The USC Scripter Awards are almost always handed out to honor adapted screenplays and the works of literature that inspired them, so it's up to you to tell me how they managed to include District 9 (which is based on Neill Blomkamp's own short film). Still, it's a fascinating choice for a group that usually relies heavily on movies adapted from books, and a potentially very interesting sign that District 9's awards-season prospects may be greater than we thought.
The full list of nominees also includes Crazy Heart, An Education, Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire (that title was kind of begging for a nomination, don't you think?), and Up in the Air. Other movies based on literature that could have been eligible include The Blind Side, Invictus, Where the Wild Things Are, The Road and Julie & Julia, all of which could have been more traditional choices than a movie about bug-like aliens. Verrrry interesting choice indeed.
