Female Driven Wall Street Film, "Equity," Goes to Sony Pictures Classics

SONY PICTURES CLASSICS ACQUIRES EQUITY

Park City, Utah – Sony Pictures Classics announced today, on the eve of the film's world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, that they have acquired worldwide rights to the first female driven Wall Street film, EQUITY. The film stars Anna Gunn ("Breaking Bad"), James Purefoy ("The Following"), Sarah Megan Thomas (Backwards) and Alysia Reiner ("Orange is the New Black").

Senior investment banker Naomi Bishop's (Anna Gunn) world of high-power big money is brutal and fierce, and one she thrives in. When a controversial IPO threatens the fragile balance of power and confidentiality, Naomi finds herself entangled in a web of politics and deception. With an aggressive prosecutor (Alysia Reiner) from her past on her heels, and a strained relationship with her junior, Erin (Sarah Megan Thomas), Naomi is forced to reexamine her own ambitions and the cutthroat world she loves—one where women have yet to break the glass ceiling.

EQUITY is directed by Meera Menon (Farah Goes Bang) with a screenplay by Amy Fox from a story by Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner and Amy Fox.

Broad Street Pictures' Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas serve as producers.

The deal was negotiated on behalf of the producers by CAA.


ABOUT SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Michael Barker and Tom Bernard serve as co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics—an autonomous division of Sony Pictures Entertainment they founded with Marcie Bloom in January 1992, which distributes, produces, and acquires independent films from around the world. Barker and Bernard have released prestigious films that have won 32 Academy Awards® (28 of those at Sony Pictures Classics) and have garnered 158 Academy Award® nominations (133 at Sony Pictures Classics) including Best Picture nominations for WHIPLASH, AMOUR, MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, AN EDUCATION, CAPOTE, HOWARDS END, AND CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON.

ABOUT BROAD STREET PICTURES
Broad Street Pictures, a company with a mission to produce thought-provoking films that employ more women in front of and behind the camera, is engaged in the development and production of movies for worldwide theatrical, video, television, and electronic distribution. The company is led by Alysia Reiner and Sarah Megan Thomas.

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2016 Sundance Film Festival Awards; "Birth of a Nation" Wins Top Prizes

Actor and filmmaker Robert Redford founded the Sundance Institute, a non-profit organization, in 1981.  The Sundance Institute actively advances the work of filmmakers and storytellers worldwide.  Through its offices in Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City, the organization provides creative and financial support to emerging and aspiring filmmakers, directors, producers, film composers, screenwriters, playwrights, and theater artists via a series of Labs and Fellowships

The 2016 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 21 to Jan 31, 2016.

2016 Sundance Film Festival Awards:

U.S. DRAMATIC

Audience Award
Birth Of A Nation - Nate Parker

Grand Jury Prize
Birth Of A Nation - Nate Parker

Directing
Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan - Swiss Army Man

Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award
Chad Hartigan - Morris From America

Special Jury Award – Individual Performance
Melanie Lynskey - The Intervention

Special Jury Award – Individual Performance
Craig Robinson - Morris from America

Special Jury Award – Breakthrough Performance
Joe Seo - Spa Night

Special Jury Award
As You Are - Miles Joris-Peyrafitte

U.S. DOCUMENTARY

Grand Jury Prize
Weiner - Elyse Steinberg, Josh Kriegman

Audience Award
Jim: The James Foley Story - Brian Oakes

Directing
Roger Ross Williams - Life, Animated

Special Jury Award – Vérité Filmmaking
The Bad Kids - Keith Fulton, Lou Pepe

Special Jury Award – Writing
Kate Plays Christine - Robert Greene

Special Jury Award – Social Impact Filmmaking
Trapped - Dawn Porter

NEXT Audience Award
First Girl I Loved - Kerem Sanga

WORLD CINEMA DRAMATIC

Audience Award
Between Sea and Land / Colombia - Directors: Manolo Cruz, Carlos del Castillo

