Colman Domingo will receive the London Film Critics’ Circle’s inaugural Innovation Award.
Domingo has been recognized for his work as an actor, producer, writer and director in film, television and theater. He won an Emmy for his role in “Euphoria.” He starred in Broadway musical “The Scottsboro Boys” (2011) for which he received a Tony nomination, and an Olivier nomination when the production transferred to London’s West End in 2014. He is a producer on “Fat Ham,” a retelling of “Hamlet,” which was nominated for five Tonys.
This year, he played Mister in film “The Color Purple” and civil-rights activist Bayard Rustin in Netflix’s “Rustin,” for which he has been nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award. Domingo’s film credits also include Barry Jenkins’ “If Beale Street Could Talk,” Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” and Ava DuVernay’s “Selma.” He was nominated for an Independent Spirit and SAG Ensemble Award for George C. Wolfe’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and for an Independent Spirit and Gotham Award for Janicza Bravo’s “Zola.”
The award is named in memory of critic Derek Malcolm, chief critic for The Guardian and The Evening Standard and a long-standing member of the Critics’ Circle and served a term as its president, who died earlier this year. He was honorary president of Intl. Federation of Film Critics (Fipresci), a former director of London Film Festival and governor of the British Film Institute.
“It’s an honor to receive the inaugural Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation and to be recognized in this way by the London Film Critics’ Circle, a group of journalists I deeply respect,” Domingo said. “This has been an incredible year for film, and having the opportunity to play Bayard Rustin, a man who embodied the word ‘trailblazer,’ has been a great privilege.”
London Critics’ chair Rich Cline added: “In each of his roles, Colman Domingo adds layers of detail that are revolutionary on-screen, drawing attention to important themes that need to be discussed and addressed. Even in a genre movie like ‘Candyman,’ his character quietly connects the film’s horror to historical injustice. We are proud to name him as the very first winner of this new Innovation Award, which is named in honour of our good friend and well-loved disruptor Derek Malcolm.”
Domingo will accept the honor at the 44th London Critics’ Circle Film Awards ceremony on Feb. 4, 2024. Andrew Haigh’s “All of Us Strangers” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” led the awards nominations, which were revealed on Wednesday.
