Props: Well-Seasoned

Well-Seasoned

Remi Weekes

As Black people, we add seasoning not only to our food, but also to award ceremonies with our unique style, flavour and grace. We’ve been around the block a few times so there’s not much left to surprise us that we might feel is overdue – or, to stretch the analogy, feel underdone. In 2021, the BAFTA and Academy Awards both made headlines for the diversity of their nominees. While, this time, the ceremonies evaded hashtags like #OscarsSoWhite, with 16 of the 24 actor nominations at the BAFTAs being people of colour, the stats did not necessarily translate into awards. Big wins on both sides of the pond included Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020) and Judas and the Black Messiah (2020), with Daniel Kaluuya winning his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in the latter. Clear winner of this category, it does, however, beg the question of why lead co-star LaKeith Stanfield was nominated in the same category – who exactly did Kaluuya do such a brilliant job of supporting? Nevertheless, Stanfield’s nomination contributed to the film’s five Academy Award nominations and became the first production in the Best Picture category with an entirely Black cast.

More firsts came from Mia Neal and Jamika Wilson, who became the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling for their work on Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The film also received awards for Best Costume Design but missed out on any acting awards. Neither Chadwick Boseman, who was selected posthumously for his first BAFTA and Academy Award in the Best Leading Actor category, nor Viola Davis were awarded the Academy Award for Best >>

Bukky Bakray Actor or Actress in a Leading Role. Both non-victories came as a devastating blow as many had predicted the award would go to actors of colour. At least, the shortfall of acting triumphs was recovered in the music categories. Alongside winning Best Animated Film, Soul (2020) won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, with composer Jon Batiste also winning his first BAFTA in the same category. Meanwhile, H.E.R. shared an Oscar with D’Mile and Tiara Thomas for Best Original Song for Fight for You from Judas and the Black Messiah. This year, the BAFTAs continued to be increasingly diverse in their nomination line-up and winners. One of the bigger wins went to Remi Weekes for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for his work on His House (2020) – an addition to the recently growing output of Black horror films. The evening also saw Bukky Bakray winning the EE Rising Star Award, the only publicly voted award, for her leading role in Rocks (2019).

While moves towards inclusivity are welcomed, the ongoing reality of the lack of diversity is exposed by the proliferation of ‘firsts’. Chloé Zhao, who won Best Director for Nomadland (2020), is, for example, the first woman of colour and second ever woman to attain the award.

Progressive change appears to have been made, but ultimately will it marinate and continue? Naomi Phillip n

1-31 October

Join us at BFI Southbank and on BFI Player this October as we celebrate the Black creatives who have enriched cinema and put Black voices and stories on screen.

Watch the Black Britain on Film Collection for FREE on BFI Player.

Striking, illuminating and sometimes surprising images of Black Culture, spanning over a century of British film and TV.

At times furious, joyous and moving, debbie tucker green’s adaptation of ear for eye, her acclaimed play on racial injustice in the UK and USA is nothing short of mesmerising. Screening at the BFI London Film Festival, as well as on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer. Sat 16 Oct.

Image credit: Syd Shelton/BBC/Rogan Productions

Join us for a day of talks, screenings and conversation about the extraordinary life and career of broadcaster and campaigner Darcus Howe.

Also at BFI Southbank: a preview of powerful documentary Anatomy of Wings; focus on Black LGBTQ icon Marlon Riggs and a discussion on The Black Art Movement in Film, amongst many more.