In this Feb. 26, 2017 file photo, Oscar statuettes appear backstage at the Oscars in Los Angeles. The academy announced the winners of its annual screenplay competition on Tuesday. The four individuals and one writing duo will receive $35,000 and other academy support toward the completion of a feature-length screenplay in the next year. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) --
Six emerging screenwriters are the latest recipients of the film academy's Nicholl Fellowships.
The academy announced the winners of its annual screenplay competition on Tuesday. The four individuals and one writing duo will receive $35,000 and other academy support toward the completion of a feature-length screenplay in the next year.
The winners will receive the first installment of their prize money and hear actors read their work aloud at a Nov. 2 ceremony at the film academy's headquarters in Beverly Hills, California.
The organization says the global competition drew 7,102 submissions. The winning writers and scripts are: Vigil Chime, "Bring Back Girl"; SJ Inwards, "Jellyfish Summer"; Max Lance and Jen Bailey, "The Queen of Sleaze"; KG Rockmaker, "Last Days of Winter"; and Cesar Vitale, "The Great Nothing."
Pepsi soft drinks in plastic bottles are on sale at a grocery store in New York on Weds., Nov. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)
PepsiCo confirmed Friday that it's ending some of its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, even as rival Coca-Cola voiced support for its own inclusion efforts.
In a memo sent to employees, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company will no longer set goals for minority representation in its managerial roles or supplier base. The company will also align its sponsorships to events and groups that promote business growth, he said.
Laguarta wrote that inclusion remains important to PepsiCo, whose brands include Gatorade, Lay's potato chips, Doritos, Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi. The Purchase, New York-based company's chief diversity officer will transition to a broader role focused on employee engagement, leadership development and ensuring an inclusive culture, he said.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last month, U.S. government agencies, companies and schools have rushed to reevaluate policies and programs they adopted with the goal of reducing discrimination against members of minority groups, women and LGBTQ+ people.
Trump ended DEI programs within the federal government and has warned schools to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money.
PepsiCo's rollback came as Coca-Cola reaffirmed support for its DEI efforts.
In its annual report, Atlanta-based Coke warned that its business could be negatively affected if it is unable to attract employees that reflect its broad range of customers.
"Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion โฆ could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success," the company said.
Coca-Cola has set a goal of having women in 50% of its senior leadership roles by... Read More
