Michael S. Roif Award
The Award
The Michael S. Roif Award in Film Studies is a competitive annual prize awarded to 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 more 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.
Awards Ceremony takes place every year on the First Friday of May. Winners must be present.
For Faculty: Nomination Form
For Winners: Showcase Release Form
Awards Ceremony 2020&2021
Nomination are due April 26th. Ceremony will be held on May 7th, by Zoom.
Awards Ceremony 2019
Join us for the Awards Ceremony and reception at the Nineteenth 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. Reception to follow.
When: Friday May 3rd at noon
Where: S240 Integrative Learning Center UMass
This event is free and open to the public.
Award Recepients:
Roif Awards 2019
Best in Competition: Corey Stein "Twenty Years to Say Hello"
Best Narrative Fiction Video: Theodore Warmington "Cursive & Cardstock"
Best Documentary: Maria Manning "Keeping Shop"
Best Score: Corey Shaya "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia"
Best Screenplay: Aidan Knowles "Release Form".
Roif Awards 2018
The 18th 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:
Best in Competition Film
Kevin Rogers
Best in Competition Screenplay
Charlie Turner
Best Director
Troy Lustick
Best Screenwriter
Lizzy Keery
Best Webisode
Alexa Rockwell
Best Webisode
Alexander Hagani
Best Videographic Essay
Sarah Etkin
Roif Awards 2017
The 17th 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:
BEST IN COMPETITION
Nathan Frontiero (’17, English) of Gloucester, Massachusetts, for
"Under the Score: Film Music as Consciousness in Under the Skin" - Film Criticism Podcast (writer, narrator)
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
Robert J. Hunt, Jr. (’17, Communication) of Natick, Massachusetts, for
"Kevin Harrington" (writer, director, cinematographer)
BEST NARRATIVE FILM
Kevin Rogers (’18, BDIC) of Gloucester, Massachusetts, for
"Tandem" (writer, director, cinematographer)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Jake Quinn (’19, Marketing/BDIC) of Attleboro, Massachusetts, for
"Verbatim" (writer)
Roif Awards 2016
The 16th 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
Anthony Spano for
"All That We Know" - Screenplay (writer)
SECOND PLACE
Alexander Hagani for
"Boys to Men - Episode 3: Friday" - Narrative Video (writer, director, actor, producer, editor)
Jackson Kapinos for
"Take Me Out" - Music Video (writer, director, lead actor)
HONORABLE MENTION
Kacie Quinn for
"Partners in Time - Episode 3: The Time They Start a Swordfight” - Narrative Video (co-writer, director)
Roif Awards 2015
The 15th 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
Josef Aziz Ameur ('15, Communication/English) for
"Infinity's Noose" - Screenplay
SECOND PLACE
Alexander David Kamb ('15, Communication) for
"Daruma-san: The Bath Game" - Experimental Video (writer, director, cinematographer, editor)
Roif Awards 2014
The 14th 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
Christopher R. Martin ('14, English) for
"Love Triangles: Homosexuality and Sexual Identity in Laura and Gilda" - Essay
SECOND PLACE
Andrew J. Pollack ('14, Comparative Literature) for
"The Henry Holmes Motel" - Film
HONORABLE MENTION
Alexander Bilodeau ('14 Theater/BDIC) for
"Faust" - Film
Taylor Avery Garron ('15, Communications)
"Last Comic Standing: The Rise and Fall of the Independent Comic Store" - Film
Roif Awards 2013
The 13th 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 ('15, BDIC) of Foxborough, Massachusetts for
"Leaving Home" - Narrative Video (producer, co-writer, co-music, lead actor)
SECOND PLACE
Kadyrose Druar ('13, Journalism) of Franklin, Massachusetts for
"Paper Mirrors" - Documentary Video (co-director)
Mariah C. Muscato ('13, Communication) of Easton, Massachusetts 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)
Roif Awards 2012
The 12th 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
The prize for First Place this year is a tie between two nominees—an original screenplay and film production.
