James Ivory graduated in 1951 from the University of Oregon and went on to achieve international success as one of the most influential and respected film directors of his generation.  

In 1961, producer Ismail Merchant and director James Ivory formed Merchant Ivory Productions, a film company that created multiple award-winning films including A Room With a View (1985), Maurice (1987), Howards End (1992), and The Remains of the Day (1993). Maurice has been restored in 4K and was re-released for the film’s 30th anniversary. Most recently, Ivory wrote the feature Call Me By Your Name (2017) and won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018. James Ivory has been an influential UO alum and was recognized with a Pioneer Award in 1993, which is presented to individuals who have been outstanding pioneers in business, philanthropy, communication, politics and the arts. Ivory has also donated many fascinating documents to the UO Special Collections and University Archives, including photos, sketchbooks, scripts, business records, and correspondence with family, friends, and major film stars with whom Ivory has worked, such as Tom Cruise, Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, John Lithgow, Christopher Reeve, and Vanessa Redgrave.

Each year, the Department of Cinema Studies is pleased to offer the following awards to outstanding undergraduate Cinema Studies majors:

• James Ivory Essay Award: Cinema Studies proudly presents the James Ivory Essay Award to an undergraduate who demonstrates extraordinary skill and creativity in research and writing. This annual award is made possible by the generous support of famed Director James Ivory and the Merchant Ivory Foundation.
   
• Undergraduate Filmmaker Award: This award recognizes a Cinema Studies major whose filmmaking and/or media production explores social justice issues, tells stories that increase the visibility of underrepresented and marginalized identities, and challenges inequality in all its forms.