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.