MICHAEL S. ROIF AWARD
ROIF AWARD 2013
The Thirteenth 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.
At right: Eileen Roif representing the Roif Family at the 2013 Awards, pictured here with prize winners:
First Place: Tyler Clayton Appel
Tyler Clayton Appel ('15, BDIC) of Foxborough, MA, for Leaving Home, narrative video (producer/co-writer/co-music/lead actor)
Second Place: Kadyrose Druar and Mariah C. Muscato
Kadyrose Druar ('13, Journalism) of Franklin, MA, for Paper Mirrors, documentary video (co-director)
Mariah C. Muscato ('13, Communication) of Easton, MA, for Paper Mirrors, documentary video (co-director)
Honorable Mention
Andrew J. Pollack ('14, Communication) of Teaneck, NJ, for The Tell-Tale Heart, narrative video (director/adaptation for the screen)
Also Nominated
Emily Felder ('13, Anthropology) for Jean's Garden: A Permaculture Documentary, documentary video (writer/director/cinematographer/editor)
Rahmah Pauzi ('13, Journalism) for "Voicing Out and Not Voicing Out: Sensing the Presence of the Filmmaker through Voice-Overs in German Documentary Films," essay (author)
Awards presented by Shawn Shimpach (Communication), Chair of the 2013 Roif Selection Committee.
Honoring Eileen Roif at the 13th Annual Michael S. Roif Awards in Film Studies
Eileen Roif at the 2013 Roif Awards receives an award in appreciation of her and the Roif Family's support of Film Studies at UMass Amherst. The award is conferred by the Chair of the Roif Selection Committee, Shawn Shimpach, Assistant Professor of Communication and Director of the Undergraduate Film Studies Certificate Program.
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 2012-2013 Nomination Rules and Procedures and Nomination Form.]
ROIF AWARD 2013
The Thirteenth 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: Tyler Clayton Appel
Tyler Clayton Appel ('15, BDIC) of Foxborough, MA, for Leaving Home, narrative video (producer/co-writer/co-music/lead actor)
Second Place: Kadyrose Druar and Mariah C. Muscato
Kadyrose Druar ('13, Journalism) of Franklin, MA, for Paper Mirrors, documentary video (co-director)
Mariah C. Muscato ('13, Communication) of Easton, MA, for Paper Mirrors, documentary video (co-director)
Honorable Mention
Andrew J. Pollack ('14, Communication) of Teaneck, NJ, for The Tell-Tale Heart, narrative video (director/adaptation for the screen)
Also Nominated
Emily Felder ('13, Anthropology) for Jean's Garden: A Permaculture Documentary, documentary video (writer/director/cinematographer/editor)
Rahmah Pauzi ('13, Journalism) for "Voicing Out and Not Voicing Out: Sensing the Presence of the Filmmaker through Voice-Overs in German Documentary Films," essay (author)
Awards presented by Shawn Shimpach (Communication), Chair of the 2013 Roif Selection Committee.
ROIF AWARD 2012
Twelfth 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
The prize for First Place this year is a tie between two nominees—an original screenplay and film production. The award is shared by Edwin Cabrera and Tye Whipple.
First Place: Edwin Cabrera
Edwin Cabrera ('13, Communication) for his screenplay Rouge about gang violence in Lowell, MA.
First Place: Tye Stratford Whipple
Tye Whipple ('13, BDIC) for his film production: Honeysuckle a film about the consequences of irredeemable guilt (writer/director/cinematographer, with writing credits shared by Adrian Atwood).
Also Nominated
Elyssa Budd ('14), Screenplay: Just a Peek
Eva Saltus ('13), Essay: "The Un-Definitive By Chance"
Sarah Deane Croog ('13), Essay: "In Love With Love: Francois Truffaut's Portrayal of Male Fixation in Romance Through Voiceover Storytelling"
Michael Stewart ('12), Production: My Way
Geoff King ('12), Production: A Descending Man
Awards presented by Shawn Shimpach (Communication), Chair of the 2012 Roif Selection Committee.
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)
Awards presented by Shawn Shimpach Chair, 2011 Roif Selection Committee.
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.