Sand StormGrand Jury Prize
Sand Storm / Israel - Director: Elite Zexer

Directing Award
Belgica / Belgium-France-Netherlands - Felix van Groeningen

Special Jury Award – Unique Vision and Design
The Lure / Poland - Director: Agnieszka Smoczyńska

Special Jury Award – Screenwriting
Mi Amiga Del Parque / Argentina-Uruguay - Screenwriters: Inés Bortagaray, Ana Katz

Special Jury Award – Acting
Vicky Hernandéz, Manolo Cruz - Between Sea and Land / Colombia

WORLD CINEMA DOCUMENTARY

Grand Jury Prize
Sonita / Germany-Iran-Swizerland - Rokhsareh Ghaem Maghami

Directing
All These Sleepless Nights / Poland - Michal Marczak

Special Jury Award – Best Editing
We Are X / UK-U.S.-Japan - Editors: Mako Kamitsuna, John Maringouin

Special Jury Award – Best Cinematography
The Land Of The Enlightened / Belgium - DP: Pieter-Jan De Pue

Special Jury Award – Best Debut Feature
When Two Worlds Collide / Peru - Directors: Mathew Orzel, Heidi Brandenburg

Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize (announced Wednesday – January 27th)
Embrace of the Serpent - Directed by Ciro Guerra

SHORT FILM PRIZES
(announced Wednesday – January 27th)

Short Film Grand Jury Prize
Thunder Road / U.S. - Director and screenwriter: Jim Cummings

Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction
The Procedure / U.S. - Director and screenwriter: Calvin Lee Reeder

Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction
Maman(s) / France - Director and screenwriter: Maïmouna Doucouré

Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction
Bacon & God’s Wrath / Canada - Director: Sol Friedman

Short Film Jury Award: Animation
Edmond / UK - Director and screenwriter: Nina Gantz

Short Film Special Jury Award for Outstanding Performance
Grace Glowicki - Her Friend Adam

Short Film Special Jury Award for Best Direction
Peacock / Czech Republic - Director: Ondřej Hudeček, Screenwriters: Jan Smutny, Ondřej Hudeček

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2016 Image Award Nominations - Television and Motion Picture Categories

The NAACP Image Award an award bestowed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  The award honors outstanding achievements by people of color in film, television, music, and literature.  The awards are voted on by members of the NAACP.

The NAACP announced nominees for its 47th annual Image Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).  Winners will be announced February 5, 2016 during a ceremony airing live on TV One.

2016 / 47th NAACP Image Awards nominees - Television, Motion Picture, and Animation Categories:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Michael B. Jordan
Misty Copeland
Pharrell Williams
Shonda Rhimes
Viola Davis

TELEVISION

Outstanding Comedy Series
“black-ish” (ABC)
“House of Lies” (Showtime)
“Key & Peele” (Comedy Central)
“Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
“Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)
Anthony Anderson – “black-ish” (ABC)
Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” (Showtime)
Dwayne Johnson – “Ballers” (HBO)
RonReaco Lee – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Gina Rodriguez – “Jane The Virgin” (The CW)
Loretta Devine – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
Tracee Ellis Ross – “black-ish” (ABC)
Uzo Aduba – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Wendy Raquel Robinson – “The Game” (BET)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
David Alan Grier – “The Carmichael Show” (NBC)
Laurence Fishburne – “black-ish” (ABC)
Mike Epps – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)
Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)
Terry Crews – “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Anna Deavere Smith – “Nurse Jackie” (Showtime)
Danielle Brooks – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Laverne Cox – “Orange is the New Black” (Netflix)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Tichina Arnold – “Survivor’s Remorse” (Starz)

Outstanding Drama Series
“Being Mary Jane” (BET)
“Empire” (FOX)
“How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
“Power” (Starz)
“Scandal” (ABC)

