2016 Award Winners


Tahir Jetter

Grand Jury Award for Best Screenplay

presented by Time Warner

Tahir Jetter – HOW TO TELL YOU’RE A DOUCHEBAG

Director: Tahir Jetter | Writer: Tahir Jetter | Producers: Julius Pryor, Marttise Hill, Tahir Jetter | Cast: Charles Brice, DeWanda Wise, Jenna Williams, William Jackson Harper, Tonye Patano, Alexander Mulzac


Cory Hardrict

Grand Jury Award for Best Actor

Cory Hardrict – DESTINED

Writer/Director: Qasim Basir | Producers: Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner | Cast: Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalfe, Margot Bingham, Robert Christopher Riley, Zulay Henao, Jason Dohring, Mo McRae, La La Anthony, Hill Harper, James McCaffrey, Curtiss Cook


Qasim Basir

Grand Jury Award for Best Director

presented by Cadillac

Qasim Basir – DESTINED

Writer/Director: Qasim Basir | Producers: Tommy Oliver, Rick Rosenthal, Matt Ratner | Cast: Cory Hardrict, Jesse Metcalfe, Margot Bingham, Robert Christopher Riley, Zulay Henao, Jason Dohring, Mo McRae, La La Anthony, Hill Harper, James McCaffrey, Curtiss Cook


Aaron Greer and Seth Panitch

Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature Film

presented by Prudential

SERVICE TO MAN – produced by Aaron Greer and Seth Panitch

Directors: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch | Writer: Seth Panitch | Producers: Aaron Greer, Seth Panitch | Cast: Morgan Auld, Christopher Livingston, Lamman Rucker, Keith David


FLOWERS art

HBO Short Film Award Winner

FLOWERS – written and directed Nikyatu Jusu and Yvonne M. Shirley

Directors: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley | Writers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley | Producers: Nikyatu Jusu, Yvonne M. Shirley | Cast: Amee Apedo, Belle LeGrand, Grant Tambellini


Kelcy Griffin

Star Project Winner

presented by NBC

Kelcy Griffin


BE THE SEED art

McDonald’s “My Community” Video Competition Winner

BE THE SEED – directed by Tyshun Wardlaw


N'Zuri Za Austin

TV ONE Screenplay Competition Winner

TALE OF A SCRIPT – written by N’Zuri Za Austin


2 SELF HELP BOOKS AWAY FROM BEING PERFECT art

Best Web Original

presented by Comcast Xfinity

2 SELF HELP BOOKS AWAY FROM BEING PERFECT – written and created by Kimberly Young, directed by Lopez Williams

Director: Lopez Williams | Writer/Creator: Kimberly Young | Producers: Lopez Williams, Kimberly Young, Morris Young, Richard Monroe, Lori Stewart Tannis, Sam Baumel | Cast: Kimberly Young, DJ Cipha Sounds, Nate Gill, Carmen Lynch, Sharron Paul, Jourdan Guyton, Jared Prudoff-Smith, Lauren Besser, Gibran Saleem, Godfrey Taylor, Jr., Sue Berch


THE FIX art

The Best of Festival Audience Award

presented by BET Networks

THE FIX – produced by Paris Bauldwin, Kenny Lofton and Brenton Early

Director: Paris Bauldwin | Writer: Paris Bauldwin | Producers: Paris Bauldwin, Kenny Lofton, Brenton Earley | Cast: Meta Golding, Eric Roberts, Asia Queen, Nicole Steinwedell, Blaine Gray, Jeremy Suarez, Sean O’Bryan, Timon Kyle Durrett, Jeremy Luke


DADDY DON'T GO art

Best Documentary

presented by Hennessy

DADDY DON’T GO – produced by Emily Abt, Keryn Thompson, Suzette Burton, Omar Epps, Malik Yoba

Director: Emily Abt, Andrew Osborne | Writer: Emily Abt | Producers: Emily Abt, Keryn Thompson, Suzette Burton, Omar Epps, Malik Yoba