Scientific screenwriting prize launched by Wellcome Trust and BFI The Wellcome Trust Screenwriting Prize will help support films inspired by medicine and biology, with genetics, infectious diseases and mental health being cited as examples of potential topics for screenwriters. The prize will be judged by members of the BFI and Film4, and the winner will receive a £20,000 cash prize to help develop their idea. They will also be introduced by the Wellcome Trust to a selection of eminent scientists, commercial partners and producers. The BFI will then ensure that the winner is supported by leading film executives as they develop their script. The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as a charitable foundation funding research to improve human and animal health. Clare Matterson from The Wellcome Trust said "science and medicine have inspired some of the most memorable, and often challenging, films in the history of cinema, from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Inception to Blade Runner and Memento. These are films that question what it is to be human or even just to be 'normal', that express the hopes and fears of society towards scientific progress. Lizzie Francke from the BFI Film Fund added that "science in film is by no means restricted to science fiction or science-inspired biopics. We want to hear from screenwriters with bold, innovative projects that draw inspiration from science and medicine to tell stories which challenge and entertain audiences. The competition is open to both live action and animation projects; judges will first and foremost be looking for a script that creatively incorporates biomedicine into the story.