It’s a wrap for the 2025 award season in Hollywood. Each year I look forward to the Hollywood award season because it showcases and celebrates some of the biggest celebrities and creatives in Black Hollywood. This year I attended the 56th NAACP Image Awards and Creative Honors, African American Film Critics Association Awards, and African American Black Film Festival Honors.
The award season kicked off with my fellow Juilliard alum Viola Davis receiving the prestigious Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes for her outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment. She is known for her roles that portray complex and powerful characters in film and theater and her work has broken barriers and paved new paths in entertainment. Davis shared, “This is the first award that I was told that I won that made me cry. “Little Viola showed up who just never could imagine that she could evolve into this life, into this career. I just feel incredibly grateful today.” Mark your calendar for her upcoming action-packed thriller “G20” produced and starring Davis, along with Dallas’ Marsai Martin, and Anthony Anderson set for release by Amazon MGM Studios to stream on Prime Video on this month on April 10th.
7TH AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL HONORS
The 7th American Black Film Festival Honors hosted by actress and comedian Zainab Johnson was held at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills. The intimate, non-televised dinner celebrated legendary performers for their Black excellence. Honorees for the evening included Oscar nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor received the female Excellence in the Arts Award, Emmy award winning actor, director, and producer Giancarlo Esposito male Excellence in the Arts Award, Renaissance Award to Emmy award winning entertainer Keke Palmer, Hollywood Legacy Award to legendary favorite actress Marla Gibbs, and the newest actor who is making a huge impact on the big screen Aaron Pierre with the Rising Star Award.
“For decades, these incredible ABFF honorees have captivated audiences and shaped the cultural landscape with their groundbreaking work,” said NICE CROWD CEO and President Jeff and Nicole Friday. “It’s a privilege to honor this year’s creatives for their extraordinary contributions to both the industry and our shared culture.
AFRICAN AMERICAN FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION AWARDS
This was my first year attending the African American Film Critics Association Awards and Dinner. It was such an honor receiving an invitation from the AAFCA Co-Founder and President Gil Robertson to attend as the Co-Founder and President of the Juilliard Black Alumni Association. Robertson shared, “This is a defining year for cinema, with the impressive array of stories that capture the complexity, resilience, and beauty of the human experience. We are proud to honor this year’s filmmakers and talent, whose work continues to expand the scope of representation on screen. These films do more than entertain—they amplify diverse voices and perspectives that deserve to be heard, and we celebrate their lasting impact.”
The reception, dinner and awards show was held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills. Awards were presented to Best Actor Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Best Actress Marianne Jean-Baptiste (Hard Truths), Best Supporting Actor Clarence Maclin (Sing Sing), Best Supporting Actres Danielle Deadwyler (The Piano Lesson), Best Ensemble (The Piano Lesson), Best Original Score Kris Bowers (The Wild Robot), Best Original Song Audra Day (Bricks, Exhibiting Forgiveness), Best Screenplay Sing Sing, Best Director RaMell Ross (Nickel Boys), Best Picture Nickel Boys, Best Documentary *TIE Daughters and Dahomey, Best Animated Feature The Wild Robot. Additional honorees selected by the 100+ AAFCA members were Nicole Avant, Beacon Award; Malcolm Washington, Emerging Director Award; Ray Fisher, Breakout Performance Award; and RaMell Ross, Spotlight Award.
I truly appreciate being included for the AAFCA Awards Ceremony and look forward to attending next year and working with the organization as a partner of the Juilliard Black Alumni Association.
56TH NAACP IMAGES AWARDS & CREATIVE HONORS
As a student at Juilliard, we always heard stories about the NAACP Image Awards and how they are considered the “Black family reunion in Hollywood”. Now that I have had the opportunity to attend, I can attest that they are the week Black Hollywood makes sure they are in Los Angeles to attend the week’s many activities and award show festivities. This year’s 56th NAACP Image Awards was the largest since everything locked down for COVID-19 and Black star power was in the house for the week’s activities that included a celebrity golf tournament, empowering workshops and panels, reception, parties, and the awards ceremonies.