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
LL Cool J – “NCIS: Los Angeles” (CBS)
Morris Chestnut – “Rosewood” (FOX)
Omari Hardwick – “Power” (Starz)
Terrence Howard – “Empire” (FOX)
Wesley Snipes – “The Player” (NBC)

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Gabrielle Union – “Being Mary Jane” (BET)
Kerry Washington – “Scandal” (ABC)
Nicole Beharie – “Sleepy Hollow” (FOX)
Taraji P. Henson – “Empire” (FOX)
Viola Davis – “How to Get Away With Murder” (ABC)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Alfred Enoch – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Bryshere Y. Gray – “Empire” (FOX)
Guillermo Diaz – “Scandal” (ABC)
Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)
Jussie Smollett – “Empire” (FOX)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Cicely Tyson – “How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Danai Gurira – “The Walking Dead” (AMC)
Grace Gealey – “Empire” (FOX)
Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)
Regina King – “American Crime” (ABC)

Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
“American Crime” (ABC)
“Bessie” (HBO)
“Luther” (BBC America)
“The Book of Negroes” (BET)
“The Wiz Live!” (NBC)

Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Cuba Gooding, Jr. – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
David Alan Grier – “The Wiz Live!” (NBC)
David Oyelowo – “Nightingale” (HBO)
Idris Elba – “Luther” (BBC America)
Michael Kenneth Williams – “Bessie” (HBO)

Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
Angela Bassett – “American Horror Story: Hotel” (FX Networks)
Aunjanue Ellis – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
Jill Scott – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
LaTonya Richardson Jackson – “Show Me a Hero” (HBO)
Queen Latifah – “Bessie” (HBO)

Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special)
“Katrina: 10 Years After the Storm” (ABC)
“News One Now” (TV One)
“Oprah Prime: Celebrating Dr. King and the Selma Marches 50 Years Later” (OWN)
“Oprah: Where Are They Now?- Civil Rights Special” (OWN)
“Unsung” (TV One)

Outstanding Talk Series
“Melissa Harris-Perry” (MSNBC)
“Steve Harvey” (Syndicated)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“The Talk” (CBS)
“The Wendy Williams Show” (Syndicated)

Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
“Dancing with the Stars” (ABC)
“Iyanla: Fix My Life” (OWN)
“Shark Tank” (ABC)
“The Voice” (NBC)
“Welcome to Sweetie Pies” (OWN)

Outstanding Variety (Series or Special)
“Black Girls Rock!” (BET)
“Family Feud” (Syndicated)
“Oprahs Master Class” (OWN)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” (Comedy Central)
“The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Children’s Program
“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
“Dora and Friends” (Nickelodeon)
“K.C. Undercover” (Disney Channel)
“Little Ballers” (Nickelodeon)
“Project MC2” (Netflix)

Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Mini-series)
Hudson Yang – “Fresh Off The Boat” (ABC)
Marcus Scribner – “black-ish” (ABC)
Marsai Martin – “black-ish” (ABC)
Miles Brown – “black-ish” (ABC)
Skai Jackson – “Jessie” (Disney Channel)

Outstanding Host in a News, Talk, Reality, or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or
“Family Feud” – Steve Harvey (Syndicated)
“Melissa Harris-Perry” – Melissa Harris-Perry (MSNBC)
“Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel ” – Bryant Gumbel (HBO)
“The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” – Trevor Noah (Comedy Central)
“The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore” – Larry Wilmore (Comedy Central)

Outstanding Documentary – (Television)
“August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand” (PBS)
“Belief” (OWN)
“Kareem: Minority of One” (HBO)
“Light Girls” (OWN)
“Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ” (BET)

ANIMATED/CGI

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – (Television or Film)
Aisha Tyler – “Archer” (FX Networks)
Audra McDonald – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Jeffrey Wright – “The Good Dinosaur” (Disney/Pixar)
Loretta Devine – “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Channel)
Wanda Sykes – “Penn Zero” (Disney XD)

