The University Of Southern California announced the recipient of the 33rd annual Scripter Award, which honors what they consider to be the best in adapted screenplays for the year. No huge surprise this year, with Chloé Zhao continuing her victory lap, winning for the screenplay of Best Picture hopeful, “Nomadland.” Also no surprise was the winner in the episodic series category, with “The Queen’s Gambit” winning for the episode “Openings.”
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY — SCRIPTER AWARD
“Nomadland”
Screenplay by Chloé Zhao
Based on the nonfiction book “Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century” by Jessica Bruder
NOMINEES
“Bad Education”
Screenplay by Mike Makowsky
Based on the New York magazine article “The Bad Superintendent” by Robert Kolker
“First Cow”
Screenplay by Jon Raymond and Kelly Reichardt
Based on the novel “The Half-Life” by Jon Raymond
“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
Screenplay by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Based on the stage play by August Wilson
“One Night in Miami”
Screenplay by Kemp Powers
Based on the stage play by Kemp Powers
ADAPTED EPISODIC SERIES — SCRIPTER AWARD
“The Queen’s Gambit”
Episode: “Openings”
Written by Scott Frank
Based on the novel by Walter Tevis
NOMINEES
“The Good Lord Bird” — Episode: “Meet the Lord”
Written by Mark Richard and Ethan Hawke
Based on the novel by James McBride
“Normal People” — Episode: “Episode 5”
Written by Sally Rooney and Alice Birch
Based on the novel by Sally Rooney
“The Plot Against America” — Episode: “Episode 6”
Written by Ed Burns and David Simon
Based on the novel by Philip Roth
“Unorthodox” — Episode: “Part 1”
Written by Anna Winger
Based on the autobiography “Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots” by Deborah Feldman
