Kerry Washington tops at Image Awards

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- "Django Unchained" and "Scandal" actress Kerry Washington was the night's top winner with three awards at the 44th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles.

Washington won best supporting actress, best actress in a television drama and received the NAACP President's Award recognizing special achievement and public service at the Friday ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium.

"Red Tail" -- a World War II drama about the Tuskegee airmen - was named best picture.

Beasts of the Southern Wild" was named best independent film and also took the best director award for Benh Zeitlin, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Denzel Washington won best actor for "Flight," Viola Davis won best actress for "Won't Back Down" and Samuel L. Jackson took home the second award for "Django Unchained" as best supporting actor.

In television, "Scandal" won for dramatic series and BET's "The Game" won for comedic series, the Times reported.

Comedian and actor Steve Harvey hosted the ceremony.