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Writers Guild Awards
Current: 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards
File:WGA Award (Nicole Dubuc cropped).jpg
Awarded forWriting achievements in film and other media
CountryUnited States
Presented by
First awarded1949; 76 years ago (1949)
Websiteawards.wga.org

The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, radio, and from 2008–2019, video game writing, including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. In 2004, the awards show was broadcast on television for the first time.

Eligibility[]

The screen awards are for films that were exhibited theatrically during the preceding calendar year. The television awards are for series that were produced and aired between December 1 and November 30, regardless of how many episodes aired during this time period.

Additionally, scripts must be produced under the jurisdiction of the WGA or under a collective bargaining agreement in Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom.[1]

Lifetime achievement awards[]

Each year at the awards, two lifetime achievement awards are presented. One is for screenwriting, and the other is for TV writing:

  • Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement
  • Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement

Categories[]

Current categories[]

Discontinued categories[]

  • Best Written Musical (1949–1969)
  • Best Written Western (1949–1951)
  • Best Written Film Concerning American Scene (1949–1952)
  • Best Written Drama (1949–1969)
    • Best Drama Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984)
    • Best Drama Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984)
  • Best Written Comedy (1949–1969)
    • Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984)
    • Best Comedy Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984)
  • Best Videogame Writing

Ceremonies[]

Winners[]

A * denotes a film that also went on to win an Academy Award.

Films[]

Current awards[]

Best Original Screenplay
  • 1968: Bonnie and ClydeDavid Newman and Robert Benton
  • 1969: The ProducersMel Brooks *
  • 1985: Broadway Danny RoseWoody Allen
  • 1986: WitnessPamela Wallace, William Kelley, and Earl W. Wallace *
  • 1987: Hannah and Her SistersWoody Allen *
  • 1988: MoonstruckJohn Patrick Shanley *
  • 1989: Bull DurhamRon Shelton
  • 1990: Crimes and MisdemeanorsWoody Allen
  • 1991: AvalonBarry Levinson
  • 1992: Thelma & LouiseCallie Khouri *
  • 1993: The Crying GameNeil Jordan *
  • 1994: The PianoJane Campion *
  • 1995: Four Weddings and a FuneralRichard Curtis
  • 1996: BraveheartRandall Wallace
  • 1997: FargoJoel Coen and Ethan Coen *
  • 1998: As Good as It GetsMark Andrus and James L. Brooks
  • 1999: Shakespeare in LoveMarc Norman and Tom Stoppard *
  • 2000: American BeautyAlan Ball *
  • 2001: You Can Count On MeKenneth Lonergan
  • 2002: Gosford ParkJulian Fellowes *
  • 2003: Bowling for ColumbineMichael Moore
  • 2004: Lost in TranslationSofia Coppola *
  • 2005: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindCharlie Kaufman, Michael Gondry, and Pierre Bismuth *
  • 2006: CrashPaul Haggis and Bobby Moresco *
  • 2007: Little Miss SunshineMichael Arndt *
  • 2008: JunoDiablo Cody *
  • 2009: MilkDustin Lance Black *
  • 2010: The Hurt LockerMark Boal *
  • 2011: InceptionChristopher Nolan
  • 2012: Midnight in ParisWoody Allen *
  • 2013: Zero Dark ThirtyMark Boal
  • 2014: HerSpike Jonze *
  • 2015: The Grand Budapest HotelWes Anderson and Hugo Guinness
  • 2016: SpotlightTom McCarthy and Josh Singer *
  • 2017: MoonlightBarry Jenkins; story by Tarell Alvin McCraney *
  • 2018: Get OutJordan Peele *
  • 2019: Eighth GradeBo Burnham
  • 2020: ParasiteBong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won; story by Bong Joon-ho *
  • 2021: Promising Young WomanEmerald Fennell *
Best Adapted Screenplay
  • 1985: The Killing FieldsBruce Robinson
  • 1986: Prizzi's HonorRichard Condon and Janet Roach
  • 1987: A Room with a ViewRuth Prawer Jhabvala *
  • 1988: RoxanneSteve Martin
  • 1989: Dangerous LiaisonsChristopher Hampton *
  • 1990: Driving Miss DaisyAlfred Uhry *
  • 1991: Dances with WolvesMichael Blake *
  • 1992: The Silence of the LambsTed Tally *
  • 1993: The PlayerMichael Tolkin
  • 1994: Schindler's ListSteven Zaillian *
  • 1995: Forrest GumpEric Roth *
  • 1996: Sense and SensibilityEmma Thompson *
  • 1997: Sling BladeBilly Bob Thornton *
  • 1998: L.A. ConfidentialBrian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson *
  • 1999: Out of SightScott Frank
  • 2000: ElectionAlexander Payne and Jim Taylor
  • 2001: TrafficStephen Gaghan *
  • 2002: A Beautiful MindAkiva Goldsman *
  • 2003: The HoursDavid Hare
  • 2004: American SplendorShari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini
  • 2005: SidewaysAlexander Payne and Jim Taylor *
  • 2006: Brokeback MountainLarry McMurty and Diana Ossana *
  • 2007: The DepartedWilliam Monahan *
  • 2008: No Country for Old MenJoel Coen and Ethan Coen *
  • 2009: Slumdog MillionaireSimon Beaufoy *
  • 2010: Up in the AirJason Reitman
  • 2011: The Social NetworkAaron Sorkin *
  • 2012: The DescendantsAlexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash *
  • 2013: ArgoChris Terrio *
  • 2014: Captain PhillipsBilly Ray
  • 2015: The Imitation GameGraham Moore *
  • 2016: The Big ShortAdam McKay and Charles Randolph *
  • 2017: ArrivalEric Heisserer
  • 2018: Call Me by Your NameJames Ivory *
  • 2019: Can You Ever Forgive Me?Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty
  • 2020: Jojo RabbitTaika Waititi *
  • 2021: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm — Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad; based on characters created by Sacha Baron Cohen
Best Documentary Screenplay
  • 2005: Super Size MeMorgan Spurlock
  • 2006: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the RoomAlex Gibney
  • 2007: Deliver Us from EvilAmy J. Berg
  • 2008: Taxi to the Dark – Alex Gibney
  • 2009: Waltz with BashirAri Folman
  • 2010: The CoveMark Monroe
  • 2011: Inside JobCharles Ferguson
  • 2012: Better This World – Katie Galloway, and Kelly Duane de la Vega
  • 2013: Searching for Sugar ManMalik Bendjelloul
  • 2014: Stories We TellSarah Polley
  • 2015: The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz – Brian Knappenberger
  • 2016: Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – Alex Gibney
  • 2017: Command and ControlRobert Kenner, Brian Pearle, Kim Roberts, and Eric Schlosser
  • 2018: JaneBrett Morgen
  • 2019: Bathtubs Over BroadwayOzzy Inguanzo, and Dava Whisenant
  • 2020: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley – Alex Gibney
  • 2021: The Dissident — Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel

