STARZ #TakeTheLead Award

The STARZ #TakeTheLead Award will be awarded at the 2025 Humanitas Prizes Award Show and Toast on September 7 at Avalon Hollywood.

About the STARZ #TakeTheLead Award

STARZ created this award to celebrate those who exemplify the company’s #TakeTheLead commitment.

The alum selected to receive the award will show a dedication to improving representation through their storytelling.

The award recipient will receive:

• Award will be presented by STARZ talent (on or off-camera and based on availability) at the 2025 Humanitas Prizes Awards Show & Toast.

• Award recipient will receive a $10,000.00 (USD) cash prize.

• Award recipient will receive mentorship and professional development for one (1) year from STARZ executives per STARZ parameters and conditions to be determined by STARZ.

• Pitch meeting with STARZ executive(s), subject to standard STARZ submission release.  

Selection Process

The application process, designed by Humanitas, will allow applicants to highlight their experiences, their accomplishments, and how their work and creative vision aligns with STARZ #TakeTheLead’s mission so that informed recommendations can be made to the STARZ #TakeTheLead Team.

The selection process will consist of two steps.

• STEP 1: Complete the application form on Humanitas’s Award Force portal by no later than 12:00 PM PT on July 23, 2025. This will require the registration of an account if you do not already have one. This application will require:

  • A bio, a resume/CV, and an artist statement.

  • A video statement, no longer than 5 minutes in length, in which you:

    • 1: Introduce yourself and examples of your dedication to improving representation through storytelling mentioning a past project you’ve completed writing.

    • 2: Tell us about another past or current writing project that you are very proud of.

  • Two to three loglines for scripts which you have completed.

  • Upload between 10 and 15 pages of a completed script discussed in your video statement.

  • Answering a series of demographics questions which you may answer to the degree you are comfortable.

• STEP 2: Up to five applicants will be asked to participate in a follow-up interview to discuss the materials included in the application.

Applications will be accepted until 12:00 PM PT on July 23

STARZ #TakeTheLead Award Calendar:

• July 14, 2025: Application opens on Award Force

• 12:00 PM PT on July 23, 2025: Deadline to submit applications

• Week of July 28, 2025: Follow-up interviews

• Week of August 4, 2025: Awardee notified

Eligibility & Additional Details:

• All applicants for this award must be either:

  • 1) Alums of the New Voices Fellowship, defined here as any participant from 2009 to the present who was selected for the program and completed all its components.

  • 2) An awardee of any Humanitas College Screenwriting Award from 2004 to the present.

• Previous semifinalists and finalists for the New Voices Fellowship are not eligible for this award.

• The assessment to determine the award recipient weighs the quality of the applicant’s submitted materials and its alignment with STARZ #TakeTheLead’s mission. Up to five writers will be asked to complete a follow-up interview.

• Adaptations or re-imaginings of true events or fictional stories are acceptable, but by submitting you acknowledge you have secured all rights needed to adapt any material. 

• Applicants for Humanitas programs may not submit literary material created through the use of generative AI. Humanitas distinguishes itself among artistic organizations by celebrating stories that explore the human experience, because we believe that the act of acknowledging our common humanity is transformational. 

QUESTIONS?

Please direct all questions to Daniel Plagens (daniel.plagens@humanitasprize.org).