Humanitas Prize 2026: 'Shrinking,' 'Paradise,' and 'Washington Black' Lead the Winners

Celebrating Stories That Touch the Soul: The Humanitas Prize Honors Excellence in Narrative Craft

The 2026 Humanitas Prize: Recognizing Poignant Storytelling in Television and Film

The highly anticipated 2026 Humanitas Prize ceremony honored outstanding achievements in screenwriting, with notable wins for the third season premiere of “Shrinking,” titled “My Bad,” which bravely tackled its Parkinson’s storyline through Michael J. Fox’s guest appearance. The second season opener of “Paradise,” “Graceland,” also received accolades for its compelling post-apocalyptic survival narrative featuring Shailene Woodley. Additionally, the limited series “Washington Black” was celebrated for its episode “The Flying Man and the Musician.” These distinguished awards were presented at the Humanitas Prize Awards Show & Toast, expertly hosted by actor, writer, and comedian Ashley Nicole Black at the iconic Avalon Hollywood.

Winnie Holzman Honored with the Prestigious Kieser Award for Her Transformative Contributions

A significant highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Kieser Award to Winnie Holzman, the visionary creator of “My So-Called Life” and writer for “Wicked.” Marshall Herskovitz, executive producer of “Thirtysomething,” presented the award to Holzman, acknowledging her profound impact on storytelling. Herskovitz and his partner Ed Zwick were instrumental in Holzman’s early career, having hired her as a writer for their show and later serving as executive producers for “My So-Called Life.” The Kieser Award specifically celebrates individuals who have dedicated their exceptional talent and resources to creating narratives that uplift and celebrate our common humanity.

Recognizing Excellence Across Categories: A Full List of 2026 Humanitas Prize Winners

The Humanitas Prize is dedicated to honoring writers whose work explores the human condition with depth and meaning, presenting winners with a trophy and a monetary award at an annual event. This year’s prize recipients demonstrated exceptional narrative skill across various categories. In Drama Teleplay, the winner was “Paradise” for its episode “Graceland,” written by Dan Fogelman and Eric Wen. For Comedy Teleplay, “Shrinking” took home the prize for “My Bad,” penned by Brian Gallivan. “Washington Black” was recognized in the Limited Series Teleplay category for “The Flying Man & the Musician,” by Selwyn Hinds. “Tab Time” won for Children’s Teleplay with “When We Lose Someone,” written by Sean Presant. Feature film honors went to Cherien Dabis for “All That’s Left of You” in Drama, Hikari and Stephen Blahut for “Rental Family” in Comedy, and Nick Güthe, Christos N. Gage, and Ruth Fletcher Gage for “Grow” in Family. In the Short Film category, “Vital” by Amir Zargara and Gabe Berry was celebrated. Documentary accolades included Tamara Kotevska for “The Tale of Silyan” (Feature) and Samantha Knowles for “Katrina: Come Hell and High Water” (Docuseries, Single Episode) with its episode “Shelter of Last Resort.”

Fostering New Talent: Humanitas Initiatives and Awards for Emerging Screenwriters

Beyond recognizing established creators, Humanitas is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of screenwriters. The 2026-27 New Voices Fellows – Christina Ingraldi, Leon Lee, Alana Saab, Finn Wagstaff, and Keith Walker – were honored for their potential. They will embark on a six-month mentorship program, receiving one-on-one guidance from seasoned writers and a $7,500 stipend, among other valuable benefits. The College Screenwriting Awards also celebrated promising young talent, with Omid Iranikhah receiving the David and Lynn Angell College Comedy Award and Lauryn Bedford earning the Carol Mendelsohn College Drama Award. Each received a $20,000 cash prize and a script notes session with a professional writer. Furthermore, the Starz #TakeTheLead award was presented to Rae Benjamin by screenwriter/producer Russell T Davies. This award recognizes mid-career writers who champion narratives by, about, and for women and underrepresented audiences, granting Benjamin a $10,000 prize and mentorship from Starz executives.