MICHAEL S. ROIF AWARD
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies is a competitive annual prize awarded to a single student or divided between two students enrolled in the University's Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate Program whose film, video, or moving-image-media work demonstrates exceptional creativity and accomplishment.
In a given year, at least one prize must be awarded for production or screenwriting. If two prizes are awarded, one may be given for a scholarly essay. The award is based upon a gift, made by his family, in honor of Michael S. Roif, a University alumnus and film enthusiast.
Nominations
Instructors of university film/video or related courses may nominate up to two students. Students may not apply directly.
Nominees must be university Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate students who have completed a film/video/moving-image-media project in a University film/video or related course taken during the past three semesters. Award winners must be undergraduates in good standing at the University of Massachusetts Amherst at the time the award is conferred.
[Download the Spring 2011 Nomination Rules and Procedures and Nomination Form.]
ROIF AWARD 2011
Eleventh Annual Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies for Exceptional Creativity and Accomplishment presented to Undergraduate Certificate Students in the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies
First Place: Megan Tucei
Megan Tucei ('11, Communication) of Westport, Connecticut, for "Common Law", screenplay (writer)
Second Place: Geoffrey King
Geoffrey King ('12, Studio Art) of Hudson, Massachusetts, for "May There Always Be Sunshine", narrative video (writer/director/cinematographer)
Honorable Mention
Zachary Goodale ('11, Communication) of Westminster, Massachusetts, for "My Moon, My Man", narrative video (co-director/cinematographer)
Erica Pulcini ('11, Communication) of Putnam Valley, New York, for "My Moon, My Man", narrative video (co-director/writer)
Also Nominated
Jesse Richards ('11, Studio Art) for "Cine Foundation International", project (co-founder)
Mark Schiffer ('12, Comparative Literature/LLC) for "Lost Dreams and Humanity in the Melodramas of Douglas Sirk", essay (writer)
Patrick Setterlund ('11, Communication) for "Creeping Death", narrative video (writer/director/cinematographer)
Lindsay Van Dyke ('11, Sociology) for "A Presentation of Self", experimental video (writer/director/cinematographer)
Tye Whipple ('12, BDIC) for "Seedling", documentary (writer/director/cinematographer)
ROIF AWARD 2010
Tenth Annual Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies for Exceptional Creativity and Accomplishment presented to Undergraduate Certificate Students in the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies.
First Place: Mariel Adams
Mariel Adams ('12, Psychology) of Amherst, for "Without Regard", documentary (director/cinematographer/editor)
Second Place: Jeromie Whalen
Jeromie Whalen ('10, History) of Belchertown, for "Purgatory: Historical Analysis of the Belchertown State Schools", documentary (producer/co-director/editor/co-cinematographer)
Also Nominated
Adrian Atwood ('11, Communication) "The Sweet Smell of Success and The Exiles: Noir and Neo-Realist Cinematography of the Urban Landscape", essay
Jesse Barack ('10, Communication) "Surprise!", narrative video (co-director/actor)
Molly Bettancourt ('10, Communication) "Paris je T'aime: The Cinematic Expression of Parent-Child Relationships in the City of Love" (essay)
Emily Felder ('12, Anthropology) "Sweet Baby Lou & the Reverends of Funk", documentary (writer/director/cinematographer/editor)
Kyle Lampe ('10, Theater/BDIC-Film) "Missing", screenplay
Ben Leonberg ('10, Communication) "Two Men Drowning in Quicksand", narrative video (writer/director/cinematographer/editor) and "Poor Maori Boy Vampire vs. Drug-Taking Zombies or PMBV vs. DTZ", narrative video (writer/director/producer/editor)
Abigail McCann ('11, Communication) "The Demise of Dexter Morgan", teleplay
Allison Mulvey ('12, Comparative Literature, Commonwealth College) "The Presentation of Migration", essay
Awards presented by Martin Norden Chair, 2010 Roif Award Selection Committee
ROIF AWARD 2009
Ninth Annual Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies for Exceptional Creativity and Accomplishment presented to Undergraduate Certificate Students in the Interdepartmental Program in Film Studies.
First Place: Benjamin C. Leonberg
Benjamin C. Leonberg (BDIC and Communication, ’10) “Smyle”, narrative video
Second Place: Jason E. Scheer
Jason E. Scheer (BDIC, ’09) “I”, narrative video
Honorable Mention
Sage A. Freddura (Finance & Operations Management, ’10) “Passageways”, experimental video
Mary L. Savarese (BDIC, ’09) “Media Literacy and Community Service Learning”, documentary video
Awards presented by Shawn Shimpach Chair, 2009 Roif Selection Committee.
