Twenty-one screenwriters have been selected for their work on nine feature films as finalists for the 43rd Annual HUMANITAS Prize. For the first time, awards will be presented in three categories, drama, comedy, and family films, with three nominated films competing for each prize. The HUMANITAS Prize was created to honor film and television writers whose work inspires compassion, hope and understanding in the human family.
“Dividing the film awards into three genres allows us to recognize outstanding work across the broad spectrum of feature screenwriting,” explained Executive Director Cathleen Young. “At a time of great anxiety in our country, comedy writing that is both entertaining and life-affirming is more essential than ever. We also know that storytelling aimed at children has the capacity to impart valuable messages of tolerance, resilience and positive self-image. It was very important to us that the top contributions in these categories be honored alongside inspiring dramas.”
Winners will be announced at the annual HUMANITAS Prize event on Friday, February 16, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.
“The new feature award format means we have a more diverse group of films than ever before,” remarked President Ali LeRoi. “But what struck us is how, despite being set in such different milieus and genres, they each portray characters who are struggling for knowledge, connection, freedom or justice, and inspire us in turn to see ourselves as characters in the larger human story of the struggle for these same goals.”
43rd HUMANITAS Prize feature film finalists
Feature – Drama
MUDBOUND Screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees
THE POST Written by Liz Hannah and Josh Singer
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Written by Martin McDonagh
Feature – Comedy
LADY BIRD Written by Greta Gerwig
THE BIG SICK Written by Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES (NEW AND SELECTED) Written by Noah Baumbach
Feature – Family
COCO Story by Lee Unkrich, Jason Katz, Matthew Aldrich, Adrian Molina, Screenplay by Adrian Molina and Matthew Aldrich
FERDINAND Story by Ron Burch & David Kidd and Don Rhymer, Screenplay by Robert L. Baird and Tim Federle and Brad Copeland
THE BREADWINNER Screenplay by Anita Doron, Story by Deborah Ellis