MOTION PICTURE

Outstanding Motion Picture
“Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
“Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
“Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
“Dope” (Open Road Films)
“Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture
Abraham Attah – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment)
Michael B. Jordan – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Michael Ealy – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems)
Will Smith – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture
Lauren ‘Keke’ Palmer – “Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit)
Sanaa Lathan – “The Perfect Guy” (Screen Gems)
Teyonah Parris – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
Viola Davis – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Zoe Saldana – “Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Chiwetel Ejiofor – “The Martian” (20th Century Fox)
Corey Hawkins – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
Forest Whitaker – “Southpaw” (The Weinstein Company)
Idris Elba – “Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
O’Shea Jackson, Jr. – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Angela Bassett – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw – “Concussion” (Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Jennifer Hudson – “Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
Phylicia Rashad – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)
Tessa Thompson – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture
“Beasts of No Nation” (Netflix)
“Brotherly Love” (Flavor Unit)
“Chi-Raq” (Amazon Studios and Roadside Attractions)
“Infinitely Polar Bear” (Sony Pictures Classics)
“Secret in Their Eyes” (STX Entertainment)

Outstanding Documentary – (Film)
“Amy” (A24)
“Dreamcatcher” (Rise Films, Green Acres Films & Vixen Films in association with Impact Partners and Artemis Rising Foundation)
“In My Fathers House” (Break Thru Films)
“The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” (PBS Distribution/Firelight Films)
“What Happened, Miss Simone?” (A Radical Media Production in Association with Moxie Firecracker for Netflix)

Outstanding Documentary – (Television)
“August Wilson: The Ground on Which I Stand” (PBS)
“Belief” (OWN)
“Kareem: Minority of One” (HBO)
“Light Girls” (OWN)
“Muhammad Ali: The Peoples Champ” (BET)

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2016 Image Awards Nominations - Writing and Directing Categories

The NAACP announced nominees for its 47th annual Image Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).  Winners will be announced February 5, 2016 during a ceremony airing live on TV One.

2016 / 47th NAACP Image Awards nominees - Writing and Directing categories:

WRITING

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

• Alan Yang, Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix)
• Jennie Snyder Urman – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW)
• Jill Soloway – “Transparent” – Kina Hora (Amazon Video)
• Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Jay Martel, Ian Roberts, Rebecca Drysdale, Colton Dunn, Phil Augusta Jackson, Alex Rubens, Charlie Sanders, Rich Talarico – “Key & Peele” – Y’all Ready For This? (Comedy Central)
• Kenya M. Barris – “black-ish” – The Word (ABC)

Outstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series

• Erika Green Swafford, Doug Stockstill – “How to Get Away with Murder” – Mama’s Here Now (ABC)
• John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC)
• LaToya Morgan – “TURN: Washingtons Spies” – False Flag (AMC)
• Lee Daniels, Danny Strong – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX)
• Mara Brock Akil, Jameal Turner, Keli Goff – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture – (Television)
Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO)
Lawrence Hill, Clement Virgo – “The Book of Negroes” (BET)
Michael S. Bandy, Eric Stein – “White Water” (TV One)
Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
Shem Bitterman – “Whitney” (Lifetime)

Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture (Film)

• Andrea Berloff, Jonathan Herman – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
• Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois, Grant Thompson – “McFarland USA” (Walt Disney Pictures)
• Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley – “Inside Out” (Disney/Pixar)
• Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films)
• Ryan Coogler, Aaron Covington – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)

DIRECTING

Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series

• Aziz Ansari – “Master of None” – Parents (Netflix)
• Brad Silberling – “Jane The Virgin” – Chapter Twenty-Three (The CW)
• Don Cheadle – “House of Lies” – The Urge to Save Humanity is Almost Always a False Front for the Urge to Rule (Showtime)
• Peter Atencio – “Key & Peele” – The End (Comedy Central)
• Stan Lathan – “Real Husbands of Hollywood” – Cabin Pressure (BET)

