By Travis Johnson
12 nominees have been announced for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ (the Oscars people!!) 2016 Nicholls Fellowships in Screenwriting. The short list has been winnowed down from some 6,915 submitted scripts, and the Committee will meet later this month to deliberate before selecting up to five winners, who will each receive fellowships worth US$35,000.
This year’s list includes:
Michele Atkins, Talking About the Sky
Josh Barkey, Marlene the Divine
Beanie Barnes, Little Toro
Todd Condie, John Wayne Slept Here
Spencer Harvey and Lloyd Harvey, Photo Booth
Geeta Malik, Dinner with Friends
Danielle Ownbey, The Blast-Off Inn
Elizabeth Oyebode, Tween the Ropes
Justin Piasecki, Death of an Ortolan
Michael Toner, Hey Jude
Arun K. Vir, Suburban Turban
Kirk Weddell, Alone
Of special note is the inclusion of Spencer and Lloyd Harvey, Balgowlah-based sister-brother filmmakers who have made a number of well-received shorts, in particular 2014’s The Gift. Not only are they the only Australians shortlisted, they are one of only two non-American nominees (the other being the UK’s Kirk Weddell).
The presentation takes place on Thursday, November 3, at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, and will include a live read of selected scenes from the fellows’ winning scripts.
Best of luck to all, especially Spencer and Lloyd.
