The 8th American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors announced the honorees of its annual awards ceremony recognizing excellence in the motion picture and television industry. In a ceremony taking place on Monday, February 16 and will be hosted by KevOnStage. This year, the ABFF Honors will pay special tribute to the creative team behind the motion picture Sinners — the extraordinary cinematic achievement from acclaimed filmmakers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, and Sev Ohanian, starring Michael B. Jordan. The film’s visionary team also includes Cinematographer Autumn Durald, Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter, and Production Designer Hannah Beachler. Additionally, the evening will honor powerhouse talent Jennifer Hudson, host of The Jennifer Hudson Show with the Renaissance Award, trailblazing director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield with the Evolution Award, and critically acclaimed actor Damson Idris with the Horizon Award.

The 2026 ABFF Honors recipients are:

Special Tribute to the Creative Team of “Sinners”– This year’s tribute honors the visionary filmmaking team behind Sinners, led by writer, producer, and director Ryan Coogler, whose bold storytelling continues to shape the landscape of American cinema, alongside producers Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian. This creative collective has crafted a work that captures both the power and poetry of the Black experience, marking another landmark in contemporary film.

Warner Bros. Pictures’ SINNERS

Renaissance Award – Jennifer Hudson is an EGOT-winning artist and entertainment icon whose acclaimed talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show, has earned multiple Emmy, NAACP, and GLAAD honors. Last year, she released her first holiday album, The Gift of Love, featuring world-class collaborations on both classics and original songs.The ABFF Honors Renaissance Award is presented to a trendsetting content creator whose exemplary work contributes to changing perceptions of people of color in the entertainment industry.

Evolution Award – Emmy-nominated director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield is a trailblazer behind acclaimed series including HBO’s Task and The Gilded Age. She made history as the first Black woman nominated for an Emmy for Best Director in a Drama Series for Winning Time for which she also executive produced and continues to inspire through her groundbreaking work in film and television. The ABFF Honors Evolution Award pays tribute to an exceptional talent whose creative journey reflects remarkable growth, having achieved success across multiple art forms, while expanding opportunities for others.

Horizon Award – British-Nigerian actor Damson Idris, best known for his career-defining lead role in FX’s Snowfall, stars opposite Brad Pitt in Apple’s blockbuster F1 and will next portray Miles Davis in Miles & Juliette. The ABFF Honors Horizon Award honors a formidable force in film and television, recognizing their recent achievements and future promise.

From filmmaker Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” is a genre-bending and multi-layered exploration of Black culture and the Blues music that is unique to it through the lens of a Southern Gothic epic. Set in 1932 Mississippi, Michael B. Jordan stars as twin brothers Smoke and Stack, who, after chasing success in the North, return to Clarksdale, MS to open a juke joint and revive the soul and spirit of their hometown. As music and dance meld in celebration of artistry, culture and history, an evil descends, threatening to devour the fabric and heart of the community – and all that Smoke and Stack have worked to achieve. Uniquely shot on both Ultra Panavision 70 and IMAX, Sinners is a singular and emotionally resonant tale of cultural change that resonates still today.

Jennifer Hudson is a Grammy, Oscar, Tony, and Emmy winning artist and entertainment icon. Hudson’s nationally syndicated talk show, “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” is the recipient of thirteen Daytime Emmy Award nominations and two People’s Choice Awards nominations. The show, which continually features an impressive lineup of guests, earned her the AAFCA We See You Award, GLAAD’s Excellence in Media Award, and multiple NAACP Image Awards for Best Talk Show Host and Outstanding Talk Series. Last October, Hudson released her highly anticipated first holiday album, The Gift of Love, which features genre-defying, world-class collaborations on classics and original songs.

Emmy-nominated director and executive producer Salli Richardson-Whitfield is one of the most accomplished and trailblazing filmmakers working in television today. She recently directed and executive produced HBO’s Task, created by Brad Ingelsby and starring Mark Ruffalo, and has been a driving creative force behind Julian Fellowes’ acclaimed series The Gilded Age, where she has directed and executive produced all three seasons. In 2024, she made history as the first Black woman nominated for an Emmy for Best Director in a Drama Series for HBO’s Winning Time, earning additional recognition as an executive producer nominee for The Gilded Age. A former leading actress turned celebrated filmmaker, Richardson-Whitfield’s directing credits span Wheel of Time, American Gods, Scandal, and Queen Sugar. A Chicago native now based in Los Angeles, she continues to inspire and break barriers both behind and in front of the camera.

Damson Idris is a British-Nigerian actor whose commanding performances and magnetic presence have established him as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic leading men. Following his breakout role in FX’s Snowfall, Idris stars in Apple’s record-breaking blockbuster F1 opposite Brad Pitt, and will next appear in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s Children of Blood and Bone for Paramount and as Miles Davis in Miles & Juliette, continuing to showcase his remarkable range and depth on screen.

Kevin Fredericks (aka KevOnStage) is a comedian, actor, writer, producer, and entrepreneur whose sharp, relatable humor has earned him a massive global following. As founder of KevOnStage Studios, he’s behind hit projects including BET’s Churchy, the upcoming series The Hospital, and the bestselling book Marriage Be Hard, co-written with his wife, Melissa. He also co-hosts the hit podcasts Here’s The Thing and The Bald Brothers, currently touring sold-out theaters nationwide. Known for his smart, consistently hilarious clean comedy, Fredericks continues to merge humor and culture, building one of the most influential comedic brands of his generation.