Outstanding Directing in a Dramatic Series
Ernest Dickerson – “Hand of God” – Welcome the Stranger (Amazon Video)
John Ridley – “American Crime” – Episode 1 (ABC)
Lee Daniels – “Empire” – Pilot (FOX)
Millicent Shelton – “American Crime” – Episode Ten (ABC)
Salim Akil – “Being Mary Jane” – Sparrow (BET)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture (Television)
Christine Swanson – “For the Love of Ruth” (TV One)
Dee Rees – “Bessie” (HBO)
Nzingha Stewart – “With this Ring” (Lifetime)
Rusty Cundieff – “White Water” (TV One)
Salim Akil – “The Start Up” (BET)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – (Film)

• Alfonso Gomez-Rejon – “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” (Fox Searchlight Pictures / Rhode Island Ave)
• Charles Stone, III – “Lila and Eve” (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
• F. Gary Gray – “Straight Outta Compton” (Universal Pictures)
• Rick Famuyiwa – “Dope” (Open Road Films)
• Ryan Coogler – “Creed” (Warner Bros. Pictures/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures)

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2016 Image Awards Nominations - Literature and Recording Categories

The NAACP announced nominees for its 47th annual Image Awards, which celebrate the accomplishments of people of color in Television, Recording (Music), Literary (Books), Motion Picture, Documentary (film and television), Writing (for film and television), Directing (for film and television), and Animated/CGI (for film and television).  Winners will be announced February 5, 2016 during a ceremony airing live on TV One.

2016 / 47th NAACP Image Awards nominees - Literary and Music Recording categories:

LITERATURE
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
“Driving the King” – Ravi Howard (HarperCollins/Harper)
“Ghost Summer: Stories” – Tananarive Due (Prime Books)
“Mama’s Boy” – ReShonda Tate Billingsley (Gallery Books, a division of Simon & Schuster)
“Stand Your Ground” – Victoria Christopher Murrary (Touchstone)
“Under the Udala Trees” – Chinelo Okparanta (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction

• “50 Billion Dollar Boss: African American Women Sharing Stories of Success in Entrepreneurship and Leadership” – Kathey Porter (Author), Andrea Hoffman(Author), (Palgrave Macmillan)
• “Ghettoside: A True Story of Murder in America” – Jill Leovy (Spiegel & Grau)
• “SHOWDOWN: Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court Nomination That Changed America” – Wil Haygood (Alfred A. Knopf)
• “Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga” – Pamela Newkirk (HarperCollins/Amistad)
• “The Light of the World” – Elizabeth Alexander (Grand Central Publishing)

Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author

• “Between The World and Me” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (Spiegel & Grau)
• “The Fishermen” – Chigozie Obioma (Little, Brown & Company)
• “The Star Side of Bird Hill” – Naomi Jackson (Penguin Press)
• “The Turner House” – Angela Flournoy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• “The Wind In The Reeds: A Storm, A Play And The City That Could Not Be Broken” – Wendell Pierce (Author), Rod Dreher (Author), (Riverhead Books)

Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/ Auto-Biography

• “After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye” – Jan Gaye (Author), David Ritz (With), (HarperCollins/Amistad)
• “Between The World and Me” – Ta-Nehisi Coates (Spiegel & Grau)
• “One Righteous Man: Samuel Battle and the Shattering of the Color Line in New York” – Arthur Browne (Beacon Press)
• “Power Forward: My Presidential Education” – Reggie Love (Simon & Schuster)
• “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person” – Shonda Rhimes (Simon & Schuster)

Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional

• “Big Words to Little Me: Tips and Advice for the Younger Self” – Sakina Ibrahim (Author), Jessie Lee (With), (Createspace (Self published))
• “Free Your Mind: An African American Guide to Meditation and Freedom” – Cortez R. Rainey (CreateSpace)
• “Grandbaby Cakes: Modern Recipes, Vintage Charm, Soulful Memories” – Jocelyn Delk Adams (Agate Surrey)
• “Keep Calm… It’s Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide To Buying A Home” – Egypt Sherrod (Perseus/Running Press)
• “Soul Food Love: Healthy Recipes Inspired by One Hundred Years of Cooking in a Black Family” – Alice Randall (Author), Caroline Randall Williams (Author), (Clarkson Potter)

Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” – Ross Gay (University of Pittsburgh Press)
“How to Be Drawn” – Terrance Hayes (Penguin Books / Penguin Random House)
“Reconnaissance” – Carl Phillips (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
“Redbone” – Mahogany L. Browne (Willow Books)
“Wild Hundreds” – Nate Marshall (University of Pittsburgh Press)

Outstanding Literary Work – Children

• “Chasing Freedom: The Life Journeys of Harriet Tubman and Susan B. Anthony, Inspired by Historical Facts” – Nikki Grimes (Author), Michele Wood (Illustrator), (Orchard Books / Scholastic)
• “Gordon Parks How the Photographer Captured Black and White America” – Carole Boston Weatherford (Author), Jamey Christoph (Illustrator), (Albert Whitman & Company)
• “Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box” – Michael S. Bandy (Author), Eric Stein (Author), James E. Ransome (Illustrator), (Candlewick Press)
• “If You Plant a Seed” – Kadir Nelson (Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers)
• “New Shoes” – Susan Lynn Meyer (Author), Eric Velasquez (Illustrator), (Holiday House)

Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens

• “Rhythm Ride: A Road Trip Through the Motown Sound” – Andrea Davis Pinkney (Roaring Brook Press)
• “Stella By Starlight” – Sharon Draper (Simon & Schuster)
• “Untwine” – Edwidge Danticat (Scholastic Press)
• “X: A Novel” – Ilyasah Shabazz (Author), Kekla Magoon (With), (Candlewick Press)
• “You Are Wonderfully Made: 12 Life-Changing Principles for Teen Girls to Embrace” – Gwen Richardson (Author), Sylvia Daye Richardson (Author), (Cushcity Communications)

RECORDING

Outstanding New Artist
Andra Day (Warner Bros. Records)
Judith Hill (NPG Records)
Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
The Weeknd (Republic Records)
Yazz (Columbia Records)

Outstanding Male Artist
Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
Kendrick Lamar (Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope)
Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
The Weeknd (Republic Records)
Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)

Outstanding Female Artist
Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)
Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
Lalah Hathaway (Hathaway Entertainment/Entertainment One)
Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)

Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration

• “Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia Records)
• “Hamilton: An American Musical” – Original Broadway Cast (Atlantic Records)
• “No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
• “One Man Can Change The World” – Big Sean feat. Kanye West and John Legend (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings)
• “Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)

Outstanding Jazz Album

• “BrotherLEE Love: Celebrating Lee Morgan” – Terell Stafford Quintet (Capri Records)
• “Dee Dee’s Feathers” – Dee Dee Bridgewater, Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (Okeh)
• “Miles Davis at Newport 1955-1975: The Bootleg Series Vol. 4” – Miles Davis (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
• “The Complete Concert By The Sea” – Erroll Garner (Legacy Recordings/Octave Music Publishing Corporation)
• The Epic” – Kamasi Washington (Brainfeeder)

Outstanding Gospel Album – (Traditional or Contemporary)

• “A Different Place” – Kim Burrell (Shanachie Entertainment)
• “It’s Personal” – Tina Campbell (Gee Tree Creative)
• “Losing My Religion” – Kirk Franklin (RCA Inspiration)
• “The Gospel According To Jazz – Chapter IV” – Kirk Whalum (Mack Avenue Records, Rendezvous, Top Drawer Records)
• “You Shall Live” – Marvin Sapp (RCA Inspiration)

