A SCOTS entry in a student television awards competition run by the Royal Television Society has been named a winner.
The entry – in the postgraduate section of the UK-wide awards, now in their 20th year – took the camerawork prize, with the judges saying of it: “This was an incredibly competitive category across all the genres but the winner was felt to have used the camera with great wit and confidence, allowing the story and characters to unfold with elegant pace and to capture the beauty of an intimate world.”
The winner was a joint submission from Edinburgh College of Art and Screen Academy Scotland.
There were Scots too among the shortlisted entries.
The full winners’ list reads, as follows:
UNDERGRADUATE
Undergraduate animation
Winner: Shoot
Rory Conway, Sammy Khalid, David Slattery and Kieran Noone
Ballyfermot College of Further Education
Said the judges: “An ambitious and professional film with great comic timing. Every stage of production is of a high standard, from scripting through boarding, design, lighting and animation. A well-paced and genuinely funny film.”
Nominees:
Domestic Appliances – Lewis Firth Bolton – Edinburgh College of Art
Fractured – Jocie Juritz – Kingston University
Undergraduate comedy and entertainment
Winner: Little
Harry Jackson, Alfred Johnson and team
The Arts University Bournemouth
“Thoroughly charming, a very well written script, funny, surprising and beautifully performed.”
Nominees:
Bun Oven – Genia Krassnig, Christian Cerami, Matt Tume and Team – University of Westminster
Marital Kombat – Ally Lockhart and team – City of Glasgow College
Undergraduate drama
Winner: Skunky Dog
James Fitzgerald, Paddy Slattery and team
The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire
“This was an ambitious, professional, deeply felt piece of storytelling. The performances were of the highest class; a poetic, absorbing, uneasy and truthful film with a strong sense of place.”
Nominees:
Archie – Sophie Piggott – Staffordshire University
Sunday Dinner with the Morgans – Alex Forbes, Jack Pollington and Allan Armstrong – University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Undergraduate factual
Winner: Thick Skin
Despina Christodoulou and Robert Dalton
University of Leeds
“The jury loved this. Beautifully shot, the film swept you away into an unusual world that we knew nothing about. Cleverly and evocatively structured, this really left you wanting to know more.”
Nominees:
Porters – James Dougan, Max Cutting and Dan Ridgeon – University of South Wales
The Invisible School – Hugo Pettitt and Hannah Bush Bailey – University of the West of England
Undergraduate open
Winner: LA Larry
Lauren Clark
University of Central Lancashire
“A wonderfully realised, well-executed submission with a feel good visual identity all of its own. The judges were impressed with the seemingly effortless juxtapositioning of two worlds and the pacey synching of images and music.”
Nominees:
Nan – Luke Taylor – Bath Spa University
Vice Versa, Creation – Natasha Hawthornthwaite, Rhodri Carter and Daniel Ridgeon – University of South Wales
UNDERGRADUATE CRAFT SKILLS
Camerawork
Winner: Skunky Dog
James Fitzgerald, Paddy Slattery and team
The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire
“The winner’s cinematography lifted what was a normal slice of life into something interesting and intimate. There were clever choices when it came to composition and framing, thus truly supporting the context and storyline. The exterior scenes on the hill were particularly breathtaking and intelligently executed.”
Nominees:
Shoot – Rory Conway, Sammy Khalid, David Slattery and Kieran Noone – Ballyfermot College of Further Education
Sunday Dinner with the Morgans – Alex Forbes, Jack Pollington and Allan Armstrong – University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Editing
Winner: Porters
James Dougan, Max Cutting and Dan Ridgeon
University of South Wales
“Crafting an ambitious, concise and well-structured programme from a number of varied characters within the hospital setting, it really showed the craft of editing as the vital part of storytelling it is.”
Nominees:
Skunky Dog – James Fitzgerald, Paddy Slattery and team – The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire
Sunday Dinner with the Morgans – Alex Forbes, Jack Pollington and Allan Armstrong – University for the Creative Arts, Farnham
Sound
Winner: Archie
Sophie Piggott
Staffordshire University
“Displaying film-quality sound design, a real flair for imaginative processing and mixing… it was clear there had been a passionate and collaborative dialogue between the sound team and the director; real quality choices were made throughout the whole process. Above all else, the sound used was a perfect example of the obvious heart and soul that had gone into every aspect of the film. We’ll never look at tin foil in the same way again.”
