Ward Kamel Wins 2024 Academy Nicholl Fellowship

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the recipients of the 2024 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, recognizing five talented individuals and one writing team selected from over 5,500 submissions from 80 countries. Each recipient will receive a $35,000 prize and mentorship to complete a feature-length screenplay, alongside participation in virtual seminars and in-person networking events culminating in a celebration on October 29. The fellows include Ward Kamel from Brooklyn, whose screenplay 'If I Die in America' explores the challenges faced by an American man following the death of his immigrant husband and the ensuing cultural tensions with his Muslim in-laws. Other recipients include Alysha Chan and David Zarif (Los Angeles) for 'Miss Chinatown,' Colton Childs (Waco) for 'Fake-A-Wish,' Charmaine Colina (Los Angeles) for 'Gunslinger Bride,' and Wendy Britton Young (West Chester) for 'The Superb Lyrebird & Other Creatures.' The Nicholl Fellowships have awarded a total of 186 fellowships since their inception in 1985, aimed at nurturing emerging screenwriting talent without acquiring rights to the fellows' works.