HOLLYWOOD - Brown Sugar, Barbershop, Antwone Fisher, Drumline and John Q were among the nominees announced Thursday in the motion picture category for the 34th annual NAACP Image Awards. The awards honor people and companies that support positive change for blacks in arts and entertainment. Fox Searchlight's romantic comedy Brown Sugar led the way with eight nominations, including best film. Stars Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs received best actress and actor nods, while co-stars Queen Latifah, Nicole Ari Parker, Mos Def and Boris Kodjoe had supporting performer nods. The film also received a music nomination.
The MGM comedy Barbershop, which sparked complaints in September from Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton over jokes about Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, followed close behind with five nominations. Star Ice Cube received a nomination for outstanding actor in a motion picture and supporting cast Eve, Anthony Anderson and Cedrick the Entertainer were recognized in supporting actor categories.
Other nominees for outstanding actor in a motion picture include Diggs, Ice Cube, Denzel Washington for John Q, Samuel L Jackson for Changing Lanes and Morgan Freeman for High Crimes.
Competing for outstanding actress in a motion picture nominees are Lathan, Angela Basset for Sunshine State, Jennifer Lopez for Maid in Manhattan, Thandie Newton for The Truth About Charlie and Vivica A Fox for Juwanna Mann.
Soul Food received the most nominations for best TV drama with seven. Also vying for outstanding drama series are Soul Food, Fox's Boston Public, 24 and HBO's The Wire and Six Feet Under.
The The Bernie Mac Show led the outstanding comedy series category with six nods, and will go up against ABC's My Wife and Kids and UPN's Girlfriends, One on One and The Parkers.
Show business professionals from determine the Image Awards across the country. The awards will be presented at a March 8 ceremony at the Universal Amphitheater and will be broadcast March 13 on Fox.