Selma, one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, was just named the top film of 2014 by the African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).
The association, which honors Black films and media professionals, released its list of winners today, preceding its annual February awards ceremony. Belle, Black and White, Dear White People, Beyond the Lights, and Glory were among the champs.
“Our members found the output of cinema released this year to be a truly insightful mix of titles that reflect the world we live in,” AAFCA President Gil Robertson said in a statement to ESSENCE.com. “The members of AAFCA were especially pleased with this range of storytelling supported by the studios that gave voice to the many sides of the experience of black people in America and around the world.”
However, the top honor went to Selma, opening with a limited release on Christmas day and everywhere else on January 9, 2015. The movie—which centers on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organizing the historic civil rights marches in Selma, Alabama—has been generating positive buzz, particularly since it comes in the midst of countless racially charged protests that are happening around the country.