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The Student Academy Award was designed by famed animator and graphic designer Saul Bass. An Oscar winner for his 1968 documentary, "Why Man Creates", Bass is credited with having revolutionized the design of film credits by using creative animation to replace the simple listing of names.
Some of his work, such as the title designs for "The Man with the Golden Arm" and "Walk on the Wild Side" have become classic examples of the craft. Among his other designs are the titles for "The Seven Year Itch", "Around the World in 80 Days", "Vertigo", "Anatomy of a Murder", "Exodus", "West Side Story" and "Goodfellas".
Bass created five Academy Award Presentation posters, an artful pentad which evoked the pride and respect he felt for the Academy, to which he devoted a remarkable amount of his time and talent. He was a passionate, articulate and amusing contributor to nine years of debates as a member of the Academy's Board of Governors, and he was an effective champion on the Board for documentary and short films.
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The Student Academy Awards program is a national competition conducted by the Academy and the Academy Foundation. Each year over 300 college and university film students from all over the United States compete for awards and cash grants, with films being judged in four categories: animation, documentary, narrative and alternative. An outstanding student filmmaker from outside the U. S. is honored each year as well. The presentation ceremony is a popular event that is annually attended by a capacity audience in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Through the Student Academy Awards, the Academy recognizes and encourages this country's most promising new filmmakers. Past winners include Spike Lee, Gary Nadeau, Bob Saget, Trey Parker and Oscar winners John Lasseter and Robert Zemeckis.
To extend the impact and honor beyond the competition, a compilation presentation of the gold medal award-winning films is circulated each year free of charge to educational and non-profit organizations nationwide, utilizing a grant from Eastman Kodak.
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These awards are open to all filmmakers with no previous professional experience who are enrolled in accredited colleges and universities. While professional advice may be requested and given during the making of student films, as a full-time student, the Academy believes that professional camera persons, directors, editors and writers should not play any major role in the production of such films. The Academy reserves the right to disqualify from competition any film in which such professionals have had undue influence.
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