Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award
Background
Both Morris and Roz were actively involved in the development of the Rehoboth Beach Film Society and its award-winning Rehoboth Beach Independent Film Festival. In the Festival’s early years, their retails skills were instrumental in starting a Merchandise Booth. They also assisted with reviewing films, recruiting additional volunteers, and encouraging others to attend the Festival. Being quite resourceful, Roz and Morris persuaded two of their sons, Andy and Stephen, to participate by facilitating seminars, allowing their films to be exhibited, and conducting Q&A(s) after film screenings. The involvement of the Fierberg family is greatly appreciated.
The Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award was established in 2004 in memory of Morris Fierberg. The fund’s name was expanded to include Roslyn just prior to her passing in 2010.
The purpose of this award program is to encourage student film production by acknowledging the outstanding work of a student film director. Full-time high school or undergraduate students from the United States are eligible to participate.
Each year a review panel consisting of a Fierberg family member or representative, a teacher or professional in the film production area or art field, and the Film Society’s Education/Outreach Coordinator screen each submission and rate the films on originality, execution, (technical proficiency in four areas) and overall quality. Award recipients are announced in October each year. The first place award is a $1,000 cash prize and the Honorable Mention award is a $250 gift card.
(Click here to donate to the Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award.)
2011 Recipient
The Rehoboth Beach Film Society is pleased to introduce Grant Reed, the 2011 Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award recipient.

Grant Reed is a Film Production major at Chapman University in California. He enjoys creating films exploring serious and controversial issues with a humorous tone. This is evident in Incest! The Musical, a satirical short film that began as Grant’s idea that it would be “fun to do a musical…about something awful.” This film centers on a high school brother and sister duo who realize they are in love with one another. Their story is told in Glee-style musical numbers, performed to perfection by the classmates. [2011, Runtime: 23 min, USA, Not rated]
2011 Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award Honorable Mention – Zach Wechter

Zach Wechter is an undergraduate at Chapman University in California, where he has produced 20 short films. He has worked as a production assistant on professional television shows such as CMT’s Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team and MTV’s Styl’d. Zach’s film, Election Day, is a political thriller set in the backstabbing world of high school student government. [2010, Runtime: 12 min, USA, Not rated]
Previous Years' Recipients
Year |
Position |
Student |
Film |
2005 |
First place |
Gabrielle Nadig |
From Sea to Shining Screen |
2006 |
First place |
Wil Hyler |
So I Left |
2006 |
Honorable Mention |
Kat Hess |
Racing Genes |
2007 |
First place |
Andrew Pearson |
Heart Attack |
2007 |
Honorable Mention |
No Honorable Mention was selected in 2007 |
|
2008 |
First place |
William Kaufman |
Blowing Smoke |
2008 |
Honorable Mention |
Nikki Zhand |
Love’s A Drag |
2009 |
First place |
Dena Greenbaum |
Blues |
2009 |
Honorable Mention |
Ben Carey |
White Cane |
2010 |
First place |
Cornelius Murphy |
Breadwinner |
2010 |
Honorable Mention |
Matt Hilferty |
Rob Roar |
2011 |
First place |
Grant Reed |
Incest! The Musical |
2011 |
Honorable Mention |
Zach Wechter |
Election Day |
To Participate
Include a completed Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award application (click here for application) AND meet the following application requirements:
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The applicant must be the director of the film.
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The applicant must be a registered, full-time high school or undergraduate student at the time of the film’s production.
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The applicant must maintain full-time residence in the United States.
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A supervising faculty member must endorse applicant’s entry form.
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The competing film(s) must have been made during the preceding period of September 1 and June 15.
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Dramas, comedies, documentaries and experimental films are all eligible. However, purely animated films are not. Judges reserve the right to decide on a film’s eligibility based on these guidelines.
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Eligible films are those in which every major crew position was held by a student. Productions in which a non-student, professional, or a faculty member served as a cinematographer, camera operator, sound recordist, editor, lighting director or screen writer are not eligible.
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Entries should be no longer than 30 minutes in length . Longer films must be cued to an appropriate starting place because only 30 minutes of each submission will be viewed.
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Entry deadline: All submissions must be received at the RBFS office by June 15, 2012
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The winner and the honorable mention will be notified by July 5, 2012.
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Entries must be on DVD, VHS or ¾” videotape and labeled with name, address, phone number and film title.
To Donate
The Film Society invites film enthusiasts, supporters of the Film Society, as well as friends and family members of the Fierberg to make donations to the Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award. It is through donor generosity and the future generosity of others, that the Film Society will be able to continue Morris’ commitment to youth and the art of filmmaking. If you are interested in making a donation to the Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award, please contact Sue Early at (302) 645-9095, or by e-mail: sue@rehobothfilm.com, or send a check to RBFS, 107 Truitt Ave., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. All donations are tax deductible. Your support is appreciated.


