‘Nickel Boys’ Is the Big Winner in African American Film Critics’ Honorary Awards for 2025

RaMell Ross’ film will receive three separate awards at two different ceremonies, while “The Piano Lesson” will receive two

Nickel Boys
"Nickel Boys" (Amazon MGM)

“Nickel Boys,” director RaMell Ross’ dramatic adaptation of the Colson Whitehead novel about a brutal reform school for teenage boys in Florida, won three of the eight honorary awards announced by the African American Film Critics Association on Wednesday.

In the 2025 Special Achievement Awards, the film was named recipient of the Karen & Stanley Kramer Social Justice Award, while its two young stars, Brandon Wilson and Ethan Herisse, will receive the Gen Next Award. In special honors at the 16th Annual AAFCA Awards, director Ross will receive the Spotlight Award.

Two awards went to the August Wilson adaptation “The Piano Lesson,” with director Malcolm Washington receiving the Emerging Director Award and costar Ray Fisher the Breakout Performance Award.

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