Russell Simmons’ All Def Movie Awards honors ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ ‘Friday,’ more

In a lighthearted yet thematically serious response to the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, music mogul Russell Simmons and comedian-actor Tony Rock have inaugurated the All Def Movie Awards to honor primarily, but not exclusively, black film professionals.

Staged Wednesday night at the Lure nightclub in Hollywood, and set to air as a one-hour special on Fusion at 7 p.m. Sunday, the ceremony saw “Straight Outta Compton” awarded Best Picture over “Beasts of No Nation,” “Chi-Raq,” “Concussion,” “Creed” and “Dope.” This category as well as Most Quoted Movie — won by “Friday” over “The Color Purple,” “Coming to America,” “Scarface” and “Training Day” — were decided by online voting at Simmons’ All Def Digital website. It was unclear how the other nine awards were decided.

“We’re celebrating people who would not otherwise have been celebrated,” Simmons, 58, told Entertainment Weekly on the event’s black carpet. “I’m less concerned with integration of the Oscars, although I’m very appreciative, and I applaud them for the work they’re doing now. I’m less concerned with that than I am the senior ranks in Hollywood. Who picks the talent? Who decides what director will work or not?”

When the formation of the awards was announced on Feb. 11, Simmons said in a statement, “I don’t expect a 90-year-old Academy member to see ‘Straight Outta Compton’ or vote for it,” adding that, “The All Def Movie Awards are not the Black Oscars, but they could be.”

Organized in just 10 days, said Entertainment Weekly, by Simmons and host Rock, 41, brother of comedian and Oscars host Chris Rock, the awards recognized both traditional categories and such tongue-in-cheek entries as Best Black Survivor in a Movie (Ice Cube as Danny Rich in 1997’s “Anaconda”) and Best Helpful White Person (Christoph Waltz).

Most winners of the awards, called the Goldies, did not attend, said the Los Angeles Times, though Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Will Smith and Vanguard Award-winner Norman Lear sent video acceptance speeches.