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The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors<\/strong> announced today the recipients of two of their most prominent awards – Hollywood Legacy Award and Industry Renaissance Award – which each honor outstanding accomplishments in film and television. Academy Award\u24c7 winner Louis Gossett, Jr.<\/strong> (\u201cWatchmen,\u201d \u201cAn Officer and a Gentleman\u201d) will be honored with the Hollywood Legacy Award for his contributions to the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n The Hollywood Legacy Award honors a legendary artist whose trailblazing work has inspired generations and made an enduring contribution to film and television. Additionally, Emmy\u24c7 Award-winning producer, writer, and actor, Lena Waithe<\/strong> (\u201cThe Chi,\u201d \u201cBoomerang,\u201d \u201cQueen & Slim\u201d) will receive the prestigious Industry Renaissance Award, which recognizes content creators whose exemplary work in film and television contributes to changing perceptions of people of color in the entertainment industry.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re honored to celebrate these two extraordinary talents,\u201d<\/strong> said ABFF Ventures CEO, Jeff Friday. \u201cThese awards not only recognize how Mr. Gossett\u2019s contributions have propelled the industry forward but also acknowledge a new generation of trailblazers in people like Ms. Waithe, who will continue to create change and new opportunities in film and television for people of color.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n Louis Gossett Jr. has been disrupting Hollywood for over 40 years making his film debut alongside Sidney Poitier in the 1961 classic \u201cA Raisin in the Sun.\u201d Gossett Jr. was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as drill Sergeant Emil Foley in \u201cAn Officer and a Gentleman.\u201d Additionally, he has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe\u24c7 Awards, five NAACP Images Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and in 1992 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Other notable film and television credits include \u201cThe Deep,\u201d \u201cBlue Chips,\u201d \u201cDaddy\u2019s Little Girls,\u201d Tyler Perry\u2019s \u201cWhy Did I Get Married Too?,\u201d \u201cFirewalker,\u201d \u201cJaws-3D,\u201d \u201cEnemy Mine,\u201d\u201cIron Eagle,\u201d \u201cExtant,\u201d \u201cMadam Secretary,\u201d \u201cBoardwalk Empire,\u201d \u201cFamily Guy,\u201d and \u201cER,\u201d among others. Gossett Jr. is the founder of The Eracism Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating racism.<\/p>\n A triple-threat in the entertainment industry, Lena Waithe expertly taps into emerging cultural sensibilities with a sharp wit, speaking to a myriad of experiences from her unique perspective and challenging audiences to think outside of conventional norms. She has become a champion for underserved voices in the industry, creating writing and development opportunities for people of color as well as promoting diversity and representation on the screen through her production company, Hillman Grad. Currently, she serves as a writer and executive producer of two BET shows: the new series \u201cTwenties\u201d which is based off her own early years in LA and the second season of the \u201cBoomerang\u201d revival which she created alongside Halle Berry. Both shows are set to air in early 2020. Waithe has also received critical acclaim for creating Showtime\u2019s \u201cThe Chi,” which will debut its third season this year.<\/p>\n Waithe has proven herself a talent to be reckoned with, continuing to grow her body of work which includes: an overall deal to create and produce original series for Amazon Prime Video; Showtime\u2019s \u201cHow To Make Love to a Black Woman,\u201d which she will executive produce; the groundbreaking film, \u201cThe 40-Year-Old Version,\u201d which is premiering at Sundance 2020; the horror anthology series \u201cThem\u201d for Amazon; and Sundance darling \u201cDear White People,\u201d among others. Waithe first made headlines in front of the camera as Denise, in the critically acclaimed Netflix series \u201cMaster of None.\u201d In a role that was originally intended for a straight, Caucasian female, Waithe has made Denise\u2019s experience as a queer black woman uniquely her own and became the first woman of color to win an Emmy award in the category of \u201cOutstanding Writing for a Comedy Series.\u201d Waithe\u2019s feature screenwriting debut, \u201cQueen & Slim,\u201d is also nominated for ABFF Honors \u201cMovie of the Year\u201d Award.<\/p>\n ABFF Honors recently announced their nominees for \u201cMovie of the Year,\u201d a competitive award presented to the best feature length film of the year directed by and\/or starring a lead actor or actress of African descent. Voting is now open to the public at www.ABFFHonors.com\/vote. And for the second year, American Airlines will sponsor the ABFF Honors \u201cVIP Fan Experience,\u201d which is an opportunity for one consumer to attend this exclusive event and celebrate Black excellence among the most influential artists, executives, and stakeholders in the entertainment industry. One fan will be randomly selected by the ABFF organization from the pool of individuals who vote for the \u201cMovie of the Year\u201d, and receive two (2) tickets for the ceremony, two (2) round trip domestic economy-class tickets on American Airlines, hotel accommodations and a chance to walk the \u201cred carpet\u201d on the night of the ceremony. The announcement will be made on or about January 20, 2020.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/ABFF-Honors-Louis-and-Lena-300x300.jpg\")
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