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| Eighth Grade Photo: Courtesy of Sundance Film Festival |
Burnham beat off competition from the heavily touted Roma and Green Book with his coming-of-age drama, while Holofcener and Whitty were also considered underdogs with their comedy drama about literary forger Lee Israel in a field that included BlackKklansman and If Beale Street Could Talk.
In her acceptance speech, Holofcener said: “I want to thank Lee. She’d probably be sitting in the room judging all of us. She though she was the smartest person in the room and she probably was.”
Burnham - who has not in the running for next week's Oscars - credited his young star Elsie Fisher for winning the award.
He said: “To the other nominees in the category — Have fun at the Oscars, losers!"
The Documentary Screenplay award went to Bathtubs Over Broadway, written by Ozzy Inguanzo and Dava Whisenant, about musicals produced by corporations for their staff.
Last year's winners, Get Out and Call Me By Your Name, went on to win the Oscars.
