Angela Bassett to be Honored with Excellence in the Arts Award at This Year’s ABFF Honors
In anticipation for next month’s 8th annual American Black Film Festival Honors event, the film icons slated to be recognized for their unparalleled careers in the industry have just been revealed — and the Excellence in the Arts Award (the most prestigious of the evening) will go to Angela Bassett.
The ABFF has become one of the premier film events for celebrating and showcasing works by Black artists and members of the film industry, and is one of most reputable film festivals in the nation. The festival itself began in 1997, and is held each year in Miami during the early summer, but in 2016 they launched “ABFF Honors” — a gala-style awards event that takes place every February and is devoted to highlighting the outstanding achievements and work of Black filmmakers and creators during Black History Month.
2026 will mark the festival’s 30-year milestone, making this year’s Honors segment extra special.
Bassett will be honored for her expansive work in the film industry as well as her role as a champion of inclusivity, emphasizing her acting credits in movies like “Boyz n the Hood,” “Malcolm X,” “Black Panther,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” and TV shows like “9-1-1” and the NatGeo docuseries “Queens,” which garnered her an Emmy for her narration.
She also has various directing and producing credits to her name, primarily through her Bassett Vance Productions company, which operates as a partner to 20th Television. Her career has taken her to dizzying heights, earning her several Emmy nominations (as well as a recent win), a SAG award, two Golden Globes, 16 NAACP Image Awards and one Honorary Oscar — among several other nominations.
Other 2026 Honorees and Special Tribute
Other prominent figures in the motion picture and television industries being recognized for their bodies of work and commitment to their crafts at this year’s ABFF Honors include Dwayne Johnson (Entertainment Icon Award), Jennifer Hudson (Renaissance Award), Salli Richardson-Whitfield (Evolution Award), and Damson Idris (Horizon Award).
The evening will also include a special tribute segment to the creative team behind Ryan Coogler’s award-winning film “Sinners,” celebrating the film’s success and impact in the industry.
Event Details and What to Expect
The ABFF Honors celebration will be held on Monday, February 16th at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills and will be an exclusive, non-televised event, hosted by comedian and NY Times best-selling author, KevOnStage.
For more information, visit https://www.abffhonors.com/
