Cicely Tyson, Screen Gems, Rainforest Films, PAFF Honored

The African American Film Critics Association, an organization I only recently became very aware of, but which seems to be doing a lot to raise its profile lately, recently hosted its Special Achievement honors in Marina Del Ray, Calif.

On the heels of the organization’s 2013 AAFCA Awards a few weeks ago, this event honored Cicely Tyson, Screen Gems, the Pan African Film Festival, and Rainforest Films for their overall achievements in film.

Find details in the press release below, along with a few photos from the event.

The African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) honored the special achievements of iconic actress Cicely Tyson, vanguard film studio Screen Gems and the renowned Pan African Film Festival. During this year’s ceremony, the organization also introduced its Ashley Boone Award, named for the pioneering former president at Fox Studios, which will be presented to Will Packer and Rob Hardy of Rainforest Films. The awards were presented during a private luncheon on Friday at the California Yacht Club in Marina Del Rey, CA.

A former secretary turned actress, Cicely Tyson received AAFCA’s “Legacy Award” for her work in cinema over five decades. The venerable Pan African Film Festival was recognized for its 25-year history of providing support to emerging African-American filmmakers and Screen Gems and Rainforest Films jointly received the group’s “Cinema Vanguard Award” for their exemplary commitment for diversity in film. The founders of Rainforest Films, Will Packer and Rob Hardy individually, were also the recipients of the organization’s inaugural Ashley Boone Award…

Read More: indiewire.com

Independent journalism still matters.

We hope this story was worth your time. For over 14 years, Atlanta Black Star has stayed Black-owned and independently run. We didn't get here by waiting on ad budgets that were never built to prioritize us. Our readers did that.

Corporate support for Black media has always been thin. Outlets like ours get roughly 1% of the $170 billion spent on U.S. advertising each year, and that margin is shrinking further as advertisers walk back the DEI-linked commitments they made in 2020. That's the backdrop. It's not why we're asking.

The wider picture isn't any steadier. Newspaper ad revenue has fallen more than 80% since 2005, and local newsrooms are closing at a rate of roughly two a week nationwide. When outlets go under, it's rarely the ones built to center a Black perspective from the ground up that get to stick around.

We know a request for support isn't why you came here. But without readers choosing to fund this work directly, the depth of reporting we can do at home and abroad shrinks along with everyone else's. If you're not in a position to give, that doesn't change how much we value you as a reader.

If you are able to, a recurring contribution does more for us than a single one-time gift, because it lets us plan the next investigation instead of just the next invoice. It takes about 30 seconds, no long form, no account. Thank you for continuing to support independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Back to top