LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- The Black Film Awards recognized "Akeelah & the Bee" as its outstanding film of the year at a ceremony in Los Angeles' Wiltern Theatre.
Running under the banner of "A Celebration of Black Cinema: Past, Present & Future," the annual event awarded the dramatic film its top honor Sunday, and recognized its star, Keke Palmer, with its best actress award, Zap2it.com reported.
The spelling bee-oriented film also brought home best supporting acting awards for Palmer's co-stars, Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett.
Actor Presley Chweneyagae won the event's best acting award for his role in the drama "Tsotsi," while Spike Lee was honored for his directorial turn in "The Inside Man."
The Web site reported that since Doug Atchison, "Akeelah's" writer and director, is Caucasian he was deemed ineligible for any prizes at the event, which will air this Wednesday on TNT.