Discontinued categories[]

Best Written Drama
  • 1949: The Snake PitFrank Partos and Millen Brand
  • 1950: All the King's MenRobert Rossen
  • 1951: Sunset BoulevardCharles Brackett, Billy Wilder, and D. M. Marshman Jr. *
  • 1952: A Place in the SunMichael Wilson and Harry Brown *
  • 1953: High NoonCarl Foreman
  • 1954: From Here to EternityDaniel Taradash *
  • 1955: On the WaterfrontBudd Schulberg *
  • 1956: MartyPaddy Chayefsky *
  • 1957: Friendly PersuasionMichael Wilson
  • 1958: 12 Angry MenReginald Rose
  • 1959: The Defiant OnesNedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith *
  • 1960: The Diary of Anne FrankFrances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
  • 1961: Elmer GantryRichard Brooks *
  • 1962: The HustlerSidney Carroll and Robert Rossen
  • 1963: To Kill a MockingbirdHorton Foote *
  • 1964: HudHarriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch
  • 1965: BecketEdward Anhalt *
  • 1966: The PawnbrokerEdward Lewis Wallant, Morton Fine, and David Friedkin
  • 1967: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Ernest Lehman
  • 1968: Bonnie and ClydeDavid Newman and Robert Benton
  • 1969: The Lion in WinterJames Goldman *
Best Original Drama
  • 1970: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance KidWilliam Goldman *
  • 1971: PattonFrancis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North *
  • 1972: Sunday Bloody SundayPenelope Gilliatt
  • 1973: The CandidateJeremy Larner *
  • 1974: Save the TigerSteve Shagan
  • 1975: ChinatownRobert Towne *
  • 1976: Dog Day AfternoonFrank Pierson *
  • 1977: NetworkPaddy Chayefsky *
  • 1978: The Turning PointArthur Laurents
  • 1979: Coming HomeNancy Dowd, Robert C. Jones, and Waldo Salt *
  • 1980: The China SyndromeMike Gray, T. S. Cook and James Bridges
  • 1981: Melvin and HowardBo Goldman *
  • 1982: RedsWarren Beatty and Trevor Griffiths
  • 1983: E.T. the Extra-TerrestrialMelissa Mathison
  • 1984: Tender MerciesHorton Foote *
Best Adapted Drama
Best Written Comedy
  • 1949: Sitting PrettyF. Hugh Herbert
  • 1950: A Letter to Three WivesJoseph L. Mankiewicz *
  • 1951: All About EveJoseph L. Mankiewicz *
  • 1952: Father's Little DividendAlbert Hackett and Frances Goodrich
  • 1953: The Quiet ManFrank Nugent
  • 1954: Roman HolidayIan McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo, and John Dighton *
  • 1955: SabrinaBilly Wilder, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Lehman
  • 1956: Mister RobertsJoshua Logan and Frank Nugent
  • 1957: Around the World in 80 DaysJames Poe, John Farrow, and S. J. Perelman *
  • 1958: Love in the AfternoonBilly Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond
  • 1959: Me and the ColonelS. N. Behrman and George Froeschel
  • 1960: Some Like It HotBilly Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond
  • 1961: The ApartmentBilly Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond *
  • 1962: Breakfast at Tiffany'sGeorge Axelrod
  • 1963: That Touch of MinkStanley Shapiro and Nate Monastar
  • 1964: Lilies of the FieldJames Poe
  • 1965: Dr. StrangeloveStanley Kubrick, Terry Southern, and Peter George
  • 1966: A Thousand ClownsHerb Gardner
  • 1967: The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are ComingWilliam Rose
  • 1968: The GraduateCalder Willingham and Buck Henry
  • 1969: The Odd CoupleNeil Simon
Best Original Comedy
  • 1970: Bob & Carol & Ted & AlicePaul Mazursky and Larry Tucker
  • 1971: The Out-of-TownersNeil Simon
  • 1972: The HospitalPaddy Chayefsky *
  • 1973: What's Up, Doc?Peter Bogdanovich, Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton
  • 1974: A Touch of ClassMelvin Frank and Jack Rose
