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The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation president John Goldwyn and vice president Tony Goldwyn announced on Tuesday, Sept. 19 that Kerry Washington, Channing Dungey and Chris Selak have been named judges for the 62nd annual Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards, which recognizes excellence in dramatic writing. The awards are available exclusively to students at UCLA.

Actress, producer and activist Kerry Washington is currently starring in her Emmy-, Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Awards-nominated role as Olivia Pope in the hit ABC drama Scandal. Her recent credits include the Emmy-nominated HBO movie Confirmation, in addition to the Academy Award-nominated films Django Unchained and Ray.

Channing Dungey is president of ABC Entertainment. She joined the Disney-ABC Television Group in 2004 after a successful career as a feature film executive and producer. Dungey is an alumna, Executive Board Member and Visiting Assistant Professor at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT).

As Lionsgate’s Executive Vice President and Head of Worldwide Scripted Television, Chris Selak oversees creative development and programming for all of the company’s scripted television projects. She has helped assemble a prolific slate that includes Orange Is the New Black, Dear White People, The Royals, Manhunt: Unabomber and Casual.

The finalists of the 2017 Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards are:

Morgan won first-place honors in last year's Goldwyn Writing Awards competition for his script Tonya.

“The Goldwyn family has been a great friend to the University of California,” stated Teri Schwartz, Dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. “They have contributed enormously to the education and development of our UCLA TFT students. We appreciate the Goldwyn family’s time, energy and unfailing enthusiasm for the success of our students and the next generation of storytellers. We are so very thankful for their commitment to continue the magnificent legacy of the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards, which began more than 60 years ago.”

Samuel Goldwyn, Sr. created the annual competition in 1955 at UCLA, which launched the careers of many talented young film, stage and television writers. Past winners include Francis Ford Coppola, Eric Roth and Jonathan Kellerman.

The $15,000 first prize, $7,500 second prize, $4,000 third prize and $1,000 honorable mention will be awarded on Monday, Oct. 30 at UCLA.

Posted: September 19, 2017