Writers of films such as “Still Alice” and “The Good Lie” and television shows including “Black-ish” and “The Middle” were among the finalists named Thursday for the 41st annual Humanitas Prizes, which honor work that affirms human dignity, probe the meaning of life and champion freedom.
Thirty-eight writers were named finalists in 10 categories for the prizes, with $225,000 in prize money up for grabs.
Winners will be announced Feb. 11 at the Directors Guild of America.
For feature films, finalists are “Still Alice” writers Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer, “Testament of Youth” writer Juliette Towhidi and “The Good Lie” writer Margaret Nagle.
“Black-ish” writer Peter Saji was named a finalist in the 30-minute television category, along with DeAnne Heline and Eileen Heisler for “The Middle” and Tina Fey and Robert Carlock for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.”
In the 60-minute television category, finalists are Matt Ward for “Madam Secretary,” Jim Danger Gray and Jenji Kohan for “Orange is the New Black” and Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi for “The Affair.”
Since 1974, The Humanitas Prize has awarded more than $3 million to more than 320 television and film writers.
Here is a complete list of nominees: Feature Film Category
— “Still Alice,” Wash Westmoreland and Richard Glatzer
— “Testament of Youth,” Juliette Towhidi
— “The Good Lie,” Margaret Nagle. Sundance Feature Film Category
— “Dope,” Rick Famuyiwa
— “Experimenter,” Michael Almereyda
— “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” Jesse Andrews Documentary Category
— “Citizen Four,” Laura Poitras
— “Landfill Harmonic,” Andrew Allgood
— “Southern Rites,” Josh Alexander 60 Minute Category
— “Madam Secretary,” Face the Nation, Matt Ward
— “Orange is the New Black,” Trust No Bitch, Jim Danger Gray, Jenji Kohan
— “The Affair,” Pilot, Sarah Treem and Hagai Levi 30 Minute Category
— “Black-ish,” Please Don’t Ask, Please Don’t Tell, Peter Saji
— “The Middle,” The Graduate, DeAnn Heline and Eileen Heisler
— “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Kimmy Goes Outside!, Tina Fey and Robert Carlock Children’s Animation Category
— “Arthur,” The Tardy Tumbler, Matt Hoverman Children’s Live Action Category
— “Gortimer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street,” Gortimer and the Surprise Signature, Garrett Frawley and Brian Turner
— “Goritmer Gibbon’s Life on Normal Street,” Ranger and the Legend of Pendragon’s Gavel, Gretchen Enders
— “Liv and Maddie,” Rate-A-Rooney, Jennifer Keene, John D. Beck and Ron Hart David Lynn Angell Comedy Fellowship
— Eugenie Carabatso, Carnegie Mellon
— Andrew Hu, AFI
— Jane Miller, UCLA Drama Fellowship
— Kimberly Guerrero, UC Riverside
— Juliana Rabadjijia, Boston University
— Adrienne Rush, Florida State University Humanitas New Voices Recipients
— Lauren Goodman
— Jason Holtham
— Chisa Hutchinson
— Dario Konjicija
— Damir Konjicija
— Wire reports