Moyes, le Carré and Kerr shortlisted for CAMEO awards

Twelve "stand-out" book adaptations from the past two years have been named on the shortlists for the Creativity Across Media: Entertainment & Originality Awards (CAMEO), including titles by Jacqueline Wilson, Judith Kerr and Jojo Moyes.

Chosen by a cross-section of creative industry professionals including digital film makers, literary editors and theatre programmers, the judging panel shortlised the film adaptations of Me Before You by Moyes (Michael Joseph) in the Book to film category. It goes up against The Martian by Andy Weir (Del Rey) and In Another Country by David Constantine (Comma Press) - the film version of which is titled "45 Years". 

In the Book to TV category, We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen (Walker Books) tustle with Mog’s Christmas Calamity by Judith Kerr (HarperCollins) and The Night Manager by John le Carré (Penguin Classics).

Meanwhile, Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson (Yearling), Not Dead Enough by Peter James (Pan Books) and Emily Brown and The Thing by Cressida Cowell (Hodder Children’s Books) will fight it out to be crowned best book to stage adaptation.

Pitted against each other in the last category, book into game, are The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, based on The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski (Gollancz), Beast Quest based on the Beast Quest series by Adam Blade (Orchard Books), and Roald Dahl’s Twit or Miss, based on The Twits by Roald Dahl (Puffin).

The CAMEOs are a collaboration between London Book & Screen Week and the Publishers Association to recognise the “integral role” books play within the creative industries as an inspiration for plays, film, TV and games.

“With the creative industries now worth £84.1 billion per year to the UK economy, it is a chance to recognise some of the most exciting contributions from individuals across the sector, from authors to directors, agents, publishers and producers”, the organisers said.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held in Soho House on Monday 13th March 2017 to coincide with the launch of this year’s London Book & Screen Week (13th-19th March 2017), a seven-day series of events celebrating books and the films, TV programmes and virtual worlds they inspire.

Special guests on the night will include author, scriptwriter and ambassador for London Book & Screen Week, David Nicholls, and film industry veteran Greg Silverman.

Silverman is currently transitioning from being president of Warner Bros. Pictures to serving as founder and c.e.o of Stampede Ventures, a joint venture between Silverman and Warner Brothers to produce film television and digital content.

The judges involved in this year’s awards include: Julian Friedman, Arifa Akbar, Katrien Roos, John Lomas-Bullivant, Alice Ryan, Douglas Schatz, Charlotte Longstaff, Alison Norrington, Liz Rosenthal & Sharna Jackson.

Jacks Thomas, director of The London Book Fair and London Book & Screen Week, said: “We are delighted to announce such an outstanding shortlist in our inaugural year, which really serves to demonstrate the fantastic breadth of creativity inspired by books. We look forward to honouring our shortlistees at the awards ceremony in March for the start of London Book & Screen Week.”