The winners in the 2015 PEN Center USA Literary Awards have at last been revealed. PEN Center USA, the organization based in Los Angeles that is behind the prestigious accolade, aims to celebrate through the annual event agents of poetry, nonfiction, fiction, screenwriting and journalism from the West as it picks out the best of the best while also giving spotlight to creative writers who strive for the cultivation of free speech.
There will be a slew of writers and artists attending the affair. Some of the writers to be recognized in this year's gala include Jamaica-born poet and National Book Award for Poetry winner Claudia Rankine, "The Strange & Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender" author Leslye Walton, Meghan Daum, whose win comes from her book "The Unspeakable," screenwriter and author Graham Moore, who is best known for his script for the historical film "The Imitation Game" and for publishing the 2010 novel "The Sherlockian."
According to LA Times, Oscar-winning writer and filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola was chosen as the recipient of the lifetime achievement award. He is known for his unforgettable masterpieces such as the "The Godfather" saga, which already received classic status and "Apocalypse Now." Noah Hawley also won the teleplay award for comedy-crime drama television series "Fargo," which premiered las year.
On the other hand, Entertainment Weekly is reporting that CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou will be given the First Amendment Award while investigative journalism nonprofit group ProPublica is set to take home the Award of Honor this year. Here is the complete rundown of the 2015 PEN Center USA Literary Awards categories and the respective winners:
These winners will be honored in a ceremony taking place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Nov 16. "The Ghost Whisperer" alum and "Archer" star Aisha Tyler will guide everyone through the night of festivities and celebration of literary and speech freedom.