The 2011 Black Reel Awards Winners!

The winners for this year's Black Reel Awards winners have been announced, and it was a relatively small indie film that took on the Tyler Perry juggernaut for the big time upset. Night Catches Us, which stars Anthony Mackie and Kerry Washington as a pair of former members of the Black Panthers trying to move on with their lives, took home five awards including Outstanding Film, Actor, and Actress. Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls walked away with three wins out of a whopping fourteen nominations. 

This was my first year voting in the Black Reel Awards, and I'd like to thank my friend and colleague Tim Gordon for the opportunity.  Below are the full list of winners.

Outstanding Film
Night Catches Us | Magnolia

Outstanding Director
Tanya Hamilton – Night Catches Us

Outstanding Actor
Anthony Mackie – Night Catches Us

Outstanding Actress
Kerry Washington = Night Catches Us

Outstanding Supporting Actor
Wesley Snipes – Brooklyn’s Finest

Outstanding Supporting Actress
Phylicia Rashad – For Colored Girls

Outstanding Score
The Roots – Night Catches Us

Outstanding Song
Shine (John Legend) – Waiting for Superman

Outstanding Ensemble
For Colored Girls | Lionsgate

Outstanding Breakthrough Performance
Tessa Thompson – For Colored Girls

Outstanding Feature Documentary
Waiting for Superman

Outstanding Independent
Preacher’s Kid | Warner Bros.

Outstanding Independent Short
Katrina’s Son | Ya’ke

Outstanding Independent Documentary
For the Best and For the Onion

Outstanding Television Documentary
If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise