‘Conclave’ and ‘Say Nothing’ Win Top Honors at USC Scripter Awards

The USC Scripter Awards recognized Conclave and Say Nothing for achievements in adapted screenwriting for film and television. The ceremony, held in the Town & Gown ballroom at USC, awarded both the writers of the adapted screenplays and the authors of the original works they were based on.

Peter Straughan received the film award for Conclave, adapted from Robert Harris’s novel. The political thriller follows Cardinal Lomeli as he navigates the power struggles of a secretive papal election. The film has earned multiple accolades this season, including a Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, and remains a contender in the Oscar race with eight nominations, including Best Picture.

The television award went to Say Nothing, based on Patrick Radden Keefe’s nonfiction book about the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Joshua Zetumer received the honor for writing “The People in the Dirt,” an episode from the FX and Hulu series. The series features performances from Lola Petticrew, Hazel Doupe, Anthony Boyle, Josh Finan, and Maxine Peake.

The winners emerged from a competitive field. Conclave won in a category that included A Complete Unknown, Nickel Boys, Sing Sing, and The Wild Robot, while Say Nothing prevailed over Baby Reindeer, Shōgun, Ripley, and Slow Horses, which had won the award in both 2023 and 2024.

The ceremony featured musical performances from USC students, including renditions of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me, Babe” and “Like a Rolling Stone,” both tied to A Complete Unknown, one of this year’s finalists.

Howard Rodman, chair of the Scripter Selection Committee, was presented with the USC Libraries Ex Libris Award by novelist Walter Mosley. The committee, composed of Writers Guild of America members, screenwriters, authors, film and television industry executives, and faculty, reviewed 42 film adaptations and 66 television adaptations to determine this year’s honorees.