  • 1975: Blazing SaddlesMel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, and Alan Uger
  • 1976: ShampooRobert Towne and Warren Beatty
  • 1977: The Bad News BearsBill Lancaster
  • 1978: Annie HallWoody Allen and Marshall Brickman *
  • 1979: Movie MovieLarry Gelbart and Sheldon Keller
  • 1980: Breaking AwaySteve Tesich *
  • 1981: Private BenjaminNancy Meyers, Harvey Miller, and Charles Shyer
  • 1982: ArthurSteve Gordon
  • 1983: TootsieDon McGuire, Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal
  • 1984: The Big ChillLawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek
Best Adapted Comedy
  • 1970: Goodbye, ColumbusArnold Schulman
  • 1971: MASHRing Lardner Jr. *
  • 1972: KotchJohn Paxton
  • 1973: CabaretJay Presson Allen
  • 1974: Paper MoonAlvin Sargent
  • 1975: The Apprenticeship of Duddy KravitzLionel Chetwynd and Mordecai Richler
  • 1976: The Sunshine BoysNeil Simon
  • 1977: The Pink Panther Strikes AgainBlake Edwards and Frank Waldman
  • 1978: Oh, God!Larry Gelbart
  • 1979: Heaven Can WaitElaine May and Warren Beatty and Same Time, Next YearBernard Slade
  • 1980: Being ThereJerzy Kosiński
  • 1981: Airplane!Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker
  • 1982: Rich and Famous – Gerard Ayres
  • 1983: Victor/VictoriaBlake Edwards
  • 1984: Terms of EndearmentJames L. Brooks *
Best Written Musical
  • 1949: Easter ParadeFrances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Sidney Sheldon
  • 1950: On the TownAdolph Green and Betty Comden
  • 1951: Annie Get Your GunSidney Sheldon
  • 1952: An American in ParisAlan Jay Lerner *
  • 1953: Singin' in the RainBetty Comden and Adolph Green
  • 1954: LiliHelen Deutsch and Paul Gallico
  • 1955: Seven Brides for Seven BrothersAlbert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, and Dorothy Kingsley
  • 1956: Love Me or Leave MeDaniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart *
  • 1957: The King and IErnest Lehman
  • 1958: Les GirlsVera Caspary and John Patrick
  • 1959: GigiAlan Jay Lerner *
  • 1960: The Five Pennies – Robert Smith, Jack Rose, and Melville Shavelson
  • 1961: Bells Are RingingBetty Comden and Adolph Green
  • 1962: West Side StoryErnest Lehman
  • 1963: The Music ManMeredith Willson, Franklin Lacey, and Marion Hargrove
  • 1964: Not awarded
  • 1965: Mary PoppinsBill Walsh and Don DaGradi
  • 1966: The Sound of MusicMaria Augusta Trapp, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, and Ernest Lehman
  • 1967: Not awarded
  • 1968: Thoroughly Modern Millie – Richard Morris
  • 1969: Funny GirlIsobel Lennart
Best Written Film Concerning Problems with the American Scene
  • 1949: The Snake PitFrank Partos and Millen Brand
  • 1950: All the King's MenRobert Rossen
  • 1951: The MenCarl Foreman
  • 1952: Bright VictoryRobert Buckner
Best Written Western

Television[]

Video games[]

The video game category was first added in 2008, but discontinued after the 2019 awards.[2][3]

Outstanding Achievement in Video Game Writing

See also[]

References[]

  1. McNary, Dave (December 3, 2013). "'12 Years a Slave,' 'Fruitvale Station' Excluded From WGA Awards". Variety. Retrieved December 3, 2013. {{cite web}}:
  2. "Videogame Writers Caucus". www.wga.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27. {{cite web}}:
  3. Blake, Vikki (October 6, 2019). "The Writers Guild of America drops games writing category from its 2020 awards". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2021-03-27. {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

Template:WGAAwards Template:Television in the United States

Template:Film awards

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