The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday that four individuals and a writing team have been selected as winners of the 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting.
The award includes $35,000 for each writing individual and team, as well as mentorship from an Academy member during their fellowship year.
On November 9 at the Museum of the Motion Picture Academy in Los Angeles, an ensemble of actors will read selected scenes from the winning scripts.
The 2022 winners are:
Jennifer Archer (Springwater, Ontario, Canada), “Into the Deep Blue”
Nick Bennett is rebuilding his life after his mother’s death, a DUI, and mandatory grief counseling. Along with Fiona, his fiery best friend from therapy, he navigates the waters of grief and his growing feelings.
Callie Bloem and Christopher Ewing (Los Angeles), “Tape 22”
A music journalist reeling from the death of his wife discovers a mixtape that brings her back to life for four minutes and 23 seconds a day, exactly the length of his favorite song. He now he is determined to bring her back for good, even if she accidentally opens a black hole in the middle of Los Angeles.
Sam Boyer (Pasadena, CA), “Ojek”
In Jakarta, a loyal motorcycle taxi driver struggles to build a better life through a deadly new business that tests his transportation talents and inner humanity. Think of “Driving” in Indonesia.
JM Levine (La Crescenta, CA), “Operation Gemini”
After being separated from her newborn twins during the invasion of Kyiv, a mother enlists two civilians to take her back to war-torn Ukraine to rescue her children before the military and medical supplies run out. Russian take control. Inspired by a true story.
Timothy Ware-Hill (Orange, NJ), “Tyrone and the Mirror”
In Birmingham, AL, 1963, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, a black boy goes on a quest to find the four magical treasures he needs to wield the Mirror, the only weapon powerful enough to defeat a three-year-old dragon. heads that seeks to destroy him and his loved ones.
The 2022 finalists are (listed alphabetically by author):
Michael Boyle, “The 8 Habits of Highly Killer People”
Darcy P. Brislin, “We Sing”
Jake Disch, “The Supremes”
Julian Hooper, “Madame”
SE Sinclair, “The Stratford Wife”
Recipients are expected to complete feature film scripts during their fellowship year. The Academy is “not commercially involved in any way” with the finished scripts.
The 2022 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Awards and Live Read at the Academy Museum on November 9 are free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required.
A total of 5,526 scripts from 85 countries were submitted for this year’s competition. The worldwide competition has awarded 176 scholarships since it began in 1986. It was established in 1985 with the support of Gee Nicholl in memory of her husband, an Emmy-nominated screenwriter. Don Nicholas.
The Academy Nicholl Scholarship Committee is chaired by Eric Heisserer (Writers Section). Committee members are Susan Shopmaker (Casting Directors Branch); John Bailey and Steven Poster (directors of photography branch); James Plannette and Stephen Ujlaki (at-large members); Jason Michael Berman, Julia Chasman and Peter Samuelson (Producers Branch); Bobbi Banks (sound branch); and Larry Karaszewski, Adele Lim, Zak Penn, Dan Petrie Jr., Katie Silberman, and Dana Stevens (Writers Branch).
