The NAACP announce that Apple has been recognized with a record 21 nominations for the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards across 10 critically acclaimed Apple Original films and series, with major category nominations including Outstanding Motion Picture for groundbreaking film “Emancipation”; Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”; Outstanding Independent Motion Picture “Causeway”; Outstanding Documentary “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” and “Sidney”; Outstanding Animated Series “Central Park”; and Outstanding Short-Form (Animated) “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse.”

“Emancipation” also landed honors for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for star Will Smith, Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture for Antoine Fuqua and Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) for Francine Jamison-Tanchuck. In addition to the nominations for Outstanding Documentary (Film) for “Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues” and “Sidney,” directors Sacha Jenkins and Reginald Hudlin each received nods for Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture), respectively.

Acclaimed limited series “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey” also received nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special for star Samuel L. Jackson and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special for Omar Benson Miller, alongside Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series nods for Debbie Allen and Hanelle Culpepper, and Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) for Michele Lewis.

Across its television slate, Apple TV+ earned first-time nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series for “Loot” star and executive producer Maya Rudolph; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special for Phylicia Rashad in “Little America”; and Outstanding Make-Up (Television or Film) on “Surface” for Zabrina Matiru.
The winners will be announced during the 54th NAACP Image Awards broadcast on BET on Saturday, February 25, 2023.

Apple received 21 NAACP Image Award nominations, including:

“Emancipation”
Outstanding Motion Picture
Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture — Will Smith
Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture — Antoine Fuqua
Outstanding Costume Design (Television or Film) — Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

“The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey”
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special — Samuel L. Jackson
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special — Omar Benson Miller
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series — Debbie Allen, “Robyn”
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series — Hanelle Culpepper, “Sensia”
Outstanding Make-Up (Television or Film) — Michele Lewis

“Causeway”
Outstanding Independent Motion Picture

“Louis Armstrong’s Black & Blues”
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) — Sacha Jenkins

“Sidney”
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture) — Reginald Hudlin

“Central Park”
Outstanding Animated Series

“The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse”
Outstanding Short-Form (Animated)

“Loot”
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series — Maya Rudolph

“Little America”
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special — Phylicia Rashad

“Surface”
Outstanding Make-up (Television or Film) — Zabrina Matiru

Recognized as the nation’s preeminent multicultural awards show from an African American perspective, the NAACP Image Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts and those who promote social justice through their creative work.

To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have earned 310 wins and 1,363 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy “Ted Lasso” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”

Apple TV+ offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all your favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut.