--- title: "African-American Film Critics Honor Prince’s Cinema Legacy" id: "37844" type: "post" slug: "african-american-film-critics-honor-princes-cinema-legacy" published_at: "2017-04-20T19:53:41+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T19:13:32+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/04/20/african-american-film-critics-honor-princes-cinema-legacy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/04/20/african-american-film-critics-honor-princes-cinema-legacy.md" excerpt: "Late R&B icon Prince did something most of his musical contemporaries could only dream of: He starred in a critically acclaimed hit film that won an Oscar and even spent some time behind the camera as a director. The African-American..." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "Celebration" - "filmmaking" - "Prince" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » African-American Film Critics Honor Prince’s Cinema Legacy The loss of music icon Prince Rogers Nelson, [who died one year ago this week](http://associationsnow.com/2016/04/princes-quiet-philanthropic-legacy/) , still runs deep for millions of devoted fans. Many have reflected on the Purple One’s memory through his vast collection of songs. The [African-American Film Critics Association (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aafca.com/) (AAFCA), on the other hand, is trying to do so with film. During his peak period in the 1980s and early 1990s, Prince starred in three dramatic works (*Purple Rain*, *Graffiti Bridge*, and *Under the Cherry Moon*) and one concert film (*Sign o’ the Times*)—and for each film other than the Oscar-winning *Purple Rain*, he was credited as director. Starting Friday, AAFCA will sponsor showings of the artist’s dramatic films at a number of museums and libraries through the end of the month. This weekend, [the American Jazz Museum (opens in a new tab)](https://aafca_prince_kansascity.eventbrite.com/) in Kansas City, Missouri, and the [Blair-Caldwell Public Library in Denver (opens in a new tab)](https://aafca_prince_denver.eventbrite.com/) will host events honoring Prince’s film work, while the [African-American Research Library (opens in a new tab)](https://aafca_prince_fortlauderdale.eventbrite.com/) in Broward County, Florida, and Atlanta’s [Auburn Avenue Research Library (opens in a new tab)](https://aafca_prince_atlanta.eventbrite.com/) will do the same next weekend. [In comments to The Root (opens in a new tab)](http://thegrapevine.theroot.com/african-american-film-critics-association-honor-princes-1794393208) , AAFCA President Gil Robertson noted that Prince’s film success was relatively rare, especially because he had a major hit film under his belt. “Prince was one of the few black musicians who enjoyed success in cinema,” Robertson noted. “His aptitude as a visual artist was stunning and continues to be influential today. It is both a privilege and an honor to share his cinematic works with our community partners around the country.” (We’ll overlook the five Golden Raspberry Awards *Under the Cherry Moon* won, and point out instead that *Purple Rain* [is the last film (opens in a new tab)](http://www.goldderby.com/article/2016/prince-oscar-acceptance-speech-video-purple-rain/) to win an Oscar for Best Original Song Score—putting it in the esteemed company of *West Side Story*, *Let It Be*, and *The Sound of Music*.) (Warner Bros.) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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