Queen
Latifah and Tyrese Gibson are among the artists nominated for Film Life’s 2006
Black Movie Awards–A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present and Future.Hosted
by Tyler Perry, the show will honor creative achievements by African Americans
in feature-length motion pictures, both in front of and behind the camera, as
well as recognize outstanding films portraying the Black experience.Gibson,
who is working on a double-disc rap-R&B album, is up for Outstanding Performance
by an Actor for his role alongside the Game in the movie Waist Deep.The
actor/singer will face steep competition from the likes of Presley Chweneyagae
(Tsotsi), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots), Cuba Gooding Jr. (Shadowboxer), and
DenzelWashington (Inside Man).Queen
Latifah, who was nominated for her work in Last Holiday, will battle Halle
Berry (X-Men: The Last Stand), Meagan Good (Waist Deep), Sanaa Lathan
(Something New), and Keke Palmer (Akeelah & the Bee) for Outstanding
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role.Nominated
films include Akeelah & the Bee and ATL, which picked up four
nods each. Inside
Man, Madea’s Family Reunion, Something New and Waist Deep followed
with three apiece. This
year’s show will honor Cicely Tyson with the Distinguished Career Achievement
Award, presented by Oprah Winfrey. Kimberly
Elise, Tyson’s co-star in Diary of a Mad Black Woman, will also pay tribute
to the Oscar-nominated actress, whose career includes appearances in The Autobiography
of Miss Jane Pittman, Roots, and Sounder.Director
Spike Lee will be recognized by Ruby Dee with the Ossie Davis Humanitarian Award
for his work on the HBO documentary When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four
Acts while Angela Bassett will present actor Lawrence Fishburne with the Excellence
in Arts Award.Film
Life’s 2006 Black Movie Awards–A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present and
Future will air Oct. 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on TNT.
