Abel Vang and his brother, Burlee Vang, are co-authors of the award-winning script, "The Tiger's Child."

Abel Vang received his BS degree in biology at Fresno State and then attended the University of Southern California where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in film production.

Burlee Vang earned earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at Fresno State University after graduating from UC Davis.

Burlee Vang's poetry has been published in numerous journals nationwide and he also is the author of “The Dead I Know: Incantation for Rebirth,” published in 2010 by Swan Scythe Press.

Most recently, he was co-editor of “How Do I Begin? A Hmong-American Literary Anthology” (Heyday, 2011). Vang is a founding member of the Hmong-American Writers Circle, which encourages emerging Hmong writers in the San Joaquin Valley.

The screenplay is about an orphaned 12-year-old boy’s decision about whether he will accept the risk of following his father into a secret army so he can provide for his 5-year-old brother.

The winners of Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowships were selected from a record 6,730 scripts submitted for this year's competition. The competition is open to any individual who has not sold or optioned a screenplay or teleplay for more than $5,000, or received a fellowship or prize that includes a "first look" clause, an option, or any other quid pro quo involving the writer's work.

The Nicholl Committee, chaired by producer Gale Anne Hurd, is composed of writers Naomi Foner, Daniel Petrie, Jr., Tom Rickman and Dana Stevens; actor Eva Marie Saint; cinematographers John Bailey and Steven B. Poster; costume designer Vicki Sanchez; executive Bill Mechanic; producers Peter Samuelson and Robert W. Shapiro; marketing executive Buffy Shutt, and agent Ronald R. Mardigian.

Fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipients will each complete a feature-length screenplay during their fellowship year. The Academy acquires no rights to the works of Nicholl fellows and does not involve itself commercially in any way with their completed scripts.

Including this year's winners, 123 fellowships have been awarded since the program's inception in 1985. A number of previous winners have achieved considerable success. Jason Micallef, a 2008 fellow, wrote "Butter," which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Ehren Kruger, a 1996 fellow, wrote "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" which opened this summer. "The Details," written and directed by 1998 fellow Jacob Aaron Estes, premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. Andrew W. Marlowe, a 1992 fellow, created and executive produces ABC's "Castle," for which Terri Miller, also a 1992 fellow, has been a writer-producer. Mike Rich, a 1998 fellow, wrote "Secretariat," which opened last October. Susannah Grant, a 1992 fellow, earned an Oscar® nomination in 2000 for her "Erin Brockovich" screenplay. Grant is the writer, director and executive producer on CBS's "A Gifted Man."

Several other Nicholl fellows have had success in the film industry; to read more about them, visit http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/fellows/notable.html