Tyneside Cinema – which produced 24 films for Channel 4’s short film strand, Random Acts – was honoured at the North East and the Border Awards in late February.
The 80 year-old cinema received the Centre award for its success in talent spotting and developing the next generation of film-makers and producers. To make the films, 16 to 24 year-olds from across the region worked alongside experienced TV professionals in a scheme supported by Arts Council England and Leeds indie True North.
BBC One detective drama Inspector George Gently picked up two awards at the ceremony, which was held before an audience that topped 400 at the Gateshead Hilton and hosted by Sky News presenter Jayne Secker. The series was named Best Drama, and the Company Pictures production team and creator Peter Flannery received the Outstanding Contribution award. Ten yeas after it first aired, the series ended last October when Martin Shaw’s character was murdered on a beach.
Former North East and the Border Chair Graeme Thompson received the Pilgrim Award, which recognises outstanding service to the RTS. The ex-MD of ITV Tyne Tees and Border is currently Chair of the national RTS Education Committee. “Graeme has given to the RTS, the North East and the education sector. His service to the charity has been (and continues to be) exemplary, and he thoroughly deserves to receive the Pilgrim Award in recognition of his hard work, dedication and legacy.”
The Dumping Ground star Annabelle Davis won the Performance of the Year award, holding off Brenda Blethyn from ITV’s Vera and George Gently’s Martin Shaw to take the prize.
Teesside University dominated the Student Awards, winning four categories: Animation, Comedy and Entertainment, Drama and Factual. Students from the University of Sunderland took the News prize for their coverage of anti-Trump demonstrations.
Matthew Bell
[For more details of the winners in all the categories, visit our Winners' List, and click on the individual awards.]