Finalists for the 2009 Humanitas Prize, which honors writers whose work “affirms

Finalists for the 2009 Humanitas Prize, which honors writers whose work “affirms the dignity of the human person and reveals our common humanity” include the scribes behind “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Milk,” “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Doubt” and “Wall-E.”

Awarded by the non-profit, Human Family Educational and Cultural Institute, the winners, who will collect $95,000 in prize money, will be announced at the group’s annual luncheon on Sept. 17 at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

The writers cited in the feature category, which carries a $10,000 prize, are Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog”), Dustin Lance Black (“Milk”) and John Patrick Shanley (“Doubt”) as well as Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon, who were nominated for the “WALL-E” screenplay and Stanton & Pete Docter, nominated for “WALL-E’s” original story.

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With three nominations, one for best score and two for its songs (Jai Ho and O’Saya), “Slumdog Millionaire,” leads the competition for the ninth annual World Soundtrack Awards. Winners will be announced Oct. 17 at the closing night of the 36th Ghent International Film Festival.