While public attention is typically drawn to awards for best feature, actor or actress, an annual event is now highlighting writers.

Screenwriter Carnival – organized by Bianjubang, one of China’s largest online scriptwriter agencies – has presented a series of awards to 2018’s best writers.

Divided into four categories including film, TV drama, online series and internet film, the event named 27 scriptwriters behind 12 productions as “the most watched writers of 2018”, in Beijing on Dec 26.

In film awards went to Han Jianyu, Zhong Wei and Wen Muye, who co-wrote Dying to Survive, a medical drama that has sparked online controversy; Rao Xiaozhi and Lei Zhilong for the black crime comedy A Cool Fish, and Tibetan director-scriptwriter Sonthar Gyal for his psychological drama Ala Changso.

As this year’s highest scored TV drama on China’s popular reviewing site Douban, Like a Flowing River earned its writers Yuan Keping and Tang Yao awards in TV drama. Alongside them taking home awards were Wang Zhili who wrote The Story of Zhengyang Gate and Zhang Lai for Peace Hotel.

“I decided to work as a scriptwriter at 30 years old. In the first four years of my career, I led a tough life and encountered many hurdles. I was asked to revise scripts many times; I saw a film adapted from my script released without my name in the credits, and other times I wouldn’t be paid as investors had promised,” said Lei Zhilong, a writer on A Cool Fish.

“I even decided to get another job before A Cool Fish was released. Thanks to the success of the film, it has rescued me. I wish all the good writers who are still struggling for their dreams will gain recognition,” said Lei.