AAFCA PICKS TOP FILMS OF 2011

At a press conference held today at the Universal Hilton, Gil Robertson IV, the president and founder of the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield, announced the organization's picks for the best in film in 2011.

GIL ROBERTSON AND SALLI RICHARDSON WHITFIELD

Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," received the association's top honor as Best Picture of 2011. "The Help's" Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer both scored acting honors.

VIOLA DAVIS (3rd from left) in "THE HELP"

AAFCA's Top Ten Films of 2011 are as follows in order of distinction:

1. The Tree of Life
2. Drive
3. Pariah
4. Rampart
5. Shame
6. Money Ball
7. The Descendants
8. A Better Life
9. My Week With Marilyn
10. The Help

Best Actor                              Woody Harrelson, "Rampart"
                                               (Millennium Entertainment)
Best Actress                           Viola Davis, "The Help" (Dream Works Pictures)
Best Supporting Actress        Octavia Spencer, "The Help"  (Dream Works Pictures)
Best Supporting Actor           Albert Brooks, "Drive"  (Film District)
Best Foreign Film                  Alrick Brown, Kinyarwanda (AFFRM)

 KINYARWANDA

Breakout Performance           Adepero Oduye, "Pariah"  (Focus)

 ADEPERO ODUYE IN "PARIAH"

Best Director                         Steve McQueen, "Shame" (Fox Searchlight)
Best Screenplay                    Ava DuVernay, "I Will Follow" (AFFRM)
Best Song                              Jason Reeves & Lenka Kripac, writers, "The Show"
                                              from "Moneyball"
Best Independent Film          "Pariah" (Focus)
Best Documentary                "The Black Power Mix Tape"

Special Achievement: George Lucas will receive the Cinema Vanguard award; Richard Roundtree (AAFCA Legacy); Hattie Winston (AAFCA Horizon) and Sony Pictures Entertainment will receive the Institution award.

HATTIE WINSTON

AAFCA will present this year's honors during a private dinner on Sun., Jan. 8, 2012 at the Light Space Studio at Helms Bakery.

AAFCA, founded in 2003, is the only organization of African American film media professionals. Members represent a geographically diverse cross-section of media covering the cinematic arts. It also supports the development of future black film critics and filmmakers. AAFCA is based in Los Angeles.

For more information visit www.aafca.com