Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of -- but only if she can overcome her insecurities and her distracting home life. She also must get past Dr. Larabee's demons, and a field of more experienced and privileged fellow spellers.
:
- Black Movie Awards
2006
Won
Black Movie Award
Outstanding Motion Picture
Laurence Fishburne
Sidney Ganis
Nancy Hult
Dan Llewellyn
Michael Romersa
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Laurence Fishburne
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Keke Palmer
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Angela Bassett
Nominated
Black Movie Award
Outstanding Motion Picture
Laurence Fishburne
Sidney Ganis
Nancy Hult
Dan Llewellyn
Michael Romersa
Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Laurence Fishburne
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
Keke Palmer
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Angela Bassett
- Satellite Awards
2006
Nominated
Satellite Award
Best Youth DVD