For his movie Eighth Grade

 Bo Burnham has won the Writers Guild of America for best screenplay for his coming-of-age movie Eighth Grade.

In what industry bible Variety calls an ‘upset’, he and co-writer Jeff Whitty took the honour last night. The WGA are seen as an indicator for Sunday’s Oscars, but Eight Grade is not nominated in the Academy Awards.

Burnham said as he accepted the award: ‘To the other nominees in the category — Have fun at the Oscars, losers!

And he praised the movie’s young star, saying: ‘This all belongs to Elsie Fisher who performed the script. No one would care about the script if she hadn’t done it.’ 

Burnham’s script won ahead of fellow nomineesRoma, Vice, A Quiet Place and Green Book.

Earlier in the month, the comedian won the first-time Directors Guild of America Award for the same movie. 

Eighth Grade  is also up for four Spirit Awards for independent movies on Saturday.

It has previously been screened at the London Sundance Festival and will be part of the Glasgow Film Festival next week.

Published: 18 Feb 2019