BLACK MOVIE AWARDS news
Tyler Perry to Host Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS

August 31, 2006



Tyler Perry to Host Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS – A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future,
Premiering Wednesday, Oct. 18, on TNT


Cicely Tyson to Receive Distinguished Career Achievement Award

Laurence Fishburne Honored Excellence in Arts Award

Lady Sings the Blues Slated to be Inducted into Classic Cinema Hall of Fame

Nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture of the Year Include Akeelah & the Bee, ATL,
Four Brothers, Inside Man, Madea’s Family Reunion and Tsotsi

Suzanne de Passe and Jeff Friday to Executive-Produce Event

Tyler Perry – who has wowed audiences with such blockbuster movies as Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Madea’s Family Reunion, as well as the popular syndicated series Tyler Perry’s House of Payne – has signed on to host Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS – A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future, presented by Turner Network Television (TNT).  The gala awards show, which launched on TNT last year, recognizes creative achievement by persons of African descent in feature-length motion pictures, both in front of and behind the camera, and honors outstanding films portraying the Black experience.  This year’s top award nominees include Akeelah & the Bee and ATL, each of which earned four nominations, including Outstanding Motion Picture of the Year, and Inside Man, Madea’s Family Reunion, Something New and Waist Deep, each of which earned three nominations.

Film Life’s 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS, executive produced by Suzanne de Passe, CEO of de Passe Entertainment and Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc., will premiere Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), exclusively on TNT.

Award-winning actress Cicely Tyson will receive the Distinguished Career Achievement Award, recognizing a career that includes such films as The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Woman Called Moses and TNT’s Heat Wave.  And Laurence Fishburne, a nominee for his work this year in Akeelah & the Bee, will receive the Excellence in Arts Award. Sidney J. Furie’s 1972 biographical movie Lady Sings the Blues, which features Diana Ross as jazz legend Billie Holiday, will be inducted into the Black Movie Awards Classic Cinema Hall of Fame.  The film, which marked Ross’ motion picture debut, also stars Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor.

Tyler Perry’s movie Madea’s Family Reunion, is a triple-nominee, for Outstanding Achievement in Screenwriting (Tyler Perry), Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Lynn Whitfield) and Outstanding Motion Picture. Other Outstanding Motion Picture nominees include Akeelah & the Bee, ATL, Four Brothers, Inside Man and Tsotsi.

Nominees for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role include Presley Chweneyagae (Tsotsi), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots), Tyrese Gibson (Waist Deep), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Shadowboxer) and Denzel Washington (Inside Man). 

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role nominees include Halle Berry (X-Men: The Last Stand), Meagan Good (Waist Deep), Sanaa Lathan (Something New), Queen Latifah (Last Holiday) and Keke Palmer (Akeelah & the Bee).