On Tuesday night, the National Board of Review’s awards gala was held in New York. NBR announces their awards ahead of time, so the winners can show up without stressing. Ryan Coogler came into the show knowing that he won NBR’s Screenplay award and that Sinners was placed on NBR’s top-ten films of the year. He had time to prepare a speech and he was thoughtful about what he wanted to say. He reminded the audience that the first time the NBR honored him, it was for Fruitvale Station, his first full-length feature film. Which is the first time I ever heard of him and the first time I saw Michael B. Jordan in a lead role. The film is based on the true story of the last day of Oscar Grant’s life before he was killed by a police officer. In his NBR speech, Coogler drew the comparison from then to now:
“Sinners” writer and director Ryan Coogler turned a night of celebration into heavy reflection … getting visibly choked up as he called attention to the killing of Renee Nicole Good on a Minneapolis street by an ICE agent last week.
During the National Board of Review Awards gala in NYC Tuesday night, Ryan — accepting his win for Best Original Screenplay — didn’t mince words. He explained he was distracted, as his heart wasn’t in New York at all … it was in Minnesota, where tensions have exploded since Renee was shot and killed last Wednesday.
Ryan noted the last time he was at the NBR Awards was back in 2014 for “Fruitvale Station,” a film about the killing of Oscar Grant … saying, “I was young and naïve and I thought the movie was going to change the world, in making sure that we don’t see people executed by civil servants on camera anymore. I was proven wrong again and again. And it’s tough to be here and not think about Minnesota. I can’t be here and not think about Renee.”
It’s heartbreaking, really. Fruitvale Station was 13 years ago, and in that time, so much has changed and yet some of the most horrible things have stayed the same. They just have different badges, different directives, different targets. Props to Coogler for standing up at an awards show and talking about it too.
Sinners writer-director Ryan Coogler gets emotional accepting screenplay award at National Board of Review gala – “I can’t be here without thinking about Renee” referring to Renee Good, killed by ICE. He thought Fruitvale Station would change the world, “I was proven wrong” pic.twitter.com/SHOYVyJjaA
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) January 14, 2026
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- New York City, NY The 2026 National Board Of Review Annual Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Pictured: Zinzi Coogler and Ryan Coogler BACKGRID USA 13 JANUARY 2026 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Arrivals for the 31st Annual Critics Choice Awards at Barker Hangar Featuring: Ryan Coogler Where: Santa Monica, California, United States When: 04 Jan 2026 Credit: Dave Starbuck/Dave Starbuck/Future Image/Cover Images **NOT FOR PUBLICATION IN GERMANY**
even death cannot silence
the murdered poet
from our wrecked hearts,
our tear-choked throats:
her voice
~ L.C. Goodwin
For Renee Nicole Good and
all her fellow victims of violence
#resist
I wish someone at the Golden Globes had said something like this too. It’s a larger stage and could have reached more people. Kathy Griffin pointed out that Julia Roberts and George Clooney had that opportunity as mostly “untouchable” but didn’t take it. I can’t help but agree.
So much this. If Ken Jennings can come out swinging, Clooney who doesn’t even live in the U.S. and is protected on many levels, who has spent years inserting himself into the conversation should be taking a bold stance at every opportunity.
I’m so glad he spoke out. I read a Reddit comment recently which made me think that the administration has targeted Somali folks in MN (and before that, Haitians) so ICE will have an excuse to target and harass Black folks as well as brown folks.
A lot of people are tuning out because the powers that be wont let us breathe. They wont consider our views. They want us to listen ti them while they fund things we dont want. I too thought that fruitvale station would change something.