Evelyn F. Burkey Award

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Evelyn F. Burkey Award
Dick Cavett 1996.jpg
The 2022 recipient: Dick Cavett
Awarded for"contributions [that] have brought honor and dignity to writers everywhere" [1]
CountryUnited States
Presented by Writers Guild of America, East
First awarded1978 (1978)
Currently held by Dick Cavett

The Evelyn F. Burkey Award (previously called the Evelyn F. Burkey Memorial Award) is an honorary award presented by the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). While most WGA Awards are conferred by the WGA West, the Burkey Award is one of three WGA Awards for which the WGAE chooses winners. [2] The award is named for Evelyn F. Burkey, who helped found the WGAE in 1953 and served as its first executive director until she retired in 1972. Since the 30th Writers Guild of America Awards in 1978, WGAE has presented the Burkey Award annually, except for the following years when no award was presented: 2012–13, 2017–18, 2020–21, and 2023.

Contents

The award recognizes a person or organization "whose contributions have brought honor and dignity to writers everywhere." [1] According to WGAE President Michael Winship, the WGAE "has presented the Burkey Award to celebrate the achievements of leaders—in the arts or politics—who have advanced the causes of creativity and freedom of speech." [3] Unlike other WGA Awards, which focus on professional film and television writing, the Burkey Award can be won by people who are not WGA members. It has been won by political figures; for example, in 2004 the WGAE presented the award to John McCain, citing his opposition to FCC rule changes on the issue of media cross-ownership in the United States. [4]

Winners

1970s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
1978 (30th) Fred Coe [2]
1979 (31st) Barbara Schultz [5]

1980s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
1980 (32nd) Walter Cronkite [5]
1981 (33rd) Elmer Lower [5]
1982 (34th) Herman Brodkin [5]
1983 (35th) Alan Wagner [5]
1984 (36th) Leonard Wasser [5]
1985 (37th) Jerome B. Lurie [5]
1986 (38th) Athol Fugard and Lloyd Richards [5]
1987 (39th) Edwin Newman [5]
1988 (40th) Andy Rooney, Local 1101 and District 1 of the Communications Workers of America [5]
1989 (41st) Horton Foote [5]

1990s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
1990 (42nd) Art Buchwald [5]
1991 (43rd) George Schaefer [5]
1992 (44th) Jacqueline Babbin [5]
1993 (45th) Arthur Miller [5]
1994 (46th) Joan Ganz Cooney [5]
1995 (47th) Dennis Potter [5]
1996 (48th) Ken Saro-Wiwa [5]
1997 (49th) Sidney Lumet [5]
1998 (50th) Judy Crichton [5]
1999 (51st) David Brown [5]

2000s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
2000 (52nd) Václav Havel [5]
2001 (53rd) Tom Fontana [5]
2002 (54th) Colin Callender [5]
2003 (55th) Martin Scorsese [5]
2004 (56th) John McCain [4]
2005 (57th) Claire Labine [5]
2006 (58th) Museum of Television and Radio [5]
2007 (59th) Joan Didion [6]
2008 (60th) Walter Bernstein [7]
2009 (61st) Committee to Protect Journalists [5]

2010s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
2010 (62nd) Edward Albee [5]
2011 (63rd) Archive of American Television [5]
2012 (64th) Not awarded [5]
2013 (65th) Not awarded [5]
2014 (66th) James Schamus [8]
2015 (67th) Norman Lear [9]
2016 (68th) Al Franken [10]
2017 (69th) Not awarded
2018 (70th) Not awarded
2019 (71st) Franklin Leonard [11]

2020s

YearRecipient(s)Ref.
2020 (72nd) Not awarded
2021 (73rd) Not awarded
2022 (74th) Dick Cavett [12]
2023 (75th) Not awarded

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References

  1. 1 2 Robb, David (July 17, 2019). "Committee to Protect Journalists Unionizes with WGA East". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 17, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Slide, Anthony (2013). "Writers Guild of America (WGA)". The New Historical Dictionary of the American Film Industry. Routledge. p. 236. ISBN   978-1-579-58056-8 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (January 5, 2015). "WGA Awards: Norman Lear to Be Honored at East Coast Ceremony". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  4. 1 2 McNary, Dave (February 16, 2004). "WGAE honors Feiffer, McCain". Variety . Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Anon. (2013). "Honorary Awards: Past Winners". WGAEast.org. New York: Writers Guild of America, East. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  6. ↑ McNary, Dave (January 17, 2007). "Writers honor Didion". Variety . Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  7. ↑ Natale, Richard (January 23, 2021). "Walter Bernstein, Blacklisted Writer and Oscar Nominee for 'The Front,' Dies at 101". Variety . Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  8. ↑ Chitwood, Adam (February 2, 2014). "Awards Roundup: Her and Captain Phillips Take WGA Awards, Gravity Wins Cinematography Honors, and Frozen Lands Annie Trophy". Collider . Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ Buckley, Cara (February 16, 2015). "'Imitation Game,' 'Grand Budapest Hotel' and Decorum Win Over Writers Guild". The New York Times . Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ Grinapol, Corinne (February 17, 2016). "Politics and Drama Collide at the Writers Guild Awards" . Adweek . Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ Pond, Steve (February 17, 2019). "'Can You Ever Forgive Me?' and 'Eighth Grade' Win Writers Guild Awards for Film". TheWrap . Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (March 20, 2022). "WGA Awards: 'CODA,' 'Don't Look Up' Win Best Adapted, Original Screenplays". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
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