British Columbia Film has unveiled two screenwriting awards named for late Emmy-winning director and broadcaster Daryl Duke to ‘celebrate and encourage excellence in screenwriting’ in Canada. The Lieutenant Governor’s Daryl Duke Awards for Screenwriting — one for TV, the other for film — will hand out annual cash prizes of up to $12,500 to established writers. The prizes are sponsored by B.C. Film and the B.C. chapter of the Directors Guild of Canada.

The announcement comes five months after Duke, best known for helming the 1983 U.S. miniseries The Thorn Birds, died of pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 77. Duke was a passionate supporter of screenwriters during his 15 years at B.C. Film. He also founded CKVU-TV (now Citytv Vancouver) and won the Directors Guild of Canada’s lifetime achievement award in 2003.

‘Mr. Duke had a profound influence on the development of Canada’s film and television industry. These awards are intended to honor a life of remarkable achievement,’ said B.C. Film chairman Michael Francis in a release.

The deadline for applications is April 16. Nomination forms are available on the B.C. Film website (www.bcfilm.bc.ca). Winners will be announced on May 30.