative Honors ceremony, hosted by Kevin “KevOnStage” Fredericks and Angel Laketa Moore, recognized achievements across 25 categories that included film, television, and documentary works. Among notable winners, Abbott Elementary was awarded outstanding comedy series while its actors Janelle James and William Stanford Davis also won individual acting awards. The drama series Reasonable Doubt secured the prize for outstanding drama series.
Additionally, Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant received the prestigious Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award, highlighting his ongoing activism and impact within the community.
Tonight we converge while the world is in crisis, knowing 117 years later that the NAACP is necessary,
Bryant remarked during his acceptance speech.
I’m grateful that coming out of college, this organization saw my potential and made an investment in me by making me the youngest national youth and college director in their history, and allowed me an opportunity to find my voice and to find my space.
– Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant
Another significant recognition this year was presented to Dr. Mary Anne Franks, who received the NAACP-Archewell digital civil rights award, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, appearing remotely to honor her work.
Special Honorees Amplify the Celebration of Black Excellence
The weeklong celebration of Black artistry and achievement also spotlighted a notable roster of special honorees. Viola Davis was named the recipient of the Chairman’s Award, celebrating her profound contributions to film and television. Colman Domingo earned the President’s Award, while legendary hip-hop duo Salt-N-Pepa, alongside DJ Spinderella, were inducted into the Image Awards Hall of Fame.
A$AP Rocky was honored with the Vanguard Award for fashion, acknowledging his influence on style within the entertainment industry. These accolades enhance the scope of the NAACP Image Awards beyond just performance and production, emphasizing cultural impact as well.
Looking Ahead to the Grand Finale of the 57th NAACP Image Awards
The series of ceremonial events culminates on Saturday with the 57th NAACP Image Awards telecast, where final honors, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, will be handed out. Nominees for this leading category include Cynthia Erivo, Doechii, Kendrick Lamar, Michael B. Jordan, and Teyana Taylor, showcasing a diverse range of standout talents.
The ceremony will be hosted by Deon Cole from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and broadcast live on BET, CBS, and Paramount networks at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This final event will close out the week celebrating achievements across the spectrum of Black creative expression.
Highlights from the Final Night of Creative Honors
On Wednesday, Sinners continued its winning streak at the virtual ceremony by securing three additional awards: stunt ensemble, cinematography by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, and ensemble cast, recognizing a comprehensive team effort behind the film’s success. The cast honored includes Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Caton, Jack O’Connell, Wunmi Mosaku, Jayme Lawson, Omar Miller, Buddy Guy, Delroy Lindo, Peter Dreimanis, Lola Kirke, Li Jun Li, Saul Williams, and Yao.
This ensemble win aligns with previous triumphs by Coogler and Jordan’s other projects, such as Black Panther and its sequel Wakanda Forever, which also earned significant accolades at NAACP events.
The virtual ceremony was hosted by Angel “ThatChickAngel” Laketa Moore and Khleo Thomas, focusing on non-televised awards related to film, television, and writing. Teyana Taylor, with six Image Award nominations, won outstanding supporting actress in a TV movie, limited series, or dramatic special for her role in Tyler Perry’s Netflix thriller Straw. Her co-star Glynn Turman claimed the supporting actor award.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, who passed away last year, received posthumous recognition for outstanding guest performance in the Fox series Murder in a Small Town. Warner had previously won two NAACP Image Awards during his career.
Major Winners and Celebrated Projects from the Creative Honors
The full list of standout winners included:
Film and Television:
- Sinners (Warner Bros. Pictures) – awards for writing, directing, stunt ensemble, cinematography, supporting actor (Delroy Lindo), supporting actress (Wunmi Mosaku), and ensemble cast.
- Abbott Elementary (ABC) – awards for outstanding comedy series, with acting wins for Janelle James and William Stanford Davis.
- Reasonable Doubt (Hulu) – outstanding drama series.
- Straw (Netflix) – supporting acting awards for Teyana Taylor and Glynn Turman.
- Murder in a Small Town (FOX) – posthumous guest performance award for Malcolm-Jamal Warner.
Literature and Digital Honors:
- Dr. Mary Anne Franks – NAACP-Archewell digital civil rights award.
- Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant – Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award.
Previous Highlights from the Multi-Night Virtual NAACP Image Awards
Earlier in the week, Cardi B captured three awards during the second evening of virtual ceremonies, including outstanding female artist and outstanding album for Am I the Drama?, along with the prize for outstanding hip-hop/rap song for her track “ErrTime.” Before this, Cardi B had only won one Image Award for her judging and executive producing role on Rhythm & Flow.
Journalist Don Lemon received two awards for his talk show, The Don Lemon Show, while former first lady Michelle Obama co-hosted the podcast IMO with her brother Craig Robinson, earning four wins across this medium.
Kendrick Lamar, a multiple-time NAACP Image Award winner, was named outstanding male artist and shared the music video/visual album award with SZA for their Grammy-winning collaboration “Luther.”
Coogler’s Sinners also took home prizes for outstanding soundtrack and original score at this event, contributing to its growing awards total.
Launch of the Awards Week Featuring Michelle Obama and Kendrick Lamar
The awards festivities began with a virtual ceremony on Monday featuring wins by Michelle Obama and Kendrick Lamar. Obama’s book The Look, which explores her personal style evolution, won outstanding literary work in biography/autobiography. Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was honored as outstanding short-form series or special in the reality/nonfiction/documentary category.
This first night’s celebration also included recognition of digital creators for the first time, highlighting Berlin Edmond Jr., known as Berleezy, who won the inaugural NAACP Image Award in gaming. The event showcased a broad range of categories spanning literature, music, and digital media, setting the tone for the week.
Complete List of Select Notable NAACP Image Awards Recognitions
Special Honors and Awards Presenters:
- Viola Davis – Chairman’s Award.
- Colman Domingo – President’s Award.
- Salt-N-Pepa and DJ Spinderella – inducted into Image Awards Hall of Fame.
- A$AP Rocky – Vanguard Award for fashion.
Winning Projects and Individuals across Multiple Categories Include:
- Sinners – multiple wins for writing, directing, acting, cinematography, stunt ensemble, soundtrack, and score.
- Abbott Elementary – comedy series and acting awards.
- Reasonable Doubt – drama series award.
- Cardi B – female artist, album, and song awards.
- Kendrick Lamar and SZA – outstanding male artist and music video/visual album awards.
- Don Lemon – talk show awards.
- Michelle Obama – literary award for The Look.
- Dr. Mary Anne Franks – digital civil rights award.
- Rev. Dr. Jamal-Harrison Bryant – social justice impact award.
The NAACP Image Awards remain a crucial platform honoring Black creatives across a wide spectrum of entertainment, literature, social justice, and digital content. Ryan Coogler’s Sinners exemplifies the current pinnacle of artistic achievement celebrated by the organization, leading both in nominations and wins.
As the week concludes with the televised ceremony, anticipation builds to see which artists and projects will claim the top honors, further spotlighting excellence and resilience in a challenging world.
