Friday, January 19----The Writers Guild of America, West (WGAW) and the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in writing for the screen during the 2006 season. Chosen by a membership of their peers, this is the highest accolade a screenwriter can hope for, aside from a Best Screenplay Oscar.

WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA NOMINATIONS

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Guillermo Arriaga, BABEL
Michael Arndt, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Peter Morgan, THE QUEEN
Zach Helm, STRANGER THAN FICTION
Paul Greengrass, UNITED 93

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Sacha Baron Cohen, Anthony Hines, Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer, BORAT
William Monahan, THE DEPARTED
Aline Brosh McKenna, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, LITTLE CHILDREN
Jason Reitman, THANK YOU FOR SMOKING

BEST DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

Amy Berg, DELIVER US FROM EVIL
Ward Serrill, THE HEART OF THE GAME
Mark Monroe, ONCE IN A LIFETIME: THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE NEW YORK COSMOS
Chris Paine, WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?
Eugene Jarecki, WHY WE FIGHT

Nominations were also announced for television series and movies-made-for-television. Writer/director Robert Benton (KRAMER VS. KRAMER) will receive a special honorary prize, the Laurel Award, for his career achievement. The Awards will be given out at a gala ceremony on Sunday, February 11th at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

Sandy Mandelberger
Awards Watch Editor