Outstanding Music Video
“Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd (Republic Records)
“Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
“No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Shame” – Tyrese Gibson (Voltron Recordz)
“Sound & Color” – Alabama Shakes (ATO Records)

Outstanding Song – Traditional
“Back Together” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)
“Everytime I’m With You” – Seal (Reprise Records)
“Feeling Good” – Lauryn Hill (RCA Records)
“Goodnight Kisses” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
“Let It Burn” – Jazmine Sullivan (RCA Records)

Outstanding Album
“Beauty Behind the Madness” – The Weeknd (Republic Records)
“Empire (Original Soundtrack from Season One)” – Empire Cast (Columbia Records)
“Forever Charlie” – Charlie Wilson (RCA Records)
“Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Woman” – Jill Scott (Atlantic Records)

Outstanding Song – Contemporary
“Conqueror” – Empire Cast feat. Estelle & Jussie Smollett (Columbia)
“Freedom” – Pharrell Williams (Columbia Records/iamOTHER)
“No Sleeep” – Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“Unbreakable” – Janet Jackson (Rhythm Nation/BMG)
“You’re So Beautiful” – Empire Cast feat. Jussie Smollett & Yazz (Columbia Records)

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2015 EDA Awards Announced; "Spotlight" Named Best Film of 2015

According the organization’s website, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists, Inc. (AWFJ), was founded in 2006.  The membership is made up of “highly qualified professional female movie critics, reporters and feature writers working in print, broadcast and online media.”  Its state purpose is to “support work by and about women - both in front of and behind the cameras - through intra-group promotional activities, outreach programs and by presenting the annual EDA Awards in recognition of outstanding accomplishments (the best and worst) by and about women in the movies.”

AWFJ BEST OF AWARDS: These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration.”

EDA Award winners were announced on January 12, 2016.

2015 EDA Awards winners:

Best Film
SPOTLIGHT

Best Director (Female or Male)
Tom McCarthy for SPOTLIGHT

Best Screenplay, Original
SPOTLIGHT – Josh Singer, Tom McCarthy

Best Screenplay, Adapted
CAROL – Phyllis Nagy

Best Documentary
AMY – Asif Kapadia

Best Animated Film
INSIDE OUT – Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen

Best Actress
Charlotte Rampling in 45 YEARS

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Kristen Stewart in CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA

Best Actor
Leonardo DiCaprio in THE REVENANT

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Paul Dano in LOVE & MERCY

Best Ensemble Cast (tie)
SPOTLIGHT
STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON

Best Editing
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Margaret Sixel

Best Cinematography
CAROL – Edward Lachman

Best Film Music Or Score
THE HATEFUL EIGHT – Ennio Morricone

Best Non-English-Language Film
Son of Saul – Laszlo Nemes (Hungary)

EDA FEMALE FOCUS AWARDS (These awards honor WOMEN only.)

Best Woman Director
Marielle Heller for DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL

Best Woman Screenwriter
Emma Donoghue for ROOM

Best Female Action Star
Charlize Theron for MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

Best Breakthrough Performance
Alicia Vikander for EX MACHINA, TESTAMENT OF YOUTH and THE DANISH GIRL

Female Icon of the Year (presented to a woman whose work in film and/or in life made a difference)
Chantal Ackerman – In Memoriam, for being a great filmmaker and an inspiration.

EDA SPECIAL MENTION AWARDS

Best Depiction Of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction (Tie)
ANOMALISA
CAROL

Actress Defying Age and Ageism (Tie)
Charlotte Rampling
Lily Tomlin

Most Egregious Age Difference Between The Lead Character and The Love Interest
DANNY COLLINS – Al Pacino (born 1940) and Katarina Cas (born 1976)

Actress Most in Need Of A New Agent
Emma Stone for ALOHA

Movie You Wanted To Love, But Just Couldn’t
THE DANISH GIRL

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Negromancer February 2016

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