ABFF Honors Celebrate Legacy, Resilience and Inclusion in Hollywood

Angela Bassett, Dwayne Johnson and others deliver powerful speeches at the 10-year anniversary of the annual awards show.

Feb. 20, 2026 at 5:39am

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The American Black Film Festival Honors celebrated legacy, emphasized resilience and looked to the future with optimism in the face of a changing industry at its ceremony on Monday night in Los Angeles. The event honored a range of entertainers, including director Ryan Coogler, actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, and actress Angela Bassett, who delivered a resonant speech addressing issues like AI, racism, and the need for greater inclusion and empowerment in Hollywood.

Why it matters

The ABFF Honors is a significant event that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of Black entertainers and content creators in an industry that has historically marginalized them. The speeches by the honorees touched on important themes of resilience, representation, and the ongoing fight for true equity and inclusion in Hollywood.

The details

The event was hosted by comedian and actor KevOnStage and marked the 10-year anniversary of the ABFF Honors. Honorees included the 'Sinners' producing team of director Ryan Coogler, his wife Zinzi Coogler, and collaborator Sev Ohanian; actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, who received the Entertainment Icon Award; actress Angela Bassett, who received the Excellence in the Arts Award; rising star Damson Idris with the Horizon Award; EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson with the Renaissance Award; and actor-producer-director Salli Richardson-Whitfield with the Evolution Award.

  • The ABFF Honors ceremony took place on Monday night in Los Angeles.

The players

Ryan Coogler

An Oscar-nominated director who won the HBO Short Film Award at the 2011 ABFF festival, which helped jumpstart his career.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

A versatile entertainer who received the Entertainment Icon Award for his wide-ranging career in sports, film, television and beyond.

Angela Bassett

A veteran actress who received the Excellence in the Arts Award for her lengthy list of career achievements, including a SAG award, two Golden Globes awards, 16 NAACP Image Awards, and two Oscar nominations.

Damson Idris

A rising star who received the Horizon Award.

Jennifer Hudson

An EGOT winner who received the Renaissance Award.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield

An actor-producer-director who received the Evolution Award.

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What they’re saying

“That was the first time that there was a vote of confidence in me that came with some capital and that allowed me to really focus and get 'Fruitvale [Station]' made.”

— Ryan Coogler, Director

“I feel like if we continue to chase Black excellence, well that's connected to endurance and what endurance is connected to is resilience. And that's this room: resilient men and women.”

— Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

“No one gets to determine or define our full humanity but our God. So when I look at this moment, challenging as it is, hope is still what sustains me. My hope for the future is not simply that we are included. My hope is that we are empowered. I hope we move beyond first and only, beyond symbolism without infrastructure. Hear me and hear me well, you belong here. Your voice matters, and this industry is better when you are shaping it.”

— Angela Bassett

What’s next

The flagship American Black Film Festival will kick off its 30th year festivities on May 27 in Miami.

The takeaway

The ABFF Honors celebration underscored the continued need for greater representation, inclusion, and empowerment of Black voices in the entertainment industry. The powerful speeches by the honorees emphasized resilience, the pursuit of excellence, and a vision for a more equitable future where Black creatives are fully embraced and empowered to shape the industry.