The Writers Guild of America (WGA) has announced the film nominees for its 73rd Annual WGA Awards, having already announced its television, radio and new media nominations two weeks ago. The awards for both film and television categories will be handed out on March 21 with voting beginning in three days.
The Writers Guild is one of the most stringent guilds in terms of what can be nominated, and in the case of the WGA Awards, a project needs to be written under WGA rules or a provision with other guilds. Because of that, many smaller indies and British films aren’t eligible for the WGA Awards. Some of the high-profile movies of 2020 that are not eligible for this year’s WGA Awards, include Minari, Mank, Nomadland, The Father, Pieces of a Woman, Ammonite, Soul, Emma, The Personal History of David Copperfield, and Let Them All Talk. Some of those movies may still get Oscar nominations in the screenplay categories despite being determined to be ineligible by the WGA.
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Judas and the Black Messiah, Screenplay by Will Berson & Shaka King, Story by Will Berson & Shaka King and Kenny Lucas & Keith Lucas; Warner Bros.
Palm Springs, Screenplay by Andy Siara, Story by Andy Siara & Max Barbakow; Hulu
Promising Young Woman, Written by Emerald Fennell; Focus Features
Sound of Metal, Screenplay by Darius Marder & Abraham Marder, Story by Darius Marder & Derek Cianfrance; Amazon Studios
The Trial of the Chicago 7, Written by Aaron Sorkin; Netflix
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
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; Amazon Studios
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Based on the Play Written by August Wilson; Netflix
News of the World, Screenplay by Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies, Based upon the Novel by Paulette Jiles; Universal Pictures
One Night in Miami, Screenplay by Kemp Powers, Based on the Stage Play “One Night in Miami” by Kemp Powers; Amazon Studios
The White Tiger, Screenplay by Ramin Bahrani, Based on the Book “The White Tiger” by Aravind Adiga; Netflix
As with the caveat above, four of the five nominees for Documentary Screenplay did not make the Oscar shortlist and therefor will not go on to the Oscars. All In is the only doc that made that list.
DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY
All In: The Fight for Democracy, Written by Jack Youngelson; Amazon Studios
The Dissident, Written by Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel; Briarcliff Entertainment
Herb Alpert Is…, Written by John Scheinfeld; Abramorama
Red Penguins, Written by Gabe Polsky; Universal Pictures
Totally Under Control, Written by Alex Gibney; Neon
