University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: April 15, 2004

By ARTHUR PAGE
Assistant Vice Presdient

Miramax Films, the independent film company founded by Co-chairmen Harvey and Bob Weinstein, has generously established a $50,000 scholarship fund to support qualified New York State students from diverse backgrounds entering the Master of Arts in the Humanities/Film and Performance Program at UB. Harvey Weinstein received a bachelor's degree from UB and an honorary SUNY Doctorate of Humane Letters in ceremonies at UB in 2000.

Announcement of the scholarship fund was made last week by Uday Sukhatme, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

"Training, supporting and encouraging young filmmakers is one of the finest ways in which already successful filmmakers can propagate their profession," said Sukhatme. "There is no question that the Miramax Scholarships will provide very valuable opportunities for talented students to express their ideas in a stimulating and visually appealing form."

It was at UB where Harvey Weinstein and his brother, Bob, began their producing career. They founded Miramax in 1979 and have gone on to produce some of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful independent feature films.

Since 1988, Miramax has been awarded 54 Academy Awards and has received 229 Academy Award nominations, including 14 Best Picture nominations over a span of the past 12 years, as well as 23 Best Foreign Language Film nominations over the past 16 years.

"These scholarships are just one more expression of Harvey and Bob Weinstein's commitment to independent filmmakers," said Roy Roussel, chair of the Department of Media Study. "We are proud to be a part of this initiative. We encourage applications from New York State residents from diverse backgrounds to apply. This is an opportunity for young filmmakers to prepare for careers in the film industry in a program that encourages individual vision and initiative."

Linda Reisman, director of the Master of Arts in the Humanities/Film and Performance Program, is a successful producer of independent films. Reisman also teaches in the program, along with faculty from the UB departments of Media Study and Theatre and Dance, and industry professionals. By combining a rotating faculty from the film industry with a lecture series and internship opportunities in New York City and Los Angeles, the program reflects the changing practices of the industry and gives students a collaborative educational experience infused by creative vision and critical approaches.

UB's Master of Arts in the Humanities/Film and Performance Program is a one-year program spanning summer, fall and spring semesters. To apply for Miramax Scholarships, students must be residents of New York State and demonstrate filmmaking talent. Additional information is available at http://wings. buffalo.edu/mediastudy/mah:fp. Applications are available online at: http://www. cas.buffalo.edu/programs/idp/grad.