Watch The 2025 Humanitas Prizes Nominees
In honor of the 2025 Humanitas Prize Nominees announcement in Variety, below is a watchlist of those movies and TV shows with links to platforms they are streaming on. 51 writers are nominated for their work across 10 juried categories. Winners will be announced at The Humanitas Prizes Award Show & Toast, an in-person event at Avalon Hollywood on September 7, 2025.
Drama Teleplay
Brilliant Minds ("The Man From Grozny") (Written by Michael Grassi and Shannon Looney)
Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, Brilliant Minds follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier — the human mind — while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Stream it now on Peacock
The Handmaid’s Tale (“The Handmaid’s Tale”) (Written by Bruce Miller)
June reflects on her experiences in Gilead and decides what to do next.
Stream it now on Hulu
The Pitt ("2:00 P.M.") (Written by Joe Sachs)
Robby attends to an elderly patient in need of a new pacemaker, who reveals his past as a member of Pittsburgh’s groundbreaking Freedom House program. Meanwhile, Langdon and the team tend to a young drowning victim, Santos follows a hunch, and McKay attempts to treat a patient with an overbearing boss.
Stream it now on HBO Max
The Last of Us ("The Price") (Written by Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, and Craig Mazin)
Joel surprises Ellie for her birthday. Years later, Ellie prepares to confront Joel about her past.
Stream it now on HBO Max
Comedy Teleplay
A Man on the Inside ("Tinker Tailor Older Spy") (Written by Michael Schur)
Encouraged by his daughter to try something new, widower Charles Nieuwendyk answers an ad from a private eye seeking a mole at a retirement community.
Stream it now on Netflix
Clean Slate ("Chrome Jesus") (Written by Simran Baidwan and Shantira Jackson)
Desiree's decision to attend church is met with mixed reactions from family and friends; the closed-minded pastor makes Desiree feel unwelcome; Mack and Opal launch a Sunday car wash for heathens.
Stream it now on Prime Video
The Pradeeps of Pittsburgh ("Interrogation Log #1") (Written by Vijal Patel)
Under investigation by a pair of suit-clad government agents, the Pradeep family recount their arrival to America, complete with professional obstacles, dead rabbits, and most of all, their neighbor Stu.
Stream it now on Prime Video
The Studio ("Casting") (Written by Alex Gregory)
The Continental team scrambles to come up with a Kool Aid cast that does not offend anyone.
Stream it now on Apple TV
Limited Series Teleplay
Dying for Sex ("It's Not That Serious") (Written by Kim Rosenstock)
Molly reflects on her life.
Stream it now on Hulu
Say Nothing ("Do No Harm") (Written by Clare Barron)
Dolours and Marian go on hunger strike in Brixton Prison.
Stream it now on Hulu
Interior Chinatown ("Generic Asian Man") (Written by Charles Yu)
Interior Chinatown follows the story of Willis Wu, a background character trapped in a police procedural called Black & White. Relegated to the background, Willis goes through the motions of his on-screen job, waiting tables and dreaming about a whole world beyond Chinatown. When he inadvertently becomes a witness to a crime, Willis begins to unravel a criminal web in Chinatown, his family’s buried history, and what it feels like to be in the spotlight.
Stream it now on Hulu
Lockerbie: A Search for Truth ("Episode 1") (Written by David Harrower)
After losing his daughter in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Dr. Jim Swire begins a quest for truth, searching for why this was allowed to happen and who exactly was responsible for his daughter’s death.
Stream it now on Peacock
Children’s Teleplay
Primos ("Summer of Silencio") (Written by Natasha Kline)
Ashamed of her struggles to speak Spanish, Tater takes a vow of silence.
Stream it now on Disney+
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (“Full Moon”) (Written by Liz Hara)
Adria plans a special mother-daughter bonding day with Lunella.
Stream it now on Disney+
Heartstopper (“Perfect”) (Written by Alice Oseman)
Charlie seeks medical help and begins the long road to recovery; Nick starts keeping a journal; Tao makes a video to support his absent friend.
