Director Alexander Payne is celebrating after his hit George Clooney film The Descendants was honoured with the coveted Scripter Award on Saturday (18Feb12).
Each year the accolade is handed out to the author and screenwriter of the best book-to-film adaptation and Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash and novelist Kaui Hart Hemmings are the latest team to take home the trophy.
The group, which saw off competition from the scribes behind Moneyball, A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, were recognised during the 24th annual prizegiving ceremony, held at the University of Southern California.
Crash writer Paul Haggis was also feted at the event - he picked up the 2012 Usc Scripter Literary Achievement Award.