USC Scripter Award Nominations: '12 Years a Slave' and 'The Spectacular Now' Among Nominees

The USC Scripter has announced the nominations for authors and screenwriters.

The 26th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Award honors the screenwriter or screenwriters of the year's most accomplished cinematic adaptations as well as the author or authors of the written work the screenplay is based on. This year the Scripter selection committee selected the five finalists from a field of 86 eligible adaptations.

The nominees included three films expected to land Oscar nominations and two films that have been off the radar.

The first film was "12 Years a Slave," which garnered a nomination for screenwriter John Ridley .

"Captain Phillips" had authors Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty and screenwriter Billy Ray nominated for the prize.

Meanwhile, author Martin Sixsmith and screenwriters Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope were shortlisted for "Philomena."

Author Tim Tharp and screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber were all tapped for the indie drama "The Spectacular Now" while screewriters Carroll Cartwright and Nancy Doyne were honored for there adaptation of Henry James' "What Maisie Knew."

The USC Libraries established Scripter in 1988. Previous Scripter awards have been given to Oscar winners and nominees such as "Argo," "The Descendants," "No Country for Old Men," and "The English Patient."

Among the selection committee are film critics Leonard Maltin and Kenneth Turan; authors Michael Chabon, Michael Ondaatje, and Mona Simpson; screenwriters Geoffrey Fletcher, Callie Khouri, and Steve Zaillian.

The USC Libraries will announce the winning authors and screenwriters on Feb. 8 at the University of South California.