The 2024 Writers Guild Awards recently took place, celebrating outstanding achievements in the world of film and television. Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers” and Cord Jefferson’s “American Fiction” emerged as the big winners of the night. The event, which was delayed due to a strike, featured simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York.
Payne, who lost the Original Screenplay Academy Award to Justine Triet and Arthur Harari for “Anatomy of a Fall,” found redemption at the Writers Guild Awards. Jefferson, who was also honored with the WGA West’s Paul Selvin Award, added another accolade to his collection following his recent Oscar win for Adapted Screenplay. Errol Morris took home the Documentary prize for his film “The Pigeon Tunnel.”
On the television side, shows like HBO’s “Succession,” FX’s “The Bear,” and Netflix’s “Beef” dominated the awards season with wins in Drama Series, Comedy Series, and Limited Series categories respectively. “Succession” also received recognition for its Episodic Drama episode “Living+,” while Peacock’s “Poker Face” clinched the Episodic Comedy trophy.
In addition to the competitive awards, the Writers Guild presented a series of honors and tributes during the event. Notable recipients included the members and leadership of IATSE, the Teamsters, SAG-AFTRA, and American Federation of Musicians for their support and sacrifice during the WGA strike. Individual honors were also bestowed, such as the Walter Bernstein Award for Ron Nyswaner and the Herb Sargent Award for Comedy Excellence for Wanda Sykes.
Among the top awards presented at the ceremony were the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for Television Writing Achievement, which went to Linda Bloodworth Thomason, and the WGAW Morgan Cox Award, received by Chris Keyser and David A. Goodman. The evening also saw distinguished screenwriter Walter Hill honored with a Laurel Award for lifetime achievement.
The Writers Guild Awards recognized excellence in a variety of categories, including Original Screenplay, Adapted Screenplay, Documentary Screenplay, and more. Some of the standout winners included “The Holdovers” for Original Screenplay, “American Fiction” for Adapted Screenplay, and “The Last of Us” for New Series. Fans of animation were treated to “The Simpsons” winning the Animation prize for the episode “Carl Carlson Rides Again.”
The 2024 Writers Guild Awards served as a platform to honor the creative talents behind some of the most compelling stories in the world of entertainment. From celebrated screenwriters to beloved television series, the event highlighted the excellence and innovation that continue to shape the industry. As the evening came to a close, it was clear that the spirit of storytelling and creativity was alive and well in the hearts of those who attended.