Stream it now on Netflix
Me (“Pilot”) (Written by Barry L. Levy)
Ben struggles to navigate major life changes when an encounter with a bully leads to a mysterious transformation.
Stream it now on Apple TV+
Drama Feature Film
Nickel Boys (Written by RaMell Ross and Joslyn Barnes)
Inspired by real-life events, Nickel Boys chronicles the bond between two Black teenagers who become wards of a juvenile reformatory in Florida. As truths unfold, their profound friendship offers transformation and awakens hope.
Stream it now on Prime Video and MGM+
Sing Sing (Written by Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar)
Divine G, imprisoned at Sing Sing for a crime he didn't commit, finds purpose by acting in a theatre group alongside other incarcerated men in this story of resilience, humanity, and the transformative power of art.
Conclave (Written by Peter Straughan)
Conclave follows one of the world’s most secretive events – selecting a new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. As the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders gather from around the world for this high stakes contest, the most ambitious among them make their maneuvers and Lawrence uncovers a series of secrets that could test the boundaries of his faith and shake the foundations of the Church.
Stream it now on Prime Video
Comedy Feature Film
A Real Pain (Written by Jesse Eisenberg)
Mismatched cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) reunite for a tour through Poland to honor their beloved grandmother. The adventure takes a turn when the odd-couple's old tensions resurface against the backdrop of their family history.
Stream it now on Hulu
DÌDI (弟弟) (Written by Sean Wang)
In 2008, during the last month of summer before high school begins, an impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.
Stream it now on Prime Video
My Old Ass (Written by Megan Park)
In this fresh coming-of-age story, an 18th birthday mushroom trip brings free-spirited Elliott (Maisy Stella) face-to-face with her wisecracking 39-year-old self (Aubrey Plaza). But when Elliott’s “old ass” starts handing out warnings about what her younger self should and shouldn’t do, Elliott realizes she has to rethink everything about family, love, and what’s becoming a transformative summer.
Stream it now on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV
Documentary, Single Episode
Deaf President Now! (Written by Nyle DiMarco, Davis Guggenheim)
The story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard of. Deaf President Now! recounts the eight days of historic protests held at Gallaudet University in 1988 after the school’s board of trustees appointed a hearing president over several very qualified Deaf candidates. After a week of rallies, boycotts and protests, the students of Gallaudet University triumph as the hearing president resigns and beloved dean Dr. I. King Jordan becomes the university’s first Deaf president. The protests marked a pivotal moment in civil rights history, with an impact that extended well beyond the Gallaudet campus, and paved the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Stream it now on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video
Patrice: The Movie (Written by Ted Passon)
Patrice: The Movie is a documentary romantic comedy about the next frontier of marriage equality - disability.
Stream it now on Hulu
The Last of the Sea Women (Sue Kim)
In The Last of the Sea Women, an extraordinary band of feisty grandmother warriors wage a spirited battle against vast oceanic threats. Often called real-life mermaids, the haenyeo divers of South Korea’s Jeju Island are renowned for centuries of diving to the ocean floor — without oxygen — to harvest seafood for their livelihood. Today, with most haenyeo now in their 60s, 70s and 80s, their traditions and way of life are in imminent danger. But these fierce, funny and hardworking women refuse to give an inch, aided by a younger generation’s fight to revive their ancestral lifestyle through social media. Peering into what drives haenyeo young and old, this moving documentary zeroes in on their tight-knit friendships, savvy independence and infectious sense of empowerment. The story unfolds into an uplifting tale of women taking on world powers to protect their beloved ocean and inspire a new generation.
Stream it now on Apple TV+ and Amazon Prime Video
Cutting Through Rocks (Sara Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni)
As the first elected councilwoman of her Iranian village, Sara Shahverdi aims to break long-held patriarchal traditions by training teenage girls to ride motorcycles and stopping child marriages. When accusations arise questioning Sara’s intentions to empower the girls, her identity is put in turmoil.
