Fierberg Student Film Award
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Rehoboth Beach Film Society will not be accepting submissions for the 2021 Fierberg Film Award.
Please consider submitting a film in 2022. The first announcement for the 2022 submission process will be sent out December 15, 2021.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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 retail 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 sessions 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, a current high school or college student, and the Film Society’s Education/Outreach Coordinator screen each submission and rate the films on originality, execution, technical proficiency, 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.)
To Participate
Include a completed 2021 Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award application (Click for the 2021 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 period of September 1, 2020 and the submission due date of June 15, 2021.
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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 screenwriter are not eligible.
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Entries should be no longer than 30 minutes in length. Longer films may be submitted, but only the first 30 minutes will be viewed by the judging panel.
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Entry deadline: All submissions must be received at the RBFS office by 5:00 pm, June 15, 2022. The winner and the honorable mention will be notified on or about August 20, 2022
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Entries must be on Blu-ray and labeled with name, address, phone number and film title (submit 3 copies).
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Please provide Vimeo and/or YouTube link to film.
2019 Recipients
The Rehoboth Beach Film Society is pleased to introduce Kristopher Chinander, the 2019 Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award recipient.
A beautiful place exists in the creative minds of the Livingston Model Railroad Club. Kristopher’s short documentary Model Citizen lulls the viewer into the serene world of model railroads with immersive cinematography, a fantasy-like soundscape, and its charming club members.
From Minnesota to Montana, Kristopher Chinander sought out a life in paleontology and found his path in film while studying at Montana State University, Bozeman. He uses his experiences in various fields to help identify interesting stories and wishes to share as much as he can with the world through moviemaking.
2019 Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award Honorable Mention – Connor Hagan
Abby’s Rose is a romantic short that explores the power of patience as a man yearns for the love of his new neighbor. Taking place in 1917, this film blends the delicacy of purity with the desire of temptation. Over a single year, Abby must decide the importance of the present versus the future that lies ahead.
At a young age, Connor Hagan began creating short films in his hometown of Newark, Delaware. Wanting to pursue filmmaking as a profession, Connor moved to Savannah, Georgia to attend The Savannah College of Art and Design. Since 2016, Connor has gained hands-on experience working professionally on over eight feature productions including, HBO’s Succession and Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. Currently Connor is living in New York City working as an associate producer for the award winning advertising agency Droga5.
Review Panel
The Rehoboth Beach Film Society thanks the following individuals for participating in the selection process: Holden Conner, (college student and former RBFS intern), Helen Gates (retired teacher and longtime RBFS member), and Marshall Shord (Cinema Art Theater Associate).
The Film Society invites film enthusiasts, supporters of the Film Society, as well as friends and relatives of the Fierberg family to make donations to the Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award. Donor generosity will help the Film Society continue the Fierbergs’ 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 send a check (made payable to RBFS), 107 Truitt Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 or go to Fierberg Film Award page to donate online. All donations are 100% tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
Previous Years’ Recipients
Year |
Position |
Student |
Film |
2018 |
First Place |
Daniel Shaykevich |
Thoughts at Night |
2018 |
Honorable Mention |
Chris K. Daniels |
When Mentioned |
2017 |
First Place |
Raymond Knudsen |
Full Circle |
2017 |
Honorable Mention |
Justin Burt |
Sink or Swim |
2016 |
First Place |
Ryan Brown |
Tom, the Knife Salesman |
2016 |
Honorable Mention |
Alfred Greenbaum |
Interviewers |
2015 |
First Place |
Max Radbill |
Movie Palace |
2015 |
Honorable Mention |
Frederick Criswell |
White Blood Cell |
2014 |
First Place |
Lizz Astor |
Tank |
2014 |
Honorable Mention |
Jessica Crowell |
LIfe Tracks |
2013 |
First Place |
Andrej Landin |
Into the Silent Sea |
2013 |
Honorable Mention |
Owen Schwartzbard |
The Bluff |
2012 |
First Place |
Sarah Rosen |
Food of Love |
2012 |
Honorable Mention |
Dan Baxter |
Junk Man |
2011 |
First place |
Grant Reed |
Incest! The Musical |
2011 |
Honorable Mention |
Zach Wechter |
Election Day |
2010 |
First place |
Cornelius Murphy |
Breadwinner |
2010 |
Honorable Mention |
Matt Hilferty |
Rob Roar |
2009 |
First place |
Dena Greenbaum |
Blues |
2009 |
Honorable Mention |
Ben Carey |
White Cane |
2008 |
First place |
William Kaufman |
Blowing Smoke |
2008 |
Honorable Mention |
Nikki Zhand |
Love’s A Drag |
2007 |
First place |
Andrew Pearson |
Heart Attack |
2007 |
Honorable Mention |
No Honorable Mention was selected in 2007 |
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2006 |
First place |
Wil Hyler |
So I Left |
2006 |
Honorable Mention |
Kat Hess |
Racing Genes |
2005 |
First place |
Gabrielle Nadig |
From Sea to Shining Screen |
To Donate
The Film Society invites film enthusiasts, supporters of the Film Society, as well as friends and relatives of the Fierberg family to make donations to the Morris and Roslyn Fierberg Student Film Award. Donor generosity will help the Film Society continue the Fierbergs’ 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 send a check (made payable to RBF) ►107 Truitt Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. Or, you can make your donation online by clicking here. All donations are 100% tax deductible and greatly appreciated.