LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 Filmmaker Ava DuVernay remembered working as a publicist years ago, struggling to draw major traffic to star-studded events for the African American Film Critics Association.
No matter which renowned Black actor showed up 鈥 to 鈥 the organization known as AAFCA still had a hard time garnering mainstream media's attention and attendance from non-Black honorees to its flagship awards ceremony and other events. But the group, led by co-founder and president Gil Robertson IV, stayed its course to review and pay homage to Black actors and filmmakers detailing the African American experience.
Now, two decades after its founding as a small organization, AAFCA has grown in size and scope and built an admirable reputation in Hollywood. Its will be held this weekend.
鈥淚t was an idea. It was a dream. It was this little dinky thing, but it was always beautiful,鈥 said DuVernay, whose public relations company represented AAFCA the first few years before she became a filmmaker. 鈥淚t was rough around the edges. It was respect. The community came, the press wouldn鈥檛 cover it. Actors, creatives, writers, and directors immediately jumped to it. We worked hard to establish what it was... So, I have a great affection for this group.鈥
These days, AAFCA has become a consistent support base for Black Hollywood and beyond. The organization's annual awards has evolved into a glitzy affair with high-profile attendees such as , and . Non-Black honorees have also become regulars, such as Native American and Oscar nominee , who was recognized for her breakout role in 鈥 鈥 during AAFCA's 15th annual awards ceremony last month in Beverly Hills.
Throughout the year, AAFCA pushes to leave an influential mark with a few tentpole events including its annual awards; AAFCA Goes to Broadway in New York; AAFCA TV Honors and the Special Achievement Awards, which will be given out Sunday in Los Angeles.
AAFCA partnered this year with for a curated in-flight film collection to celebrate Black History Month and joined forces with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to launch a monthly conversation to help Black creatives navigate the industry. Last year, the organization collaborated with the Grammy Museum to explore the intersection of music and storytelling through a yearlong program.
鈥淲e have reach,鈥 said Robertson, a longtime journalist and author. His organization was launched in 2003 after the founders noticed the lack of Black journalistic voices covering the film industry from an African diaspora. The group has grown to 130 members 鈥 including businesswoman Chaz Ebert and entertainment journalist Kelley L. Carter 鈥 from across the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.
鈥淭his is not just another chicken dinner,鈥 he said.
Madeline Di Nonno, president and CEO of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, said Robertson鈥檚 ability to genuinely befriend people connected to the TV and film industry has contributed to AAFCA鈥檚 sustainability. She noted how the awards has been able to draw non-Black creative attendees such as Oscar winners Frances McDormand, Kathryn Bigelow and Bong Joon-ho.
鈥淲hen Gil calls, you jump,鈥 said Di Nonno, who was honored in 2019 as part of AAFCA鈥檚 events recognizing women in cinema. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 jump because of fear. You jump out of love and respect. AAFCA has deep, longstanding respect. It鈥檚 always high caliber, high quality, very strategic.鈥
DuVernay credits Robertson for ensuring that AAFCA makes its presence felt in Hollywood. She said his efforts within the film community are 鈥渄eeply felt.鈥
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to show up to your place. He鈥檚 going to show up to your premiere,鈥 DuVernay said of Robertson. 鈥淗e鈥檚 going to show up to your set. He鈥檚 going to make sure that you see him around town, and it鈥檚 not in a flashy way. It feels like community. He鈥檚 from here. He been living here, and he鈥檚 seen so many of these careers from their infancy. He鈥檚 been a source of consistent on the ground presence.鈥
DuVernay praised AAFCA for being a support base for those in Black Hollywood who are overlooked elsewhere.
鈥淎AFCA has been a beautiful example of building your own house approach,鈥 said the director, who was recently honored by the organization for her film 鈥 ,鈥 a critically acclaimed project that was hardly recognized during Hollywood鈥檚 award season. 鈥淚t allows for there to be a sense of pride, commitment, solidarity within a community that鈥檚 inside a larger community.鈥
As an independent filmmaker, can attest. The director said he's been overlooked for much of his career 鈥 except from AAFCA.
鈥淎in鈥檛 nobody thinking of me, but Gil and AAFCA did,鈥 said Taylor, who directed 鈥淢eet the Blacks,鈥 鈥淭he Intruder,鈥 鈥淔atale鈥 and 鈥淏lack and Blue.鈥 He鈥檚 become a major player in the independent filmmaking space through his Hidden Empire Film Group, but he hasn鈥檛 been invited to the Independent Spirit Awards.
Taylor will be honored Sunday at AAFCA's Special Achievement Awards for being a talent on the rise.
鈥淕il watched my trajectory,鈥 he said. 鈥淗e saw me when no one else did. How is it possible that you could have this level of success and you鈥檝e never even been invited to the Independent Spirit Awards? You and your wife. Think about that. Everything we鈥檝e made has been independent at the highest-level making money. And we ain鈥檛 never got an invite to the Spirit Awards or to an independent event. That鈥檚 what Gil represents.鈥
Taylor applauded Robertson for honoring director Antoine Fuqua and actor Will Smith last year for their film 鈥淓mancipation.鈥 It came during a time when Smith faced backlash for his Oscars slap and a 10-year .
鈥淚nstead of turning his back on him and his project, he viewed Will as an artist,鈥 Taylor said. 鈥淗e celebrated Will and Antoine's artistry, because they worked their (expletive) off on that movie. He awarded them. That's what it's about, right? ... That's what AAFCA represents.鈥
Robertson is excited about the organization鈥檚 future. Along with growing its tentpole events, he鈥檚 looking to move into more curation spaces, increase its range of partnerships and close major book deals.
He also wants to continue pushing AAFCA's initiatives to recognize heritage months for LGBTQ, Latino and Asian-Pacific communities and women's history.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking to continue to expand our footprint,鈥 Robertson said. 鈥淚 think the next 20 years will be filled with new opportunities.鈥