Nominees:
Skunky Dog – James Fitzgerald, Paddy Slattery and team – The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire
Thick Skin – Despina Christodoulou and Robert Dalton – University of Leeds
POSTGRADUATE
Postgraduate animation
Winner: The Bigger Picture
Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka, Chris Hees and team
National Film and Television School
“The authenticity of the storytelling in this film is matched by the originality of the technique. A complicated, emotive subject is explored with gentle humour, insight and understanding. An accomplished film in all respects.”
Nominees:
Meanwhile – Stephen McNally – Royal College of Art
Pineapple Calamari – Katarzyna Nalewajka, Daniel Negret and Team – National Film and Television School
Postgraduate comedy and entertainment
Winner: Secret Studio
James Spokioni, Sipho Sondiyazi and team
National Film and Television School
“A show within a show that felt truly original. A clever concept matched with high production values; a very entertaining watch.”
Nominees:
Nightdare – Serafeim Ntousias, Karin Camarinha and team – National Film and Television School
School on Report – Lee Otway – York St John University
Postgraduate drama
Winner: How I Didn’t Become a Piano Player
Tommaso Pitta, Christopher Hees and team
National Film and Television School
“This film united the jury. Funny and engaging with a high end cast and beautifully paced. Confident direction, as a story should be.”
Nominees:
Jam Man – John Evans and Lester Hughes – Bangor University
North – Philip Sheerin, Jacob Thomas and team – National Film and Television School
Postgraduate factual
Winner: Side by Side
Jack Warrender and team
National Film and Television School
“The jury was blown away by this film with its surprising relationships, revelations and a compelling narrative. Impressively directed and beautifully observed.”
Nominees:
A Wee Night In – Stuart Edwards, Noe Mendelle and Emma Davie – Edinburgh College of Art, Screen Academy Scotland
Sing Your Heart Out – Peter Akar and team – National Film and Television School
Postgraduate open
Winner: Once She Was Just Like You
Dan Neeson and team
National Film and Television School
“A powerful film with a powerful message, this short-form piece, telling a long-form story was clearly a labour of love for a devoted film-maker. The many hours in production using stop-motion photography have created both a shocking and elegant piece of film art that deserves as wide an audience as possible.”
Nominees:
First Time – Ryan Vernava and Team – National Film and Television School
Nereid – Charlotte Boyle – University of Salford
POSTGRADUATE CRAFT SKILLS
Camerawork
A Wee Night In
Stuart Edwards, Noe Mendelle and Emma Davie
Edinburgh College of Art, Screen Academy Scotland
“This was an incredibly competitive category across all the genres but the winner was felt to have used the camera with great wit and confidence, allowing the story and characters to unfold with elegant pace and to capture the beauty of an intimate world.”
Nominees:
North – Philip Sheerin, Jacob Thomas and team – National Film and Television School
The Bigger Picture – Daisy Jacobs, Jennifer Majka, Chris Hees and team – National Film and Television School
Editing
Winner: Side by Side
Jack Warrender and team
National Film and Television School
“There was some terrific editing across the board with drama and documentary particularly pushing through. The winner was praised for their storytelling, elegance and confidence with the subject matter, an emotional sensitivity to the story and an innate understanding of the audience experience of the film.”
Nominees:
How I Didn’t Become a Piano Player – Tommaso Pitta, Christopher Hees and team – National Film and Television School
North – Philip Sheerin, Jacob Thomas and team – National Film and Television School
Sound
Winner: Sing Your Heart Out
Peter Akar and Team
National Film and Television School
“Displaying great knowledge and technique, capturing extraordinary moments in audio that were moving and powerful without falling into cliché or sentiment in difficult locations and with many real life challenges.”
Nominees:
Nightdare – Serafeim Ntousias, Karin Camarinha and team – National Film and Television School
Side by Side – Jack Warrender and team – National Film and Television School
