Kiki Layne News

The HBO Films presentation NATIVE SON, based on the classic novel by Richard Wright, will debut SATURDAY, APRIL 6 at 10:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO, it was announced today by Len Amato, president, HBO Films. Directed by first-time director and renowned visual artist Rashid Johnson from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (“Topdog/Underdog”), the drama had its world premiere in January at the Sundance Film Festival.

Highly recognized talent from various walks of life will introduce the eight Best Picture nominees on Oscar Sunday, Feb. 24, announced show producer Donna Gigliotti and co-producer and director Glenn Weiss.

Stars continue to line up to present on the Oscars – the year's most-watched, live entertainment event – on Sunday, Feb. 24, announced show producer Donna Gigliotti and co-producer and director Glenn Weiss. “The Oscars” airs live on The ABC Television Network and is broadcast in more than 225 countries and territories.

Regina King, Sanaa Lathan and Elaine Welteroth have been confirmed as presenters for the 12th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills, CA on Thursday, February 21, 2019.  Adding to the 'Black Girl Magic' on stage will be a performance by award-winning singer and actress Amber Riley.  This year, ESSENCE celebrates the global influence of Hollywood's leading female artist-activists and will honor actress Amandla Stenberg (“The Hate U Give”), actress/singer and author Jenifer Lewis (“Black-ish”), actress KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and actress Regina Hall (“Shaft”). The event will be hosted by singer/actress Kelly Rowland.

The nominees for the 50th NAACP Image Awards were exclusively announced today at the Television Critics Association's (TCA) TV One's joint press conference with Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP and Alfred Liggins, Chairman and CEO of TV One. The winners will be revealed during the Two-Hour LIVE TV special airing on TV One on Saturday, March 30, 2019.

From Academy Award® Winner Barry Jenkins,* adapted from James Baldwin's acclaimed novel, comes this timeless love story set in early 1970s Harlem. Newly engaged 19-year-old Tish (KiKi Layne) and her fiancé Fonny (Stephan James) have a beautiful future ahead. But their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Now the pair and their families must fight for justice in the name of love and the promise of the American dream in this lush, moving, dramatic film, also starring Academy Award®Nominee Regina King**.

Singer / actress, Kelly Rowland, has been confirmed to host the 12th annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Awards in Beverly Hills, CA.  ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, will celebrate the artistry and activism of actress Amandla Stenberg (“The Hate U Give”), actress/singer and author Jenifer Lewis (“Black-ish”), actress KiKi Layne (“If Beale Street Could Talk”) and actress Regina Hall (“Support The Girls”) at its annual Oscar-week luncheon on Thursday, February 21, 2019.

Casamigos kicked off the first weekend of Sundance with Michael B. Jordan, Shailene Woodley, Kiki Layne, David Arquette, Gerard Butler, G-Eazy, Isidora Goreshter, Lena Waithe, Marshmello, Black Panther and Training Day star Denzel Whitaker, Angie Martinez, former NBA player Baron Davis, Utah Jazz's Boris Diaw, Dallas Cowboys' Tyrone Smith and more at TAO Park City last night.

Sundance Institute will convene dozens of offscreen events, including inclusive and intersectional conversations on the next wave of storytelling, radical data transparency, the future of democracy at its intersection with the arts, behind-the-scenes panels on the art of filmmaking and musical performances that range from intimate to raucous at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival taking place in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance, Utah, January 24 through February 3, 2019.

ESSENCE, the number one media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, today revealed the four extraordinary honorees for its annual Black Women in Hollywood Awards, celebrating the global influence of Hollywood's leading female artist-activists—both in front of the camera and behind-the-scenes. The highly-anticipated Oscar-week luncheon will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2019 at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, CA.

The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) and the Broadcast Television Journalists Association (BTJA) announced today the star-studded line up of presenters who will take the stage during the 24th Annual Critics' Choice Awards.  Previous #SeeHer Award recipient Viola Davis will present this year's honoree, Claire Foy, with her #SeeHer Award.  The cast of “The Big Bang Theory,” including Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, and Melissa Rauch will be on hand to recognize show creator Chuck Lorre with the Critics' Choice Creative Achievement Award, just in time to celebrate the show's final season.  Additional stars from some of this year's favorite films and television shows who will present throughout the evening include Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, Nina Dobrev, Winston Duke, America Ferrera, Sara Gilbert, Josh Hutcherson, Stephan James, Jameela Jamil, Nicole Kidman, Joel Kinnaman, KiKi Layne, Eugene Levy, Justina Machado, Ricky Martin, Jeanine Mason, Chrissy Metz, Mandy Moore, Olivia Munn, Catherine O'Hara, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Lu Richardson, Sarah Silverman, Cole Sprouse, Ben Stiller, and Bradley Whitford.  They all join previously announced host Taye Diggs.  

The BAFTA Tea Party was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on January 5, 2019. The event was presented by American Airlines, BBC America and Jaguar Land Rover.

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced today the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. The Festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 24 - February 3, 2019.

Academy Award-winning writer/director Barry Jenkins' first film since the Best Picture Oscar-winning Moonlight is If Beale Street Could Talk, his adaptation of James Baldwin's novel — the first English-language feature film based on the work of the author, to whom the movie is dedicated.

The Gotham Awards ceremony was held last night, Monday, November 26th, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK closes out inaugural Smithsonian African American Film Festival at the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, October 27th.

The Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the nation's premier member organization of independent storytellers, announced today the nominees for the 28th Annual IFP Gotham Awards. Ten competitive awards will be presented to independent features and series. In addition to the competitive awards, Gotham Tributes will be given to actors Rachel Weisz and Willem Dafoe, director Paul Greengrass, and the Gotham Industry Tribute to Jon Kamen.

'The Girl in the Spider's Web' will premiere at the 13th Rome Film Fest. The festival's opening night film will be 'Bad Times at the El Royale.' Other films in the lineup include Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet's 'Beautiful Boy,' 'Halloween,' and 'The Miseducation of Cameron Post.' See the full lineup below!

The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) today announced the 2018 honorees to be recognized at the 21st annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival, taking place Oct. 27-Nov. 3. Now the largest university-run film festival in the country, the annual tribute to excellence in film has screened over 110 Oscar-nominated films and honored over 80 legendary actors, directors, producers, writers and filmmakers from around the world.

Annapurna Pictures released the official trailer for If Beale Street Could Talk, in select theaters November 30. Watch the trailer below!