'Beasts of the Southern Wild' takes top honors at the Black Reel Awards

Critics Wild About “Beasts of the Southern Wild”

Denzel Washington wins Outstanding Actor for record fourth time

New York City — Earlier this evening, at the MIST Harlem art house theater in New York City, the 13^th annual Black Reel Awards presented their winners for the finest entertainment contributions of 2012, highlighting the superb accomplishments and achievements of blacks in feature, independent and television films.

The big winner of the night was “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” the fanciful story of a young girl forced to grow up quickly in the backwoods of the Louisiana bayou. “Beasts” not only won Outstanding Picture, but three other awards as well, including Outstanding Score. Nine-year-old, first-time actress Quvenzhane Wallis took home two awards: Outstanding Actress and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance.

Ava DuVernay, the writer/director of the soulful drama “Middle of Nowhere,” also snagged two awards: Outstanding Director and Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted).

For a record fourth time—his first since 2003—Denzel Washington won the Outstanding Actor award for his portrayal of a heroic airline pilot battling addiction in “Flight.” Rounding out the acting categories, Outstanding Supporting Actor went to Samuel L. Jackson for Quentin Tarantino’s wish-fulfillment western “Django Unchained,” and Naomie Harris snatched Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Moneypenny in the most recent James Bond epic, “Skyfall.” Outstanding Ensemble went to the cast of “Django Unchained.”

“The culmination of a special year featuring some very special films and performances is highlighted by a fantastic job by our voters, recognizing some of the year's true gems,” said Tim Gordon, President and creator of the Black Reel Awards. “This was a very special year for many of us.”

France's “The Intouchables,” about a quadriplegic aristocrat and his projects-born caretaker, won Outstanding Foreign Film. Outstanding Documentary went to Ken Burns' “The Central Park Five,” about five black and latino teenagers who spent years in prison for a rape they did not commit. Outstanding Independent Film was awarded to “LUV,” the story of a young boy who spends the day with his ex-convict uncle. Outstanding Voice Performance went to Dennis Haysbert for the animated “Wreck-it Ralph.” Outstanding Independent Short was won by “The Bluest Note.” And John Legend won Outstanding Song for "Who Did That to You?" from “Django Unchained.”

While “Abducted: The Carlina White Story” didn't win Outstanding Television Movie—that honor went to “A Beautiful Soul”—it did take home three awards: Outstanding Television Actress for Aunjanue Ellis, Outstanding Television Director for Vondie Curtis-Hall, and Outstanding Television Screenplay to Elizabeth Hunter. Sean Patrick Thomas went home with an Outstanding Television Actor award for “Murder on the 13th Floor,” Courtney B. Vance was awarded Outstanding Television Supporting Actor for “Let It Shine,” and Outstanding Television Supporting Actress went to Alfre Woodard for “Steel Magnolias.” Other television victories of the night included Outstanding Television Documentary to “Brooklyn Boheme” and Outstanding Independent Documentary for “Soul Food Junkies.”

“Congratulations to all of the members of the Class of 2013,” said Gordon, “and I look forward to another strong slate of films  our organization will honor and celebrate in the future.”

Class of 2013

Outstanding Film
Beasts of the Southern Wild

Outstanding Actor
Denzel Washington | Flight

Outstanding Actress
Quvenzhane Wallis | Beasts of the Southern Wild

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Samuel L. Jackson | Django Unchained

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Naomie Harris | Skyfall

Outstanding Director
Ava DuVernay | Middle of Nowhere

Outstanding Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Ava DuVernay | Middle of Nowhere

Outstanding Documentary
The Central Park Five | Sarah Burns, Ken Burns & David McMahon

Outstanding Ensemble
Django Unchained | Victoria Thomas

Outstanding Foreign Film
The Intouchables | France

Outstanding Score
Dan Romer & Behn Zeitilin | Beasts of the Southern Wild

Outstanding Song
John Legend "Who Did That to You" | Django Unchained

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance
Quvenzhane Wallis | Beasts of the Southern Wild

Outstanding Voice Performance
Dennis Haysbert | Wreck-it Ralph

Outstanding Independent Film
LUV | Sheldon Candis

Outstanding Television Documentary
Brooklyn Boheme | Nelson George & Diane Paragas

Outstanding Independent Documentary
Soul Food Junkies | Byron Hurt

Outstanding Independent Short
The Bluest Note | Marques Green

Outstanding Television Movie
A Beautiful Soul | TVOne

Outstanding Television Actor
Sean Patrick Thomas | Murder on the 13th Floor

Outstanding Television Actress
Aunjanue Ellis | Abducted: The Carlina White Story

Outstanding Television Supporting Actor
Courtney B. Vance | Let It Shine

Outstanding Television Supporting Actress
Alfre Woodard | Steel Magnolias

Outstanding Television Director
Vondie Curtis-Hall | Abducted: The Carlina White Story

Outstanding Television Screenplay
Elizabeth Hunter | Abducted: The Carlina White Story