What Is 2015 Writers Guild of America award

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2015 Writers Guild of America Awards honored outstanding writing in film, television, and radio for work produced in 2014, with winners announced on February 14, 2015. Notable winners included *Birdman* for Best Screenplay and *Fargo* for Best New Series.

Key Facts

The 2015 Writers Guild of America Awards were held on February 14, 2015, honoring work from 2014.
Birdman won the award for Best Original Screenplay, beating strong contenders like The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Fargo was awarded Best New Series, recognizing its exceptional writing in its debut season.
Richard Linklater received the Paul Selvin Award for his contributions to screenwriting and civil liberties.
The awards ceremony took place simultaneously in Los Angeles and New York, as is tradition.

Overview

The 2015 Writers Guild of America (WGA) Awards celebrated excellence in writing across film, television, news, radio, and new media for work produced during 2014. The ceremony, held on February 14, 2015, recognized both individual achievements and ensemble writing teams, highlighting the critical role of writers in shaping compelling narratives.

Hosted simultaneously in Los Angeles and New York, the event brought together prominent screenwriters, showrunners, and journalists. The WGA Awards are considered a key indicator of success during awards season, often predicting Oscar and Emmy outcomes due to overlapping voting memberships.

Birdman won Best Original Screenplay, praised for its intricate dialogue and metafictional structure written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., and Armando Bo.
The Grand Budapest Hotel was a major contender, with Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness winning Best Adapted Screenplay for its whimsical, layered storytelling.
Fargo, the TV series, took home the award for Best New Series, with Noah Hawley’s sharp dialogue and narrative ambition earning widespread acclaim.
Orange Is the New Black won for Best Comedy Series, marking a shift toward recognizing streaming content as a legitimate force in television writing.
Breaking Bad received the award for Best Drama Series, capping its final season with a powerful send-off for its writing team.

How It Works

The Writers Guild of America Awards are determined by members of the WGA, who vote in categories spanning film, TV, and digital media. Eligibility is based on work aired or released between January 1 and December 31, 2014, with submissions reviewed by genre-specific committees.

Eligibility Period: Only content released between January 1 and December 31, 2014, was considered. This ensured all submissions were from the same calendar year.
Voting Membership: Active WGA members in good standing were eligible to vote, with ballots distributed electronically to over 10,000 writers.
Categories: Awards were divided into film, television, long-form television, news, and radio, with subcategories like comedy, drama, and documentary.
Screenplay Awards: Best Original and Best Adapted Screenplay were judged on originality, structure, dialogue, and narrative cohesion.
TV Series Awards: Shows like Breaking Bad and Fargo were evaluated based on ensemble writing, consistency, and thematic depth over a season.
Special Honors: The Paul Selvin Award went to Richard Linklater for his work on Boyhood and advocacy for free expression in storytelling.

Comparison at a Glance

The following table compares major winners in film and television at the 2015 WGA Awards:

Award Category	Winner	Writers	Notable Competitors
Best Original Screenplay	Birdman	Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris Jr., Armando Bo	Nightcrawler, The Imitation Game
Best Adapted Screenplay	The Grand Budapest Hotel	Wes Anderson, Hugo Guinness	Gone Girl, Inherent Vice
Best Drama Series	Breaking Bad	Vince Gilligan, Moira Walley-Beckett, et al.	True Detective, House of Cards
Best Comedy Series	Orange Is the New Black	Liz Friedman, Jenji Kohan, et al.	Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Modern Family
Best New Series	Fargo	Noah Hawley	True Detective, The Affair

These results underscored a growing appreciation for serialized storytelling and bold narrative risks. The recognition of streaming platforms like Netflix signaled a shift in industry standards, with traditional networks facing increased competition.

Why It Matters

The 2015 WGA Awards were more than a celebration—they reflected broader trends in storytelling, labor rights, and media evolution. By honoring diverse voices and formats, the WGA reinforced the centrality of writing in entertainment.

Industry Influence: WGA winners often go on to succeed at the Oscars, making these awards a reliable predictor of future accolades.
Streaming Recognition:Orange Is the New Black winning highlighted the rising legitimacy of digital platforms in high-quality writing.
Ensemble Credit: The awards acknowledged writing teams, not just lead writers, emphasizing collaboration in TV production.
Genre Expansion: Categories like New Media and Long-Form Radio showed the WGA’s commitment to evolving formats.
Advocacy Role: The Paul Selvin Award honored writers who champion civil liberties, linking art with social responsibility.
Cultural Impact: Winning scripts like Birdman and Fargo influenced film and TV storytelling for years after their release.

The 2015 ceremony not only celebrated past achievements but also set benchmarks for future writers, reinforcing the WGA’s role as a guardian of creative integrity.