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John Wells’s new prexy of the Humanitas Prize has announced this year’s finalists for the top prize.

The prize honors films and TV writing that “explores the human condition in a way which affirms the dignity of the human person and reveals common humanity.”

Finalists in the feature film category are The Diving Bell and the Butterfly which in my view should win written by Ronald Harwood, Juno written by Diablo Cody; and “Lars and The Real Girl” written by Nancy Oliver.

Wells, who takes over as president from Frank Desiderio, served as prexy of the WGA West from 1999-2001. His writing credits include “ER,” “The West Wing” and “Third Watch.”

Kudos, including $115,000 in prize money, will be given out at a luncheon on Sept. 17 in the Crystal Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The 2008 Humanitas Prize finalists are:

Feature Film Category ($10,000)
“The Diving Bell and The Butterfly,” written by Ronald Harwood
“Juno,” written by Diablo Cody
“Lars and the Real Girl,” written by Nancy Oliver

90 Minute Category ($10,000)
“Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee,” written by Daniel Giat
“Charlie & Me,” written by Karen Legasse Struck
“A Life Interrupted,” written by John Wierick
“Pictures of Hollis Woods,” written by Ann Peacock, Daniel Petrie Jr. & Camille Thomasson

60 Minute Category ($10,000)
“Boston Legal”: “Roe V. Wade, The Musical, written by David E. Kelly & Susan Dickes (teleplay); David E. Kelly, Susan Dickes & Jill Goldsmith (story)
“John Adams”: “Part 1,” written by Kirk Ellis
“The Wire”: “Late Editions,” written by George Pelecanos (teleplay); David Simon & George Pelecanos (story)

30 Minute Category ($10,000)
“The Bill Engvall Show”: “Aloha Raffles,” written by Kathy Ann Stumpe
“In Treatment”: “Sophie Week 2,” written by Sarah Treem
“Scrubs”: “My Long Goodbye,” written by Dave Tennant

Children’s Animation Category ($10,000)
“My Friends Tigger & Pooh”: “Eeyore’s Sad Day,” written by Brian Hohlfeld
“Sweet Blackberry Presents”: “The Journey Of Henry Box Brown,” written by Karyn Parsons
“Toddworld”: “Come Out Of Your Shell,” written by Don Gillies

Children’s Live Action Category ($10,000)
“Johnny Kapahala”: “Back On Board,” written by Ann Austen, Douglas Sloan, Max Enscoe & Annie DeYoung (teleplay); Ann Austen & Douglas Sloan (story)
“Minutemen,” written by John Killoran (teleplay); David Diamond & David Weissman (story)
“Sheira and Loli’s Dittydoodle Works”: “Sacrifice,” written by David Lawrence, Bill Rodman & Cory Rosenberg

Sundance Feature Film Category ($10,000)
“Henry Poole Is Here,” written by Albert Torres
“A Raisin in the Sun,” written by Paris Qualles
“The Visitor,” written by Tom McCarthy

The David & Lynn Angell Fellowship in Comedy Writing ($10,000)
“Fair”: written by Cameron Porsandeh
“McKellar Hall”: written by Nik Blahunka & Marcy Holland

The Humanitas Student Drama Fellowship ($10,000)
“Heroes”: “The Cure,” written by Marla DuMont
“House”: “Witch Is It,” written by Katherine F. Lovejoy

The Documentary Award ($5,000)
To be announced at the luncheon.

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