This year, the highly anticipated Humanitas Prizes for screenwriting took a unique approach in announcing their winners. Instead of the usual glamorous ceremony at the Beverly Hilton, the winners were announced through the Los Angeles Times. This decision was made in solidarity with the ongoing strike by various unions, including the Unite Here Local 11 hospitality workers.
The Humanitas organization was founded in 1974 and is dedicated to telling stories that explore the human experience. Their goal is to acknowledge our common humanity and bring about transformation through storytelling. As part of their mission, Humanitas recognized the striking Writers Guild of America with its prestigious “Voice for Change” award. This award acknowledges individuals who use their platform to advocate for meaningful change. Past recipients of this award include trailblazing creators Ava DuVernay and Kenya Barris.
On top of honoring the Writers Guild of America, the Humanitas Prizes also recognized outstanding work in the field of screenwriting. The winners spanned different categories, including drama, comedy, family feature film, limited series, TV movie, special, and documentary.
One of the notable winners was Craig Mazin, who won the teleplay award for drama television for his work on “The Last of Us.” Mazin received praise for his emotionally charged episode titled “Long, Long Time.” In the comedy teleplay category, Amy Sherman-Palladino emerged victorious for her series finale episode of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” titled “Four Minutes.” These two shows have captivated audiences with their compelling storytelling and received critical acclaim.
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In the film categories, Tyler Perry’s Netflix project, “A Jazzman’s Blues,” won the drama feature film award. The film tells a poignant and powerful story that resonated with viewers. Cooper Raiff’s film, “Cha Cha Real Smooth,” took home the prize for comedy feature film. This indie gem charmed audiences with its heartfelt and humorous narrative.
Other winners included Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio” for family feature film, the Anne Frank limited series “A Small Light,” and Ondi Timoner’s thought-provoking documentary “Last Flight Home.” These projects showcased the breadth and diversity of storytelling in the industry.
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing strike, the usual awards luncheon had to be canceled. Nevertheless, a celebration for the winners is planned to take place at the Avalon Hollywood on November 2nd. This event will provide an opportunity for the winners to gather and be recognized for their outstanding contributions to the world of screenwriting.
The full list of winners and nominees can be found below. Each nominee has made a significant impact in their respective categories, and their work deserves recognition.
DRAMA TELEPLAY:
– Winner: “The Last of Us” – “Long, Long Time” written by Craig Mazin
– “Better Call Saul” – “Saul Gone” written by Peter Gould
– “A Million Little Things” – “One Big Thing” written by D.J. Nash and James Roday Rodriguez
– “All Creatures Great and Small” – “Surviving Siegfried” written by Ben Vanstone
COMEDY TELEPLAY:
– Winner: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” – “Four Minutes” written by Amy Sherman-Palladino
– “Atlanta” – “The Goof Who Sat By the Door” written by Francesca Sloan and Karen Joseph Adcock
– “Reservation Dogs” – “Mabel” written by Sterlin Harjo and Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs
– “Abbott Elementary” – “Read-A-Thon” written by Garrett Werner
CHILDREN’S TELEPLAY (Live Action or Animation):
– Winner: “Life By Ella” – “Prison or Palace” written by Hernán Barangan
– “Pinecone & Pony” – “A Life of Adventure” written by Gigi D.G.
– “The Crossover” – “X’s and O’s” written by Kwame Alexander and Damani Johnson
– “Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur” – “Hair Today Gone Tomorrow” written by Lisa Muse Bryant
DRAMA FEATURE FILM:
– Winner: “A Jazzman’s Blues” written by Tyler Perry
– “She Said” written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
– “Till” written by Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, and Chinonye Chukwu
COMEDY FEATURE FILM:
– Winner: “Cha Cha Real Smooth” written by Cooper Raiff
– “The Greatest Beer Run Ever” written by Peter Farrelly, Brian Currie, and Pete Jones
– “Champions” written by Mark Rizzo
– “Dealing with Dad” written by Tom Huang
FAMILY FEATURE FILM:
– Winner: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” written by Guillermo del Toro and Patrick McHale
– “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” written by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow
– “Gigi & Nate” written by David Hudgins
LIMITED SERIES, TV MOVIE, OR SPECIAL:
– Winner: “A Small Light” – “Pilot” written by Tony Phelan and Joan Rater
– “Little America” – “Paper Piano” written by Brian Savelson
– “Little America” – “Camel on a Stick” written by Lee Eisenberg and Idil Ibrahim
– “An Amish Sin” written by Michael Nankin and Barbara Nance
DOCUMENTARY:
– Winner: “Last Flight Home” written by Ondi Timoner
– “The Human Trial” written by Lisa Hepner
– “Murder in Big Horn” – “Episode 1” written by Razella Benally and Matthew Galkin
– “Hold Your Fire” written by Stefan Forbes
SHORT FILM:
– Winner: “Sevap/Mitzvah” written by Sabina Vajrača
– “Other Homes” written by Joseph Lee
– “LOOK BACK AT IT” written by Felicia Pride
– “Ninety-five Senses” written by Chris Bowman and Hubbel Palmer
The Humanitas Prizes serve as a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to create a meaningful impact on society. By honoring these talented writers and their work, the Humanitas organization continues to support the pursuit of stories that explore the depths of the human experience.
