In memory of our late colleague and Film Studies founder Professor Franco Tonelli, the Department of Film and Media Studies will once again award two prizes for the best undergraduate essays in the following two categories: (1) film studies, or (2) television and/or digital media studies. Winners will receive their award at the Film and Media Studies End of Year Celebration.
Papers should be at minimum 5 pages long, not including the cover page or bibliography; papers should be at maximum 20 pages long. Papers must have been written by a UCI student who has taken at least one Film and Media Studies course during the last academic year Spring 2024-Winter 2025. Students may only submit one entry. Students will be asked to include the course title and assignment prompt with their submission.
Revised or rewritten papers may be accepted and are strongly encouraged. You are welcome to consult with faculty members regarding revisions.
Papers will be read by a panel of Film and Media Studies faculty. Faculty will not be aware of the authors’ names until the winning papers are determined.
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Advances a clear argument
- Includes original analysis and/or research
- Demonstrates effective writing skills (grammar, syntax, organization, citation)
To be eligible for consideration, complete the Tonelli Application Form by noon/12pm on Friday, April 4th, 2025.