This year was also a different year due the Los Angeles wild fires and the Eaton Fire that wiped out the community of Altadena. The fire claimed approximately 17 lives and destroyed over 9,000 homes and structures in the community. The NAACP leadership stepped up and began visiting to provide relief services within the historically Black community immediately when the wild fires began in January. As part of this year’s award ceremony, Altadena residents participated and were recognized. It was really nice meeting some of the residents backstage and offering words of encouragement. They are committed to rebuilding Altadena and returning home. The NAACP hosted fundraiser immediately following the awards ceremony featuring jazz singer Samara Joy.
Over the week, I had the opportunity to chat with more than 50+ celebrities and executives that were nominated and/or awarded during the 56th NAACP Image Awards and Creative Honors. As much as I would like to include them all in this article, I simply cannot. I wanted to share a few chats with you in this article and the videos from the others will be available online at southerndallasmagazine.com, my website at AmberPickens.com, or my Instagram AmberBPickens.
DFW Was In The House and Celebrated!
I had the opportunity to chat with my dear friend from DFW Trey Haley. He is the founder and president of Tri Destined Studios in Hollywood that has created top drama series favorites The Family Business, The Black Hamptons, and more. This year it is all about his latest spinoff from The Family Business, that he directs and executive produces The Family Business: New Orleans. He just wrapped season one and it was drama and action packed starring the amazing Lela Rochon, Brandon T. Jackson, Benjamin Stephens, Quincy Brown, Yvette Nicole Brown, Pooch Hall, and David Banner.
The Family Business: New Orleans marks Lela Rochon’s big comeback in a drama series. I had a chance to chat with her which you can watch the chat online. But the best chat I had of all chats that week was with Trey Haley and the men who star on the series. It was truly fun and I must say I was working to get my audition in for season two.
Amber: We are celebrating Black Excellence tonight so how does it feel to be on set with so much Black Excellence? You all are bringing Carl Weber’s vision to life!
Brandon Jackson: We become a family. The way the shooting experience is with Tri Destined-Carl, Indy, and Trey, they make it like a family. I’ve been on some sets and everybody’s stressed out for no reason. Everybody’s flustered. This is a relaxed set. We get our work done. We want everybody to do well and it’s a team.
Pooch Hall: It doesn’t happen all the time where you have a cast of people who get along. It makes it easier for us to start flowing. It’s like double dutch, we are all ready to jump in, and then we start a rhythm. Because we all come different backgrounds, as far as talent, we can all play and try things out! That is what keeps the fans arounds and we need the support! Also, a huge shout out to New Orleans. They took a bad hit earlier in the year. Prayers to their families. New Orleans has been welcoming to us and we want to make sure they know we are thinking about them.
A: I was actually there to celebrate the New Year. Prayers to New Orleans for sure. You all have been in the industry for a long time. What keeps you moving forward with integrity?
BJ: It’s about versatility. This is my first drama I have ever done and my first lead role I’ve ever had in a series! When I got the script I knew this was something I really wanted to do. We’re all the stars of Family Business. Tre Destined gives everybody so much area a room to shine.
Trey Haley: I must say this about Amber. She’s not just from Texas. She’s truly talented. And I’m gonna say…Juilliard! Yes!
PH: Season two!
A: I would love to join y’all. Carl, are you allowed to join y’all? No, I know. Very good energy and anything you do. Amber,
PH: To piggyback on what Trey said, energy is definitely something that we have on set. My father said, when you find the job that you love, you’ll never work another day in your life. So we come in and play. Yes, we’re doing work but because we love it. We’re putting in that work to make sure that the people who are watching are coming back for more and asking for more. So I look forward to seeing you in season two!
A: Why is it important that when we are telling our stories we are also behind the camera?
Benjamin Stephens: We are the only ones who can tell our stories. It won’t be authentic if it’s not done by us. We definitely need to be in front of the camera, and behind the camera.
A: When you think of Black History, what comes to mind? When I think of our history, and us as Black people, I think- WE ARE THE TRUTH!
CHAT WITH NAACP BOARD CHAIRMAN LEON RUSSELL AND NAACP MEMBER ALTHEA BONELLO
Amber: Over 50 years of celebrating of Black Excellence! Why is it important that we continue to celebrate with each other?