Cutting Through Rocks is not currently available for streaming. A trailer is not currently available.
Documentary, Feature Length
Vow of Silence: The Assassination of Annie Mae ("Wounded Knee 1973") (Yvonne Russo, Amy Kaufman, and Mark Becker)
Annie Mae risks her life to join a dangerous occupation in South Dakota. The Movement is embraced by Hollywood, the government secretly infiltrates AIM at the highest levels, and Annie Mae makes a dangerous decision in her personal life.
Stream it now on Hulu
30 for 30 Shorts ("Motorcycle Mary") (Haley Watson)
In the 1950s, Mary McGee found her sense of freedom when she became the first American woman to race motorcycles. Mary’s pioneering journey of conquering sexism and her own fears paved the way for the next chapter in motorsports.
Turning Point: The Vietnam War ("The End of the Road") (Brian Knappenberger)
Turning Point: The Vietnam War offers an unfiltered look at one of the most defining and divisive conflicts in modern history and the profound, lasting impact it has had on America’s global identity and on the lives of countless people. With unprecedented access to CBS News archives through See It Now Studios, rare Vietnamese footage, declassified government records and previously unearthed White House recordings, the series spans nearly two decades and three different presidential administrations, amplifying often overlooked perspectives. As both America and Vietnam mark the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, Turning Point: The Vietnam War offers a timely exploration of how the war’s unresolved wounds, unlearned lessons, and enduring consequences continue to shape the world today.
Stream it now on Netflix
Down in the Valley ("Saints and Sinners") (Nicco Annan, Katori Hall, and Shoshana Guy)
“Saints and Sinners” takes the audience on a stimulating ride along the bible-belt into the life of ShaRonda Parker, a woman of God determined to de-stigmatize sex in the South. Nicco immerses himself in her world, meeting surprising colleagues and a community of women who are ready to get free!
Stream it now on STARZ, Amazon with STARZ Subscription, and Hulu
Family Feature Film
The Wild Robot (Written by Chris Sanders)
The cinematic adaptation of Peter Brown’s award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, the epic adventure follows the journey of a robot – ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling. A powerful story about the discovery of self, a thrilling examination of the bridge between technology and nature and a moving exploration of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things.
Stream it now on Netflix
Out of My Mind (Written by Daniel Stiepleman)
Melody Brooks, a sixth grader with cerebral palsy, has a quick wit and a sharp mind, but because she is non-verbal and uses a wheelchair, she is not given the same opportunities as her classmates. When a young educator notices her student’s untapped potential and Melody starts to participate in mainstream education, Melody shows that what she has to say is more important than how she says it.
Stream it now on Disney+
Inside Out 2 (Written by Dave Holstein and Meg LeFauve)
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” returns to the mind of newly minted teenager Riley just as Headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new Emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.
Stream it now on Disney+
Short Film
Neither Donkey Nor Horse (Written by Robin Wang and Jesse Aultman)
Amidst the outbreak of the 1910 Manchurian Plague, a young Chinese doctor must defy prejudices of both the East and the West to champion his groundbreaking theory about the disease - and seek the truth that will heal it.
Neither Donkey Nor Horse is not currently available for streaming.
Hour of Blood (Written by Marcella Ochoa)
In 1915 Texas, ranchers mysteriously start going missing. A young girl must defend her family ranch against the dark threat.
Hour of Blood is not currently available for streaming.
The Cockroach (Written by Mary Pat Bentel)
After a body-altering accident, a woman must find a way forward in her new reality.
The Cockroach is not currently available for streaming.
BABKA (Written by Serena Dykman)
In Hasidic Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a newly blind Orthodox Jewish baker forms an unlikely bond with a Queer Catholic Latino guide dog trainer. As he learns to navigate the world anew with his German Shepherd, he embarks on an eye-opening journey to overcome personal and cultural barriers in his quest to reopen his beloved bakery.
Babka is not currently available for streaming.