Edwin Cabrera ('13, Communication) for
"Rouge" - Screenplay (writer)
Tye Whippel ('13, BDIC) for
"Honeysuckle" - Film (writer, director, cinematographer, writing credits shared by Adrian Atwood)
Roif Awards 2011
The 11th 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 ('11, Communication) of Westport, Connecticut for
"Common Law" - Screenplay (writer)
SECOND PLACE
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)
Roif Awards 2010
The 10th 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 ('12, Psychology) of Amherst, Massachusetts for
"Without Regard" - Documentary (director, cinematographer, editor)
SECOND PLACE
Jeromie Whalen ('10, History) of Belchertown, Massachusetts for
"Purgatory: Historical Analysis of the Belchertown State Schools" - Documentary (producer, co-director, editor, co-cinematographer)
Roif Awards 2009
The 9th 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 ('10, BDIC/Communication) for
"Smyle" - Narrative Video
SECOND PLACE
Jason E. Scheer ('09, BDIC) for
"I" - Narrative Video
HONORABLE MENTION
Sage A. Freddura ('10 Finance/Operations Management) for
"Passageways" - Experimental Video
Mary L. Savarese ('09, BDIC) for
"Media Literacy and Community Service Learning" - Documentary Video
Roif Awards 2008
The 8th 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 Sidney ('09, Anthropology) for
"KRV-1732" - Narrative Video
HONORABLE MENTION
Garrett Jones ('08, Psychology) for
"Coming Around" - Screenplay
Jessika Weise ('08, English) for
"The Landing"
Roif Awards 2007
The 7th 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 Sidney ('08, Anthropology) of Florence, Massachusetts for
"Vis a Vis" - Narrative Video
SECOND PLACE
Thomas Curcuro ('07, Communication) of Gloucester, Massachusetts and
Perry Crowell ('07, Communication) of Sudbury, Massachusetts for
"Threshold" - Narrative Video
HONORABLE MENTION
Michael Dunn ('09, Communication) of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts for
"Camera" - Narrative Video
Todd Schmeling ('08, BFA-Art) of Manasquan, New Jersey for
"Strange Wind" - Narrative Video
Roif Awards 2006
The 6th 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
Andrew Smith ('06, Mechanical Engineering) for
"Exit 1C" and "Pentax" - Narrative Video and Screenplay
SECOND PLACE
Sean George ('06, Theater) for
"Ebb and Flo" - Narrative Video
HONORABLE MENTION
Joseph Piedrafite ('06, Communication/English) for
"The Sopranos: You May Kiss the Bride" - Teleplay
Elizabeth James ('06, Communication) for
"Annie Knows Jack" - Screenplay
Roif Awards 2005
The 5th 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
Andrew Bertino ('06) for
"Below the Horizon" - Feature-Length Screenplay
SECOND PLACE
April May ('05) for
"In Ads We Trust" - Documentary
HONORABLE MENTION
Aimée Blaquière ('05) and
Michael Di Salvo ('05) for
"Hi :-)" - Narrative
Roif Awards 2004
The 4th 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:
CO-WINNERS
Ben Garry ('04) for
"Move"
Christopher O'Coin ('04) for
"The Making of Codes"
HONORABLE MENTION
Paul Brennan III ('04) for
"It's About This Girl"
Roif Awards 2003
The 3rd 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:
CO-WINNERS
Adrian H. D'Errico ('04) for
"Amen" - Screenplay
Michael A. Oullette ('03) for
"Dora's Shoebox" - Screenplay and Video
HONORABLE MENTION
Sam P. Neudel ('03) for
"Rap Tap" - Video
Roif Awards 2002
The 2nd 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:
CO-WINNERS
Kelby T. Akin ('05) for
"The Routine" - Video
Daniel E. Murray ('02) for
"Now Until Nightfall" - Screenplay
Roif Awards 2001
The 1st 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:
CO-WINNERS
Kathleen D. Lynch for
"The Kiss" - Film
Michael Kaplan for
"The Reo Existence" - Video
