Filmmakers from Staffordshire University have scooped an impressive seven prizes at the RTS Midlands Student Awards 2020
Georgia Taylor (left) on set of her award winning film One-Eighty
We’re extremely proud of all our students and graduates who received nominations. To go on to win seven awards - more than any other university - is fantastic.
Winners were announced online last Friday by Sir Lenny Henry. Staffordshire University received a special mention for an impressive 15 nominations and taking home more prizes than any other university.
Media (Film) Production graduate Sam Herdman won the Factual award for his documentary ‘Caffeine and Machine’ about a unique hangout for motor lovers near his hometown.
The other winners received two awards each with BA (Hons) Stop Motion Animation and Puppet-Making graduate Gus Kearns coming top in both the Animation and Craft: Production Design categories for his version of ‘St George and the Dragon’.
Advertising, Film and Video Production graduate Lauren Burnham won the Short Form and Craft: Camera awards for ‘Night Hopper’, an atmospheric short film about living with sleeping disorders.
Georgia Taylor’s short film ‘One-Eighty’ was also a hit, winning both the Craft: Writing and Drama awards. The drama follows a young girl as she realises that she is a victim of grooming.
Georgia, who is in currently her final year of the BA (Hons) Media (Film) Production degree, said: "To win not only one but two Royal Television Society awards is incredible and such a privilege.
“In the second year, we are encouraged to mould ourselves into the filmmakers we want to be and to make films we want to shout about that deliver strong messages that are personal to us. For me, One-Eighty was a chance to speak out about a personal and important topic and to send a message to kids out there who could be experiencing the same thing."
The annual event hosted by the Royal Television Society recognises emerging talent from universities across the region and awards are judged by a panel of top industry names. Staffordshire University has performed consistently at the awards with a string of successes over the past decade.
Matt Brindley-Sadler, Associate Dean in the School of Computing and Digital Technologies, said: “We’re extremely proud of all our students and graduates who received nominations. To go on to win seven awards - more than any other university - is fantastic.
“It demonstrates the high standards our students aim for by showcasing the impressive professional skills that they gain across our animation and film courses. We are really #ProudtobeStaffs. Congratulations to all our winners!”
The full list of winners can be found here - https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-midlands-student-awards-2020