The 16th Annual Final® Draft Awards are coming up on Tuesday, March 2, and this year’s ceremony will look a bit different. Needless to say, the COVID-19 pandemic has had quite an impact on our industry, and there is no better time to celebrate the many outstanding voices that have shined a light on our humanity over the past year.
The awards—which recognize outstanding and elevated achievement in storytelling—will honor five standout screenwriters who have made an impact on the entertainment industry. The celebration will be held virtually on Tuesday, March 2 at 5 p.m. (PT) and 8 p.m. (ET), and while the ceremony will be more reserved than usual, it still boasts some exciting star power. Among the presenters are Sacha Baron Cohen, Mary Harron, John Boyega, Paul Schrader, and Laith Nakli.
In addition, the ceremony will be hosted by Final Draft President Shelly Mellott, the first female president in the company’s 30-year history. As she told Variety.com, “2020 has been a year of cataclysmic change and has amplified the need and appreciation for voices like our honorees who are telling stories that illuminate our culture, history, and humanity. These are provocative storytellers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives sharing their vision of the world and bringing us together at a time when we need it most. We could not be more proud to honor them and their inspiring work.”
The Honorees
Many unique and original voices are being honored this year, including:
- Radha Blank, New Voice Award: Film (The Forty-Year-Old Version).
- Steve McQueen, Storyteller Award: TV (Small Axe).
- Sofia Coppola, Storyteller Award: Film (On The Rocks).
- Ramy Youssef, New Voice Award: TV (Ramy).
- Aaron Sorkin, The Zeitgeist Award (The Trial of the Chicago 7).
The Ceremony
The event will take place virtually on Tuesday, March 2 at 5 p.m. (PT) and 8 p.m. (ET). To RSVP for the live stream, visit this link.
You will:
RSVP on the landing page.
Receive an email confirmation.
Receive a link to the virtual ceremony on the day of the show.
This year’s Final Draft Award honorees will join the ranks of previous winners such as Quentin Tarantino, Nancy Meyers, and Robert Towne as stand-out voices whose work helped elevate modern storytelling.
