USC Scripter Awards: ‘Conclave,’ ‘Say Nothing’ Take Top Honors

The writers behind the feature film Conclave and TV series Say Nothing took home top honors at the USC Scripter Awards, which were handed out Saturday night.

The Scripter Awards honor the best adapted projects of the year. Both the original authors and the screenwriters share the award.

Conclave was adapted by Peter Straughan from the novel by Robert Harris.

Say Nothing was honored for the episode “The People in the Dirt,” written by Joshua Zetumer. The show is based on the nonfiction book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe.

The finalists and winners were determined by a jury chaired by USC professor and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences vp Howard Rodman. The awards were presented at the 37th annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards ceremony, a black-tie affair held at the Town & Gown ballroom on the campus of USC.

A full list of the Scripter Awards’ film adaptation finalists:

James Mangold and Jay Cocks for A Complete Unknown based on the nonfiction book Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties by Elijah Wald.

Peter Straughan for Conclave based on the novel by Robert Harris.

RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes for Nickel Boys based on the book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead.

Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar (screenplay and story) and Clarence Maclin and John “Divine G” Whitfield (story) for Sing Sing based on the Esquire magazine article The Sing Sing Follies by John H. Richardson.

Screenwriter Chris Sanders and novelist Peter Brown for The Wild Robot.

Of those finalists, A Complete Unknown, Conclave, Nickel Boys and Sing Sing are also nominated for the best adapted screenplay at this year’s Oscars. The fifth Oscar nom is for Emilia Pérez. The Wild Robot is up for best animated feature film at the Oscars.

A full list of the Scripter Awards’ TV adaptation finalists:

Richard Gadd for the sixth episode of Baby Reindeer based on his stage play of the same name.

Steven Zaillian for “V Lucio,” the fifth episode of Ripley, based on The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.

Joshua Zetumer for the episode “The People in the Dirt” from Say Nothing, based on the nonfiction book Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe.

Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks for “Anjin,” the first episode of Shogun, based on the novel by James Clavell.

Will Smith for the episode “Hello Goodbye,” from Slow Horses, based on the novel Spook Street by Mick Herron.

Last year, American Fiction and Slow Horses took top honors. American Fiction went on to win the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, while Slow Horses won the 2024 Emmy for best drama series writing.

Scott Feinberg contributed to this report.

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