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2025 Humanitas Prize nominations: ‘The Pitt,' ‘The Studio,' and ‘The Last of Us' among those honored for exceptional storytelling
The 2025 Humanitas Prize nominations have been announced, once again honoring television and film writers who masterfully explore the depth of the human experience. This year's awards will be presented at a Sept. 7 ceremony in Hollywood hosted by actress and comedian Fortune Feimster (Fubar, Zootopia 2).
On the TV side, drama nominees include Emmy contenders The Pitt, The Last of Us, The Handmaid's Tale, and Brilliant Minds. Comedy contenders include The Studio, The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh, A Man on the Inside, and Clean Slate. Limited series being honored include Dying for Sex, Interior Chinatown, Lockerbie: A Search for Truth, and Say Nothing.
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In the film categories, last year's Oscar contenders Conclave, Nickel Boys, and Sing Sing will battle it out for Best Drama Feature, while Dìdi (弟弟), My Old Ass, and A Real Pain compete in comedy. Inside Out 2, Out of My Mind, and The Wild Robot are nominated for Best Family Feature.
Beyond the competition, the evening will spotlight visionary writers with one of the event's highest honors: the Voice for Change Award. This year's recipient is Emmy winner Lena Waithe, who will be presented the award by acclaimed filmmakers Gina Prince-Bythewood (The Woman King) and Mara Brock Akil (Forever).
Waithe was chosen as this year's recipient because it 'honors those who have created or championed visionary and courageous storytelling,' the Humanitas organization shared in their announcement.
The Humanitas, which has handed out over 450 prizes since its founding in 1974, continues its mission to 'honor and empower writers of film and television exploring the human experience." ''This year's group of nominees is an inspiring group with an admirable oeuvre, and we're eager to gather with them in September to celebrate,' said executive director Michelle Franke.
In a historic move for the awards, this year debuts two separate categories for documentaries: one for feature documentaries and another for episodes in docuseries. Overall, the 2025 Humanitas Prizes will honor writers across 10 competitive categories, including Drama Teleplay, Comedy Teleplay, Limited Series Teleplay, Children's Teleplay, and three feature film categories (Drama, Comedy, and Family).
The event will also celebrate the next generation of storytellers through the New Voices Fellowship, a six-month mentorship program designed to connect early-career writers with industry leaders. High honors will also be presented through the David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award and the Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award, both of which include a $20,000 prize, mentorship opportunities, and professional feedback sessions.
Additionally, the Starz #TakeTheLead award will return this year, celebrating a writer who has emerged from either the Humanitas Fellowship or College Screenwriting Award programs and who has demonstrated a commitment to improving representation in their storytelling.
See the complete List of 2025 Humanitas Prize Nominees below.
Drama TeleplayBrilliant Minds ('The Man From Grozny'): Michael Grassi, Shannon LooneyThe Last of Us ('The Price'): Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, Craig MazinThe Handmaid's Tale ('Finale'): Bruce MillerThe Pitt ('2:00 P.M.'): Joe Sachs
Comedy TeleplayClean Slate ('Chrome Jesus'): Simran Baidwan, Shantira JacksonA Man on the Inside ('Tinker Tailor Older Spy'): Michael SchurThe Pradeeps of Pittsburgh ('Interrogation Log #1'): Vijal PatelThe Studio ('Casting'): Alex Gregory
Limited Series TeleplayDying for Sex ('It's Not That Serious'): Kim RosenstockInterior Chinatown ('Generic Asian Man'): Charles YuLockerbie: A Search for Truth ('Episode 1'): David HarrowerSay Nothing ('Do No Harm'): Clare Barron
Children's TeleplayHeartstopper ('Journey'): Alice OsemanMarvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur ('Full Moon'): Liz HaraMe ('Pilot'): Barry L. LevyPrimos ('Summer of Silencio'): Natasha Kline
Drama FeatureConclave: Peter StraughanNickel Boys: RaMell Ross, Joslyn BarnesSing Sing: Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar
Comedy FeatureDìdi (弟弟): Sean WangMy Old Ass: Megan ParkA Real Pain: Jesse Eisenberg
Family FeatureInside Out 2: Dave Holstein, Meg LeFauveOut of My Mind: Daniel StieplemanThe Wild Robot: Chris Sanders
Short Film'Babka': Serena Dykman'The Cockroach': Mary Pat Bentel'Hour of Blood': Marcella Ochoa'Neither Donkey Nor Horse': Robin Wang, Jesse Aultman
Documentary (Feature)Cutting Through Rocks: Sara Khaki, Mohammadreza EyniDeaf President Now!: Nyle DiMarco, Davis GuggenheimThe Last of the Sea Women: Sue KimPatrice: The Movie: Ted Passon
Documentary (Docuseries, Single Episode)30 for 30 Shorts ('Motorcycle Mary'): Haley WatsonDown in the Valley ('Saints and Sinners'): Nicco Annan, Katori Hall, Shoshana GuyTurning Point: The Vietnam War ('The End of the Road'): Brian KnappenbergerVow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae ('Wounded Knee 1973'): Yvonne Russo
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