"Food for Thought" Wins Humanitas Award

Twelve winning writers were announced today at the HUMANITAS luncheon before a crowd of over 350 members of the motion picture and television industries. These prestigious prizes and $130,000 were awarded in eight categories for film and television writers whose work "not only entertains, but also enriches the viewing public." Also announced was the creation of a new annual award "The Kieser Award" in memory of the late Fr. Ellwood "Bud" Kieser the founder of the Humanitas organization.

"The Kieser Award is a way not only to honor Fr. Ellwood Kieser, but to memorialize the positive values he promoted for forty years in Hollywood: such as responsibility, universal concern for all people and freedom," according to Fr. Frank Desiderio, President of the Humanitas Prize. "The award will be given to an individual or group whose body of work helps to promote a greater appreciation for the dignity of each member of the human family."

Keynote speaker and winner today for an episode of "Once and Again," Edward Zwick, reminded the audience of gathered writers that, "It is writing, itself that helps us discover what we know, writing itself that reminds us what we believe, reinforces those qualities that are noblest in us, banishes demons and encourages us to reach higher, dig deeper."

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60 Minute Category ($15,000)

"Food for Thought" ONCE AND AGAIN Written by Marshall Herskovitz & Edward Zwick (ABC). Rick and Karen take Jessie to see a psychiatrist (series creator/director/ Edward Zwick) to find out why she is not eating. Meanwhile, discussions with the doctor make them realize how much work they still have to do on their own relationship. Cited for its "realistic portrayal of emotional conflicts in families affected by divorce and for its portrayal of how those conflicts can be worked through with honesty and love."

(rest of the article "snipped")__Humanitasprize.org (June 28, 2001)