2021 NAACP Image Award Nominees

The 52nd Annual NAACP Image Award nominees were announced on February 2, 2021. The NAACP Image Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts and those who promote social justice through their creative work.

The awards ceremony will air on BET Saturday, March 27, 2021, at 8:00 PM ET. Non-televised award categories will live stream over five nights March 22-26, 2021. 

The NAACP will count audience votes to select the winners in select categories for this year's awards. See the full list of nominees here and cast your vote!

Congratulations to the NYU Tisch alumni, friends, and faculty nominated for an NAACP Image Award, or who worked on a nominated project. This year, 31 alumni, friends, and faculty were nominated, or worked on a nominated project, across 33 categories on 17 projects. We will continue to update this list as we learn of additional nominees.

Outstanding Comedy Series

#blackAF
Alison McDonald '93 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) co-executive producer/screenwriter

Insecure
Melina Matsoukas '03 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), executive producer
Laura Kittrell '08 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) co-executive producer/co- producer/producer/screenwriter
Jason Lew '03 (BFA, Drama) co-producer/writer

The Last O.G.
Ayesha Rokadia '04 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), producer

Outstanding Short Form Series – Comedy or Drama

#FreeRayshawn
Seith Mann '02 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), director/executive producer

Mapleworth Murders
Lorne Michaels (Dean’s Council), executive producer

Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

Riot Baby
Tochi Onyebuchi '12 (MFA, Dramatic Writing)

Outstanding Motion Picture

Da 5 Bloods
Professor Spike Lee '82 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)/Hon. '98, Artistic Director, Dean's Council, director/screenwriter/producer (p.g.a.)

Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

Emperor
Tyler Boehm '05 (BFA, Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), executive producer
Susan Kirr '96 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) executive producer

Farewell Amor
Ekwa Msangi '02 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & tv) director/screenwriter/producer (p.g.a.)
Danielle Massie '16 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV) assistant producer

The 24th
Kevin Willmott (Goldberg Department of Dramatic Writing), director/screenwriter/producer

Outstanding International Motion Picture

His House
Michael Schaefer '82 (Drama) executive producer
Steven Schneider '02 MA/'04 PhD (Cinema Studies) executive producer

Outstanding Animated Motion Picture

Scoob!
Chris Columbus '80 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), Dean’s Council, executive producer

Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance – Motion Picture

Soul
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson aka Questlove, Faculty

Outstanding Short Form (Live Action)

Gets Good Light
Alejandra Parody '15 (BFA Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)

Outstanding Documentary (Film)

Mr. Soul!
Sam Pollard, Professor, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV, co-director

On the Record
Alexandra Johnes '99 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), consulting producer

Outstanding Documentary (Television)

Black Love
Christopher Scott Cherot '93 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV), producer

The Last Dance
Nina Krstic '08 (MA, Cinema Studies) producer

Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series

Little America – “The Manager”
Rajiv Joseph '04 (MFA, Dramatic Writing)

Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series

Mrs. America – “Shirley”
Tanya Barfield '92 (BFA, Drama)

Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series

Lovecraft Country – “Jig-a-Bobo”
Misha Green '06 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film &TV)

Small Axe – “Mangrove”
Steve McQueen (Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)

Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special

The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel
Christine Swanson '00 (MFA, Kanbar Institute, Graduate Film)

The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special
Alan Muraoka '83 (MFA, Design)

Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
George C. Wolfe '84 (MFA, Dramatic Writing), Dean’s Council

Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)

By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem
Keith McQuirter '01 (BFA, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV)

Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2)
Sam Pollard, Professor, Kanbar Institute, Film & TV

We apologize for any omissions. Please contact tsoa.alumni@nyu.edu with edits or additions.