Black Reel Awards of 2008


The 2008 Black Reel Awards, which annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of black people in feature, independent and television films, took place in Washington, D.C. on December 14, 2008. Cadillac Records, The Secret Life of Bees and Slumdog Millionaire all won three awards at the ceremony.

Winners and nominees

Winners are listed first and highlighted in bold.
Best FilmBest Director

  • Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Secret Life of Bees
  • * Malcolm D. Lee – Soul Men
  • * Spike Lee – Miracle at St. Anna
  • * Darnell Martin – Cadillac Records
  • * Gabriele Muccino – Seven Pounds
    • Best ActorBest Actress
  • Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
  • * Don Cheadle – Traitor
  • * Mos Def – Be Kind Rewind
  • * Chiwetel Ejiofor – Redbelt
  • * Derek Luke – Miracle at St. Anna
  • Queen Latifah – The Secret Life of Bees
  • * Jennifer Hudson – The Secret Life of Bees
  • * Sanaa Lathan – The Family That Preys
  • * Keke Palmer – The Longshots
  • * Alfre Woodard – The Family That Preys
    • Best Supporting ActorBest Supporting Actress
  • Jeffrey Wright – Cadillac Records
  • * Mos Def – Cadillac Records
  • * Terrence Howard – Iron Man
  • * Brandon T. Jackson – Tropic Thunder
  • * Eamonn Walker – Cadillac Records
  • Viola Davis – Doubt
  • * Alice Braga – Blindness
  • * Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
  • * Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  • * Sophie Okonedo – The Secret Life of Bees
    • Best Screenplay, Adapted or OriginalOutstanding Original Score
  • Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Secret Life of Bees
  • * Darnell Martin – Cadillac Records
  • * James McBride – Miracle at St. Anna
  • * Tyler Perry – The Family That Preys
  • * Tyler Perry – Meet the Browns
  • A. R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire
  • * Terrence Blanchard and Steve Jordan – Cadillac Records
  • * Stanley Clarke – Soul Men
  • * Mason Daring – Honeydripper
  • * Steve Isles – RocknRolla
    • Best Breakthrough PerformanceBest Ensemble
  • Dev Patel – Slumdog Millionaire
  • * Omar Benson Miller – Miracle at St. Anna
  • * Columbus Short – Cadillac Records
  • * Saïd Taghmaoui – Traitor
  • * Tristan Wilds – The Secret Life of Bees
  • Michelle Adams and Kimberly Hardin – Cadillac Records
  • * Kim Coleman, Béatrice Kruger and Karen Kaia Livers – Miracle at St. Anna
  • * Aisha Coley, Craig and Mark Fincannon – The Secret Life of Bees
  • * John Hubbard – Honeydripper
  • * Gail Stevens and Loveleen Tandan – Slumdog Millionaire