Hollywood’s awards season is in full swing with the ongoing announcements from its most prominent guilds. Today the writers chimed in with their picks for the year’s best screenwriting ahead of the 72nd annual Writers Guild of America Awards, to be celebrated in a virtual ceremony March 21.
Among the 2021 WGA Award film honorees are original screenplay nominees “Judas and the Black Messiah,” “Palm Springs,” “Promising Young Woman,” “Sound of Metal,” and “The Trial of the Chicago 7,” and adapted screenplay nominees “Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “News of the World,” “One Night in Miami,” and “The White Tiger.”
Most of those titles are also in the running at the upcoming Golden Globe and SAG Awards. Each year, otherwise buzzy contenders do not meet requirements in the WGA’s Minimum Basic Agreement and are classified ineligible (therefore, “Nomadland,” “Minari,” and animated films like “Soul” are not in the 2021 mix).
Last year’s original and adapted screenplay winners, “Parasite” and “Jojo Rabbit,” respectively, went on to win 2020 Academy Awards in those categories. With next month’s announcement of the Directors and Producers Guild Award contenders, this unusually extended Oscar race could come into sharper focus.
Nominees for the WGA’s early announced television, new media, radio, and news categories include TV dramas “Better Call Saul,” “The Boys,” “The Crown,” “The Mandalorian,” and “Ozark,” plus comedies “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Great,” “PEN15,” “Ted Lasso,” and “What We Do in the Shadows.” Freshman outings “The Great” and “Ted Lasso” were also recognized in the new series category.
Made up of film, TV, radio, and new media writers, the Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) together cast nominations and vote for their annual accolades. For more information and a full list of nominees and winners, visit www.wga.org and www.wgaeast.org.
Check out Backstage’s film audition listings!