The Samuel Goldwyn Foundation president Samuel Goldwyn Jr has announced the five finallists for the 2010 Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards.

The finallists submitted feature-length screenplays and were selected from a field of more than 200 submissions from eight University Of California campuses. The awards are in their 55th year.

The contenders are: Branden Cahn (UCSB) with Burnt Bridges Of Cartwright; Ryan Finnerty (UCLA) with Short Stories; Meg Gifford (UCLA) with Paint It Black; Matt Wheeler (UCLA) How To Leave Your Lover; and Owen Donovan Yarde (UCLA) with Hit And Run.

Samuel Goldwyn Sr started the awards in 1955 at UCLA to encourage young film, stage and television writers.

“We are enormously proud to have been associated with the Samuel Goldwyn Writing Awards throughout its distinguished 55-year history,” Teri Schwartz, dean of UCLA’s School Of Theater, Film And Television, said. “As entertainment professionals and educators, we know that everything starts with a story.”:

The $15,000 first prize, $7,500 second prize, $4,000 third prize, $2,000 and $1,000 honorable mentions will be announced at UCLA on November 1.