Halle Berry, Anthony Anderson, Jennifer Hudson and Barry Jenkins are among the winners of this year’s edition of the Critics Choice Association’s annual Celebration of Black Cinema & Television event.

This year’s ceremony, which takes place on Monday, December 6 at the Fairmont Century Plaza hotel, includes television recognition for the first time. The Celebration of Black Cinema was launched in 2014 to honor the outstanding achievements of black cinema. For 2021, the event will feature 20 award categories.

Berry will receive the Career Achievement Award, recognized for her roles in films such as “Monster’s Ball,” which won her an Oscar for Best Actress (the first and only black woman to receive this award) in 2002. Her other credits include “Die Another Day”, “Jungle Fever”, “Losing Isaiah”, “Bulworth”, “Swordfish” and “John Wick”.

“Berry’s iconic performances throughout her career have shown her acting talent and paved the way for black artists who have followed her,” said Shawn Edwards, executive producer of Celebration of Black Cinema & Television and member of the CCA Board of Directors. “She has become the personification of excellence as she moves from in front of the camera to sitting in the director’s chair.”

Anderson will receive the Producer Award for television for his work on “Black-ish”, “Grown-ish” and “Mixed-ish”.
Hudson will receive the Film Actress Award for her performance in Aretha Franklin’s biopic “Respect”.

Jenkins will receive the Television Director’s Award for his critically acclaimed Amazon Prime Video series “The Underground Railroad,” based on the novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning Colson Whitehead.

“2021 has been an incredible year of creativity and growth in film and television, and we are thrilled to be able to honor the change makers who are making a difference,” said Joey Berlin, CEO of the Critics Choice Association. Jennifer has both starred in and produced ‘Respect’, giving the performance of a lifetime. Barry transformed the small screen with his innovative and thought-provoking series, ‘The Underground Railroad’, which he wrote, produced and directed , and Anthony went on to become one of the most prolific and admired producers on television with “Black-ish”, “Grandi” and “Mixte”.

According to the CCA, a portion of the proceeds will be used for scholarships for students from underrepresented communities participating in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Gold Rising program, an initiative for talent development, diversity and inclusion that provides individuals with access and resources to achieve their career path in film.

The Celebration of Black Cinema & Television is produced by Madelyn Hammond and Javier Infante of Madelyn Hammond & Associates and Swisher Productions.