MFA Scriptwriting student honoured at the Writer’s Guild of Canada Awards

Master of Fine Arts in Scriptwriting & Story Design student Adrian Morphy recently celebrated a significant win after taking home the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize for his feature film screenplay “The 300 Year Old Man.” The award is given to the best-unproduced screenplay in Canada and honours the legacy of the late Jim Burt, a former CBC creative executive who was a life-long champion of Canadian drama and nurtured many up-and-coming scriptwriters in the country.

Morphy, a first-year student in the MFA in Scriptwriting & Story Design program, has always had a penchant for storytelling and has made videos for notable companies such as CBC Comedy and The History Channel. After deciding to continue his education, Morphy began working on the first draft of his screenplay, The 300 Year Old Man, which he submitted as part of his successful application to the MFA program. 

The screenplay, Morphy thought, held much promise, and after seeing the open application for the Jim Burt Screenwriting Award, he decided to submit his unproduced feature film screenplay. To his astonishment, he had not only made it to the finals but landed in first place. 

"I didn't expect much from my submission, but I was overjoyed to learn that I made it to the finals and even more delighted to win the prize," remarked Morphy. 

Morphy went on to share more about the inspiration behind his winning script, saying, "The 300 Year Old Man is a mockumentary telling the story of Lyla, a Gen-Z filmmaker, who meets Oswald, a reclusive hermit who claims to be 300 years old but appears to be only 20. As the two develop an unexpected bond, Oswald starts to age at an unusually rapid pace. The movie delves into the themes of mortality, how our bodies react to trauma and how we can find healing through community."

The story behind ‘The 300 Year Old Man’

Morphy shared that reflecting on his own experiences with Crohn's Disease played a significant role in creating his winning screenplay. 

"I aimed to craft a narrative that delves into chronic illness and invisible disability while incorporating elements of magical realism,” Morphy said. “I have been working on this story for over a year and completed the first draft of the screenplay for my application to the Scriptwriting and Story Design MFA program."

The Jim Burt Screenwriting Award was established to recognize Jim Burt's lifelong devotion to promoting Canadian writing and determines the winner based on a jury's selection of the best unproduced long-form script of the quality Burt championed. For winning the award, which was announced at the WGC Screenwriting Awards on April 24, 2023, Morphy received a total prize worth $5,000, with $3,000 in cash and $2,000 allotted for an experienced story editor approved by the jury to develop his script further.

From inspiration to achievement 

As Morphy explains, his time in the Scriptwriting & Story Design MFA program was a foundational piece of the puzzle to his budding scriptwriting career. 

"My experience in the Scriptwriting & Story Design MFA program has been incredibly positive," said Morphy. "It has been amazing to have the space to focus on my craft and work alongside an inspiring cohort of talented writers." 

He also acknowledged how meaningful Professor Justine Garrett's courses on Research Methods for Scriptwriting and Writing for Visual Media were to developing his craft. "These classes taught me the importance of ethical research techniques for screenwriting and how to transform factual events into an engaging dramatic narrative," said Morhpy. "Justine's classes foster a supportive atmosphere where students are encouraged to explore new concepts, experiment, and challenge themselves creatively."

Morphy's win is a testament to his talent and hard work as a screenwriter. He is also a welcome addition to the impressive list of productions that have met with national and international acclaim, embodying excellence in Canadian writing and storytelling. 

Interested in learning more? Take a look at Morphy's work (external link, opens in new window)  and the winners of this year’s Writer's Guild of Canada Awards (external link, opens in new window) .

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