Each year, the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) honors individuals who have made a mark in movies and television. This year, Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Hudson and Damson Idris are recipients of the 8th ABFF Honors.
Johnson, who stars in “The Smashing Machine” and is one of the most influential global entertainers of the 21st century, will receive the Entertainment Icon Award and Hudson will receive a Renaissance Award. British Nigerian actor Damson Idris, now one of Hollywood’s leading actors following his breakout role in FX’s “Snowfall,” will receive the Horizon Award. Idris’ body of work includes starring roles in the dystopian sci-fi film “Outside the Wire” alongside Anthony Mackie.
Damson was also the star of “Farming,” the story of a young Nigerian boy, ‘farmed out’ by his parents to a white British family in the hope of a better future. He will portray Miles Davis in the biopic “Miles & Juliette, “which tells the story of the jazz legend’s transformative trip to Paris in 1949, where he falls into a passionate romance with French singer Juliette Gréco, played by Anamaria Vartolom.
They will receive their awards on February 16 at the SLS hotel in Beverly Hills at a non-televised dinner hosted by comedian KevOnStage.
ABFF Honors will also pay a special tribute to Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, the creative team behind the motion picture “Sinners.”
ABFF Honors is the American Black Film Festival’s annual awards season gala which recognizes excellence in the motion picture and television industry. Founded in 2016, the ceremony pays tribute to Black artists who have made significant contributions to American entertainment through their work as well as those who champion diversity and inclusion in Hollywood.
By Samantha Ofole-Prince
