The RTS Student Television Awards celebrates the best audiovisual work created by students across the UK at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.

For 2021, the Awards will be a short form content competition, in which students are able to submit an original film of their creation of up to 10 minutes in duration.

In addition, for the first time, young filmmakers aged 16-23 who are not enrolled in higher or further education institutions are also eligible to submit their work for the new Young Filmmaker Award.  

Taking into consideration challenges caused by COVID-19, the entry fee for 2021 will be reduced to £10 per entry per category.

Further to the Young Filmmaker Award, there will be three categories: Animation, Scripted and Non-Scripted, with the judges looking for strong storytelling, creativity, innovation, outstanding visual and aural creativity with high-quality craft skills and a strong emphasis on originality. For each of these three categories, an award will be presented for both an undergraduate and postgraduate student.

Siobhan Greene, Managing Director at 110% Content and Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards, said: “We would encourage every student to have a go - as we say "no guts, no glory" - and we would encourage anyone thinking about sending in a submission to just go for it. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain!”

Entries for the Animation, Scripted and Non-Scripted categories must be from students enrolled in higher education institutions or from students aged 16 and over attending further education courses. All entries must have been made between 1 September 2019 and 31 October 2020 and must be submitted by Friday 20 November via the online submission form.

Find out more about the RTS Student Television Awards 2021 here.

Award Categories

For each Award Category, two awards will be presented:

1. Undergraduate
2. Postgraduate

 

Animation

This award is for videos which are primarily cartoons, computer or electronically generated images. Where the animation/CGI sequence or sequences are part of a production with other portrayal, the judges will consider primarily the quality of the animated/CGI sequences.

Judges will look for technical competence, originality and the ability for the animation to enhance the way a story can be told or a message conveyed.

Each entry must be a maximum of 10 minutes in length.

 

Scripted

This award is for all scripted fiction work of any subject matter and style, which can include:

• Drama
• Comedy Drama or Situation Comedy

Judges will be looking for a strong storyline, with a script which helps portray and possibly develop characters, direction which adds value to the script, and a range of technical and production competences to deliver a memorable dramatic effect.

Each entry must be a maximum of 10 minutes in length.

 

Non-Scripted

This award is for films of any subject matter and style, which can include:

• Specialist Factual programmes
• Documentaries
• Entertainment, factual entertainment and features programmes
• Reality Television
• Music Programmes
• News and Current Affairs

Judges will look for technical competence (camerawork, sound on location, mixing and dubbing, editing, direction), a strong story, engaging presentation, humour where appropriate, pace and audience interest and engagement.

Each entry must be a maximum of 10 minutes in length.

 

Young Filmmaker Award

This award is for films of any subject matter and style, made by a young filmmaker (aged 16-23) not currently enrolled in higher or further education.

Judges will look for technical competence (camerawork, sound on location, mixing and dubbing, editing, direction), a strong story, engaging presentation, humour where appropriate, pace and audience interest and engagement.

This category should only feature work produced by non-current students. Current students should enter the other categories.

Each entry must be a maximum of 10 minutes in length.

 

Watch this year's awards ceremony below: