Film Life's 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS

“Akeelah & the Bee” was named Outstanding Motion Picture of the Year during Film Life's 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS – A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future. The movie took a total of 4 awards during the ceremony, which taped this past weekend at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles for telecast on TNT Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT). Other top winners include Prseley Chweneyagae, who was honored as Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in “Tsotsi,” and Keke Palmer, honored as Outstanding Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Akeelah & the Bee.”

Tyler Perry (“Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” “House of Payne”) hosted the gala awards show that 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. Film Life's 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS are executive-produced by Jeff Friday, CEO of Film Life, Inc., and Suzanne de Passe, CEO of de Passe Entertainment. Returning for the second year are Suzanne Coston serving as producer, Ron De Moraes directing and Ruth Adkins Robinson segment producer and writer.

The 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS also honored Laurence Fishburne as Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in “Akeelah & the Bee” and Angela Bassett as Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance in “Akeelah & the Bee.” Spike Lee was awarded for Outstanding Achievement in Directing for his work on “Inside Man” and Kriss Turner took the prize for Outstanding Achievement in Writing for the movie “Something New.”

In addition to the competitive awards, several honorary awards were given. Oprah Winfrey presented the Distinguished Career Achievement Award to acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson, recognizing a career that includes such projects as “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman” “Roots” and “Madea's Family Reunion,” as well as “Sounder,” for which she earned an Oscar® nomination. Kimberly Elise, Keke Palmer and Lynn Whitfield also paid tribute to Tyson.

Ruby Dee presented the Ossie Davis Humanitarian Award to Spike Lee, for his work bringing to light the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina through his HBO documentary “When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts.”

Angela Bassett and Cuba Gooding, Jr., the honoree's co-stars in ground-breaking films “What's Love Got To Do With It?” and “Boyz n the Hood,” presented Laurence Fishburne with Excellence in Arts Award.

Sidney J. Furie's 1972 movie biography of legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday. “Lady Sings The Blues,” became the second film inducted into the Black Movie Awards Classic Cinema Hall of Fame. Billy Dee Williams, who co-starred with Diana Ross in the film, was on-hand for the induction.

Nominees for and recipients of the 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS were chosen by a prominent committee of film critics, entertainment editors and prestigious members of the artistic community. This year's eligible films were released in the U.S. between Aug. 1, 2005, and July 31, 2006.

Following is the complete list of winners of the 2006 BLACK MOVIE AWARDS:

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Presley Chweneyagae (as Tsotsi) – “Tsotsi,” Miramax Films

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Laurence Fishburne (as Dr. Larabee) – “Akeelah & the Bee,” Lionsgate

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Keke Palmer (as Akeelah) – “Akeelah & the Bee,” Lionsgate

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Angela Bassett (as Tanya Anderson) – “Akeelah & the Bee,” Lionsgate

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN SCREENWRITING
Kriss Turner – “Something New,” Focus Features

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Spike Lee – “Inside Man,” Universal Pictures

OUTSTANDING MOTION PICTURE
“Akeelah & the Bee” (Producers: Laurence Fishburne, Nancy Hult Ganis, Sid Ganis, Danny Llewelyn, Michael Romersa) Lionsgate