Humanitas Names 2024 New Voices Fellowship And College Screenwriting Award Winners

EXCLUSIVE: Non-profit Humanitas on Friday announced the five fellows selected for its 2024 New Voices Fellowship, and the awardees of its Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award and the David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award.

Recipients of the New Voices Fellowship, a six-month mentorship program for emerging television and screenwriters, include AJ Currie, Lucas Miller, George Pérez, Mads Summerfield, and Kim Lee Winslow. As fellows, they will each be paired with acclaimed screenwriters for one-on-one mentorship focused on polishing a script submitted for fellowship consideration. Past mentors have included Jenny Bicks, Scott Z. Burns, Reggie Rock Bythewood, Steven Canals, Marissa Jo Cerar, Robb Chavis, Tom Fontana, Hart Hanson, Winnie Holzman, Jason Katims, Bill Lawrence, David Shore, Charise Castro Smith, Robin Swicord, and many more.

Fellows will also each receive a $7,500 stipend, a three-month membership to MasterClass, headshots and a free course from UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, and take part in a conversation and workshop series that includes professional development support. Past workshop participants have included DJ Nash, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Marshall Herskowitz, and Jay Kogen.

Humanitas also today set Ina Ycasas, a recent graduate of the University of Southern California’s Writing for Screen and Television BFA program, to receive the Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award. Anushka Thorat, a recent graduate of Columbia University with a B.A. in Film & Media Studies and Business Management, has been awarded the David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award. Each will each receive a $20,000 cash prize and a professional script notes session with a writer in the Humanitas community.

Additionally, beneficiaries of both programs will receive copies of Final Draft 13, one month of hosting two free valuations on The Black List, a gift from the Michael Wiese Productions book catalog, and an NFMLA membership.

The New Voices Fellowship, Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award, and David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award will be presented at The Humanitas Prizes on September 12. Taking place at Avalon Hollywood, the event will be hosted by June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer.

Stated Humanitas Program Manager Daniel Plagens, “Every year we are lucky to work with an incredible group of readers, and each responded so warmly to these writers and their projects. We’re incredibly proud of AJ, Lucas, George, Mads, Kim, Ina, Anushka, as well as all the finalists, and are excited for what comes next for them.”

The Humanitas Prizes event is attended annually by a distinguished audience of writers, directors, producers, media executives, journalists, and philanthropists. The event will begin with a cocktail party and DJ sets from Novena Carmel (KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic), to be followed by an awards program where winners are announced and give brief remarks.

Funds raised at The Humanitas Prizes event provide essential support for the Humanitas Prizes, as well as initiatives like its New Voices Fellowship, College Screenwriting Awards, and Public Programs, like Industry 101, Groceries for Writers, and The Writers Room.