This Sunday, the Hilton London Metropole was to have hosted the 2008 Screen Nation awards, known in the industry as Britain's "black Baftas". But the lavish event, honouring Whoopi Goldberg, Don Warrington and Adulthood, directed by Noel Clarke, has been called off after the organisers lost 30% of their funding.

A key unnamed partner, hit hard by the economic slowdown, has pulled out of the awards, which are dedicated to championing black performers. Charles Thompson founded the awards six years ago, protesting that black performers were not given their fair share of gongs at traditional shows. On the awards' official website, he vows to seek alternative backers and to reschedule the event early next year.

"I regret to announce this sudden setback to the awards, however I promise and assure you that the extraordinary pool of outstanding talent that we have here in the UK, will be celebrated at a later date," he said in the statement.

As well as honouring Goldberg, Warrington and Clarke for special achievements in film and TV, other nominees included actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Idris Elba, and singers Leona Lewis and Estelle.

Actor and television presenter Josie D'Arby had been down to host the event, with a guest list including Ken Livingstone and Jonathan Ross. It was scheduled for broadcast on the Community Channel in the new year.