The 56th NAACP Image Awards, presented by the NAACP, honored outstanding representations and achievements of people of color in motion pictures, television, music, and literature during the 2024 calendar year. The ceremony aired on February 22, 2025, on BET and simulcasted on CBS. Untelevised Image Awards categories were livestreamed February 21 on the Image Awards website.
Submissions were received online from August 26 to November 8, 2024, and public online voting on the shortlisted nominations for performance categories ran from January 7 to February 7, 2025, on the Image Awards website.
Winners and nominees
All nominees are listed below, and the winners are listed in bold.
Special awards President's Award Dave ChappelleChairman's Award Kamala HarrisFounder's Award BETHall of Fame Award Wayans familyVanguard Award Essence Communications Inc.Entertainer of the Year Keke Palmer Cynthia Erivo Kendrick Lamar Kevin Hart Shannon SharpeThe Mildred Bond Roxborough Social Justice Impact Award Jotaka EaddyNAACP-Archewell Digital Civil Rights Award Alondra Nelson
Motion Picture Outstanding Motion PictureOutstanding Directing in a Motion Picture The Six Triple Eight Bad Boys: Ride or Die Bob Marley: One Love The Piano Lesson Wicked RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys Jeymes Samuel — The Book of Clarence Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson Reinaldo Marcus Green — Bob Marley: One Love Steve McQueen — BlitzOutstanding Actor in a Motion PictureOutstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Martin Lawrence — Bad Boys: Ride or Die André Holland — Exhibiting Forgiveness Colman Domingo — Sing Sing John David Washington — The Piano Lesson Kingsley Ben-Adir — Bob Marley: One Love Kerry Washington — The Six Triple Eight Cynthia Erivo — Wicked Lashana Lynch — Bob Marley: One Love Lupita Nyong'o — A Quiet Place: Day One Regina King — Shirley Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion PictureOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Denzel Washington — Gladiator II Brian Tyree Henry — The Fire Inside Corey Hawkins — The Piano Lesson David Alan Grier — The American Society of Magical Negroes Samuel L. Jackson — The Piano Lesson Ebony Obsidian — The Six Triple Eight Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Exhibiting Forgiveness Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — Nickel Boys Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson Lynn Whitfield — Albany Road Outstanding International Motion PictureOutstanding Independent Motion Picture Emilia Pérez El lugar de la otra Memoir of a Snail The Seed of the Sacred Fig The Wall Street Boy (Kipkemboi) Sing Sing Albany Road Exhibiting Forgiveness Rob Peace We Grown NowOutstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion PictureOutstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Ebony Obsidian — The Six Triple Eight Brandon Wilson — Nickel Boys Clarence Maclin — Sing Sing Danielle Deadwyler — The Piano Lesson Ryan Destiny — The Fire Inside The Six Triple Eight Bob Marley: One Love The Book of Clarence The Piano Lesson WickedOutstanding Animated Motion PictureOutstanding Character Voice Performance – Motion Picture Inside Out 2 Kung Fu Panda 4 Moana 2 Piece by Piece The Wild Robot Blue Ivy Carter — Mufasa: The Lion King Aaron Pierre — Mufasa: The Lion King Anika Noni Rose — Mufasa: The Lion King Ayo Edebiri— Inside Out 2 Lupita Nyong'o — The Wild RobotOutstanding Short Form (Live Action)Outstanding Short Form (Animated) Superman Doesn't Steal Chocolate with Sprinkles Definitely Not a Monster If They Took Us Back My Brother & Me Peanut Headz: Black History Toonz “Jackie Robinson” if(fy) Nate & John Self Walk in the LightOutstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture)Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Malcolm Washington — The Piano Lesson David Fortune — Color Book RaMell Ross — Nickel Boys Titus Kaphar — Exhibiting Forgiveness Zoë Kravitz — Blink Twice RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes — Nickel Boys Barry Jenkins — The Fire Inside Steve McQueen — Blitz Titus Kaphar — Exhibiting Forgiveness Virgil Williams, Malcolm Washington — The Piano LessonOutstanding Youth Performance in a Motion PictureOutstanding Cinematography in a Feature Film Skylar Aleece Smith — The Piano Lesson Anthony B. Jenkins — The Deliverance Blake Cameron James — We Grown Now Percy Daggs IV — Never Let Go Jeremiah Daniels — Color Book Jomo Fray — Nickel Boys Andrés Arochi — Longlegs Justin Derry — She Taught Love Lachlan Milne — Exhibiting Forgiveness Rob Hardy — The Book of Clarence
Documentary Outstanding Documentary (Motion Picture)Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) Luther: Never Too Much Daughters Frida King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones The Greatest Night in Pop Dawn Porter — Luther: Never Too Much Bao Nguyen — The Greatest Night in Pop Deborah Riley Draper — James Brown: Say It Loud Jason Pollard and Sam Pollard — Ol’ Dirty Bastard: A Tale of Two Dirtys Nneka Onuorah — Megan Thee Stallion: In Her WordsOutstanding Documentary (Television)Outstanding Short Form Documentary Black Barbie: A Documentary Black Twitter: A People's History Gospel Simone Biles Rising Sprint How to Sue the Klan Camille A. Brown: Giant Steps Danielle Scott: Ancestral Call Judging Juries Silent Killer
Television
Drama Outstanding Drama Series Cross 9-1-1 Bel-Air Found Reasonable DoubtOutstanding Actor in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Actress in a Drama Series Michael Rainey Jr. — Power Book II: Ghost Aldis Hodge — Cross Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith Harold Perrineau — FROM Jabari Banks — Bel-Air Queen Latifah — The Equalizer Angela Bassett — 9-1-1 Emayatzy Corinealdi — Reasonable Doubt Shanola Hampton — Found Zoe Saldaña — LionessOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Cliff “Method Man” Smith — Power Book II: Ghost Adrian Holmes — Bel–Air Isaiah Mustafa — Cross Jacob Latimore — The Chi Morris Chestnut — Reasonable Doubt Lynn Whitfield — The Chi Adjoa Andoh — Bridgerton Coco Jones — Bel-Air Golda Rosheuvel — Bridgerton Lorraine Toussaint — The EqualizerOutstanding Directing in a Drama SeriesOutstanding Writing in a Dramatic Series Rapman — Supacell Carl Franklin — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X Marta Cunningham — Genius: MLK/X Paris Barclay — Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story Ben Watkins — Cross Azia Squire — Bridgerton Francesca Sloane, Donald Glover — Mr. & Mrs. Smith Geetika Lizardi — Bridgerton Lauren Gamble — Bridgerton
Comedy Outstanding Comedy Series Abbott Elementary How to Die Alone Poppa's House The Neighborhood The UpshawsOutstanding Actor in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Actress in a Comedy Series Damon Wayans — Poppa's House Cedric The Entertainer — The Neighborhood David Alan Grier — St. Denis Medical Delroy Lindo — UnPrisoned Mike Epps — The Upshaws Quinta Brunson — Abbott Elementary Ayo Edebiri — The Bear Kerry Washington — UnPrisoned Natasha Rothwell — How to Die Alone Tichina Arnold — The NeighborhoodOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Damon Wayans Jr. — Poppa's House Giancarlo Esposito — The Gentlemen Kenan Thompson — Saturday Night Live Tyler James Williams — Abbott Elementary William Stanford Davis — Abbott Elementary Danielle Pinnock — Ghosts Ego Nwodim — Saturday Night Live Janelle James — Abbott Elementary Sheryl Lee Ralph — Abbott Elementary Wanda Sykes — The UpshawsOutstanding Directing in a Comedy SeriesOutstanding Writing in a Comedy Series Tiffany Johnson — How to Die Alone Ayo Edebiri — The Bear Bentley Kyle Evans — Mind Your Business Robbie Countryman — The Upshaws William Smith — The Vince Staples Show Crystal Jenkins — No Good Deed Ashley Nicole Black — Shrinking Brittani Nichols — Abbott Elementary Diarra Kilpatrick — Diarra From Detroit Jordan Temple — Abbott Elementary
Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Genius: MLK/X Griselda Rebel Ridge The MadnessOutstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or SpecialOutstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Special Aaron Pierre — Rebel Ridge Colman Domingo — The Madness Kelvin Harrison Jr. — Genius: MLK/X Kevin Hart — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Laurence Fishburne — Clipped Naturi Naughton — Abducted at an HBCU: A Black Girl Missing Movie Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Sanaa Lathan — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat Sofía Vergara — Griselda Uzo Aduba — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-EatOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or SpecialOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Special Samuel L. Jackson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Don Cheadle — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Luke James — Them: The Scare Ron Cephas Jones — Genius: MLK/X Terrence Howard — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Taraji P. Henson — Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist Brandy Norwood — Descendants: The Rise of Red Jayme Lawson — Genius: MLK/X Loretta Devine — Terry McMillan Presents: Tempted By Love Sanaa Lathan — Young. Wild. Free.Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie, Documentary or SpecialOutstanding Writing in a Television Movie, Documentary or Special Tina Mabry — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can Eat Kelley Kali — Kemba Marcelo Gama — BET Awards 2024 Shanta Fripp — Black Men's Summit Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free Juel Taylor, Tony Rettenmaier, Thembi L. Banks — Young. Wild. Free. Brandon Espy, Carl Reid — Mr. Crocket Bree West, Chazitear — A Wesley South African Christmas Rudy Mancuso, Dan Lagana — Música Tina Mabry, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Cee Marcellus — The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat
Overall Acting Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television)Outstanding Guest Performance Cree Summer — Rugrats Angela Bassett — Orion and the Dark Cree Summer — The Legend of Vox Machina Dawnn Lewis — Star Trek: Lower Decks Keke Palmer — The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy Marlon Wayans — Bel-Air Ayo Edebiri— Saturday Night Live Cree Summer — Abbott Elementary Keegan-Michael Key — Abbott Elementary Maya Rudolph — Saturday Night LiveOutstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited-series) Leah Sava Jeffries — Percy Jackson and the Olympians Caleb Elijah — Cross Graceyn Hollingsworth — Gracie's Corner Melody Hurd — Cross TJ Mixson — The Madness
Reality and Variety Outstanding Talk SeriesOutstanding Reality Program, Reality Competition Series or Game Show The Jennifer Hudson Show Hart to Heart Sherri Tamron Hall The Shop (Season 7) Celebrity Family Feud Password Rhythm + Flow The Real Housewives of Potomac Tia Mowry: My Next ActOutstanding News / Information – (Series or Special)Outstanding Host in a Talk or News / Information (Series or Special) The Reidout Black Men's Summit Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Laura Coates Live NewsNight with Abby Phillip} Jennifer Hudson – The Jennifer Hudson Show Abby Phillip – NewsNight with Abby Phillip Henry Louis Gates, Jr. – Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Joy Reid – The Reidout Sherri Shepherd – SherriOutstanding Variety Show (Series or Special)Outstanding Host in a Reality, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was... BET Awards 2024 Deon Cole: Ok, Mister Katt Williams: Woke Foke Saturday Night Live Keke Palmer – Password Alfonso Ribeiro – Dancing with the Stars Nick Cannon – The Masked Singer Steve Harvey – Celebrity Family Feud Taraji P. Henson – BET Awards 2024
Other Categories Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special - Reality/Nonfiction/DocumentaryOutstanding Animated Series The Prince of Death Row Records In the Margins NCAA Basketball on CBS Sports