Rae Benjamin to Receive Starz #TakeTheLead Award at Humanitas Prizes
The 'Witcher' co-producer will be honored with the award for mid-career writers amplifying underrepresented voices. Russell T Davies will present the prize, which includes $10,000 and mentorship from Starz executives. Humanitas also announced its new fellows and college screenwriting winners.
Benjamin's recognition comes alongside her work on Netflix's fantasy franchise, where she serves as co-producer on the fifth season and cowrote the animated spinoff "Sirens of the Deep." The award targets mid-career writers whose work elevates narratives centered on women and underrepresented communities, pairing a $10,000 prize with direct mentorship from Starz leadership.
The Humanitas organization also unveiled its 2026-27 New Voices Fellows cohort, marking a new collaboration with Echo Lake Entertainment, and announced winners of its College Screenwriting Awards. Davies, who will present the honor, is developing the Starz series "Tip Toe," connecting the ceremony to the network's broader talent pipeline.
This award could strengthen industry pathways for mid-career writers from marginalized backgrounds, offering both financial support and direct access to network executives. The mentorship component may translate into more diverse storytelling across premium television, potentially influencing hiring practices at other studios. For audiences, such recognition signals which voices networks prioritize, possibly shaping the range of narratives available in coming seasons. The Humanitas platform also lends cultural legitimacy to inclusion efforts, though its long-term effect depends on whether awardees secure sustained production opportunities.