ITHACA, NY - Students pursuing careers in the film industry through Cornell's Department of Theatre, Film & Dance will have help with Hollywood internships through a first-time grant from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. The grant will help underwrite summer 2010 internships for outstanding film and theatre students participating in the Cornell in Hollywood (CIH) internship program.

This year's Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences internship grant recipients are: Dan Fipphen, who will be working with writer/director Josh Greenbaum; Eric W. Becker, who will work at the marketing and creative services agency Studio at New Wave Entertainment, Jason Ramsey, who will be interning with film director Elizabeth Allen '93, Oliver Dudman will be with Threshold Pictures, and Myles Rowland '11 will be working at Di Novi Pictures.

"This grant is, quite literally, a godsend, covering my housing expenses for the duration of my internship and, most importantly, alleviating financial strain as I embark upon what I hope to be a fulfilling career in the film industry," said Jason Ramsey. "Much of my time working with director Liz Allen will be spent promoting Ramona and Beezus, a feature film based on Beverly Cleary's best-selling book series. I'll be involved in the production of a short film designed to highlight themes from the feature."

The Cornell in Hollywood program is a community of Los Angeles-based film industry professionals serving Cornell students seeking to build a career in Hollywood by helping them find internship and other career-building opportunities as well as providing educational and networking events. The CIH Intern Program has grown rapidly in its first three years, from four participating companies to 27. Since its inception the program has accommodated 45 students. The AMPAS grant will help increase the number and diversity of students able to take advantage of the intern program. A film faculty review committee selected for grant support students who best met the criteria of strong academic standing, creative talent, professional ambition in the film industry, and financial need.

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"Since we established our Cornell in Hollywood (CIH) Internship Program with our alum partners (CCLA) in Los Angeles four years ago, we've felt it's been so successful that we were in an excellent position to apply for an Academy internship grant. We're very pleased to receive a $5,000 grant for the first year, and hope the success of the internship program will position us to receive continued AMPAS support in the future," said Cornell Senior Film Lecturer Marilyn Rivchin.

In addition, Cornell Cinema, a program of the Department of Theatre, Film & Dance, was the recipient of a $7500 grant from AMPAS for its 2010-11 Visiting Filmmaker Program. Cornell Cinema has been receiving an annual grant from AMPAS for this program since 2002 (with the exception of one required hiatus year in 2008). Over the years the AMPAS grant has made possible visits by a wide range of filmmakers who have presented work to general Ithaca audiences.