Ryan Coogler, Lynn Whitfield To Be Honored At HBCU First Look Film Fest
Marsai Martin is also among the honorees as the 2025 festival returns to Howard University this year.
Ryan Coogler attends the Academy Museum 5th Annual Gala in Partnership with Rolex at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on October 18, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Oscars/Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
Ryan Coogler, Lynn Whitfield and Marsai Martin are being honored at this year’s HBCU First Look Film Festival. The film fest makes its return to Howard University this year, and takes place this week, from Nov. 6 - 8. The yearly fest brings together industry notables for dialogues, screenings, and interactive workshops, and this year’s theme is once again “Elevate Future Storytellers.”
This year, Martin also serves as the HBCUFLF Creative Ambassador. According to reports, the honorees will be recognized at the Howard Theater, where festivities will begin. Whitfield will be honored at Cafe Mocha Radio’s 15th Anniversary Salute THEM Awards, and Coogler will receive the inaugural HBCU First LOOK "I Aspire“ Global Impact Award presented in partnership with Howard University’s Chadwick Boseman College of Fine Arts.
Coogler’s Black Panther star, the late Chadwick Boseman, was a Howard University alum, as is Whitfield. The honor comes as Coogler has been having a remarkable 2025: his horror film Sinners was a blockbuster that also earned critical raves; he served as executive producer on Marvel’s Ironheart on Disney+, and he was just honored at the 14th Annual LACMA Art+Film Gala.
The HBCUFLF is now in its third year and offers a combination of fireside chats and filmmaking panels with diverse perspectives on the many facets of the industry. This year will also feature P. Valley star J. Alphonse Nicholson, Chicago P.D. actor LaRoyce Hawkins, supervising producer of Peacock’s Bel-Air, Felicia Pride and others.
Other attendees at the HBCU First Look Film Festival will include Ben’s Chili Bowl co-founder Virginia Ali, AARP EVP Edna Kane Williams, singer Kenny Lattimore, philanthropist Angel Gregorio, and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.
For tickets and more information about the HBCU First Look Film Festival, you can visit www.hbcufirstlook.com.
