Science screenwriting prize announced

Britain's Wellcome Trust and the British Film Institute have announced an annual screenwriting prize to encourage high quality movies inspired by science. The winner will receive a $30,000 cash prize to help develop their feature film idea and will be introduced by the trust to a selection of eminent scientists, commercial partners and producers, The Daily Telegraph reported Monday. The institute will participate by assisting the winner in obtaining support from leading film executives. "Science and medicine have inspired some of the most memorable, and often challenging, films in the history of cinema from 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' and 'Inception' to 'Blade Runner' and 'Memento,'" the Wellcome Trust's Clare Matteson said. "These are films that question what it is to be human or even just to be 'normal,' that express the hopes and fears of society towards scientific progress." The prize will help support films inspired by medicine and biology, with genetics, infectious diseases and mental health being cited as examples of potential topics for screenwriters. "We want to hear from screenwriters with bold, innovative projects that draw inspiration from science and medicine to tell stories which challenge and entertain audiences," Lizzie Francke of the BFI Film Fund said.