Leon Russell: It’s important because we have understood that we do have talent and we are brilliant. We have to be the ones who demonstrate that and project it to the world, so that the world understands and begins to dissolve this myth of inferiority. We have to take away this stigma that started way back so many years ago by Birth of a Nation and shows like that. The ability to make change in this industry has been the ability to demonstrate our brilliance and who we are in our own voices. That is extremely important.
A: You’ve been involved with the NAACP for over 40 years. Why is the NAACP important?
Alethea Bonello: It is important because the NAACP was the first place outside of the Black church to be able to celebrate excellence and achievement. I was able to find heroes and sheroes that were willing to put it all on the line to advance Black America. We know that when we can dream about Black liberation; when we are able to be creative in spaces and come together and strengthen each other as a collective, then we can get much further. There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” It is important that we stick together in times like these to celebrate wherever we are. This is something for us and by us, The NAACP Image Awards. Because image is important. Positive images are even more important. When we can exude strength, positivity, joy, and power, it makes a difference for our people!
This year Chairman Russell presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award to Vice President Kamala Harris
The NAACP Is Working Their Magice on Daytime TV with CBS’ Beyond The Gates Soap Opera
The NAACP closed out the week and Black History Month with the debut of their new CBS daytime soap opera Beyond The Gates as the first Black one hour soap opera for any major network. The show stars Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Karla Moseley, and Daphnee Duplaix as the wealthy Dupree Family that lives behind the gates of a very exclusive community. Like all winning soap operas, it centers on all the family drama. I had a chance to chat with Clifton Davis and Karla Mosely on the awards red carpet about the new show.
Amber: I am so excited about the first season of Beyond The Gates?
Clifton Davis: We are really excited as well. I portray Vernon Dupree, the patriarch of the family, and I have one of my daughters here, Karla Mosely, who plays Danny Dupree. She is a formal high fashion model whose husband has left her for someone else.
Karla Mosely: That’s right.
She’s not happy about it. She handles her business.
KM: I do, we all do. It’s such an honor to bring this to the screen. We all respect what we’re holding and we are excited to share. We understand the importance of production and it’s been a long time coming. We are excited to share with all of you and be inside of your homes every single day. We hope you’ll trust us with that.
A: My family first introduced me to your presence in the soap opera world years ago on “The Bold & Beautiful”. Now you are experiencing another groundbreaking moment in television. What are you hoping the audience walks away with from season one?
KM: Waning more! We really want them to get to know this family, love us, hate us, whatever it is! Then say, “I cannot wait until the next episode.”
CD: I want the audience to walk away with an addiction. I want them to be addicted to us so they can’t go another day without seeing us again. You can watch us Monday-Friday on CBS or you can stream our show on Paramount Plus. You don’t have to miss one episode, as long as you got Paramount Plus, you can stream it anytime you want.
A: Why is it important that our stories are told, especially in the soap opera world?
KM: I was just talking about how there’s a reason certain soap operas have been around for 40-50 years, which is pretty unheard of. I think that’s because you really get to invest in those characters. We want people to invest in those characters. Then, hopefully, that will lead them to invest in us, in the world. That’s what happens. Art imitates life. Life imitates art.
CD: We haven’t seen the perspectives of an affluent wealthy generational family and that community. That’s the world, the vision, we are trying to project. We want that type of lifestyle to inform our stories, so our stories reach out. She (Dani Dupree) has two wonderful children who have interesting stories and scandals themselves. It is really a blessing to be a part of this show. It is the first one hour Black daytime drama in history. We are happy to break the glass ceiling
A: I am so happy for you all! I am claiming 20, 30 seasons down the line and I can’t wait for you all to receive all of the amazing feedback. I know it is going to be incredible! Thank you so much, congratulations, and I hope you enjoy tonight!
Being selected as one of the best dressed on the carpet for the NAACP Image Awards
This year I was styled by the one and only Dallas haute couture designer Ese Azenabor! I walked the red carpet in one of the country’s most sought-after designers who has created formal designs for Beyonce and her mother Tina Knowles, Taraji P. Henson, Tyra Banks, Vivica Fox and the list goes on. It was so flattered to be featured by Women’s Wear Daily as a best dressed on the carpet. It was an amazing moment when others ran up to me to show me the WWD post. I felt like a modern day Glenda the good witch out of The Wiz!
