I am delighted to announce the 2025 Royal Television Society Awards for the West of England and Devon and Cornwall are now open.
We will be celebrating the very best content broadcast or published between January 1st to December 31st 2024.
We are inviting submissions from content broadcast on all platforms. Our production community produces some of the best TV, film and animation content in the world and our annual awards are the opportunity to recognise and celebrate our extraordinary talents.
Our judges will be looking for the very best, of the best content across all genres from news and scripted to documentary and children’s.
Please read the entry requirements carefully and check with us if you are not sure which category to enter.
The closing deadline is midnight Wednesday 18th December 2024 and our awards will take place on Sunday 27th April 2025 at Bristol Old Vic.
Rachel Drummond-Hay
Chair, RTS West of England
Please contact rtswestofengland@rts.org.uk with any award queries
To enter go to: https://awardsentry.rts.org.uk/entrant/
All submitted content should have a connection with the West of England - either it is made in the region and/or made by people based in the region.
Categories range from scripted to factual to natural history and children’s, plus we welcome on screen talent to enter the awards. Amongst the craft categories, we include cinematography, sound and director, along with composer and once again, production management.. We will also highlight the excellence of news in the region.
We are particularly keen to encourage entries from individuals as well as those sponsored by companies. This is a chance for you to take your well deserved place in the spotlight.
The independent judging panels will be drawn from the UK’s leading production professionals and broadcasters and we will publish the list of judges once the nominations are announced.
What are the judges looking for?
An award will be given to the programme/production/team/individual that demonstrates the exceptional in terms of high quality.
So the judges will be looking for:
- Quality
- Creativity
- Originality and innovation
- Professionalism
All entries must have been broadcast or published between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2024. Please read the terms and conditions carefully as well as the brief criteria in each category. Entries are welcome from creators offering content on non-broadcast platforms provided the submitted content is from a production company/individual based in the region or co-production. All entries by any delivery system must either be produced in the region or in the case of international co-productions, the company in the region must have had significant editorial (50% or more) as well as financial input (30% or more). The RTS sees no reason why regional creative talent should not be recognised even if first transmission or distribution is non-UK - if the production company is based in the region and if regionally-based skills and direction are core to the programme’s creation and production.
The all-important and final CLOSING DATE for entries is Wednesday 18th December at midnight
AS WELL AS SUBMITTING CONTENT FOR VIEWING BY THE JUDGES, YOU MUST ALSO INCLUDE A 30 SECOND CLIP WHICH MAY BE USED AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY IF YOUR PROJECT IS NOMINATED
ENTRY ADVICE
It is recommended you read the RTS Awards entry support guides before creating your account. These are available at https://rts.org.uk/rts-awards-admin-support-page
ENTRY FEE
The cost of each entry is £75 plus VAT
Entries will not be considered or progress to judging panel unless full payment has been made by 20th December. Approved broadcasters are unaffected. Please make payment by card online. A link to pay can be found on your invoice that is generated once your entry has been submitted. BACs is unavailable unless you are an approved broadcaster.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
For the purposes of these conditions of entry, ‘region’ shall be taken to mean broadly the editorial broadcast areas of ITV News West Country and BBC West and the Devon and Cornwall ITV and BBC regions. Productions need not be about the region but must have content originated by individuals or production units based in the region
Programmes and content submitted for the West of England Centre Awards will still be eligible for relevant award schemes run on a national basis by the RTS. Productions by independent companies based in the region may be entered either by the production company or by the broadcaster.
No single programme/content should be submitted in more than one programme category. Secondary submissions of material to craft categories are permitted. Co-productions are eligible provided that the regionally based production criteria are satisfied. Craft Awards: individuals should be based and/or employed within the region or the production unit for the project should be based in the region. Where entries are submitted by individuals, written permission and acknowledgment must be given by the copyright holder.
The correct and full payment must be made with each entry and if payment is not made by 20th December, the entry will not be eligible for judging.
The Judges reserve the right to move an entry from one category to another if in their opinion it has been entered in the wrong category. The RTS reserves the right to cancel any category should the numbers of entrants make it unviable. In this event, fees will be refunded.
There is no limit to the number of entries made by an individual or organisation. Each separate entry must be accompanied by an entry fee.
RIGHTS AND PUBLICITY
By entering, all entrants must have ensured that all rights have been cleared for extracts to be shown during the Awards presentation and as part of the promotion and marketing of the Awards, at RTS West of England events and on the RTS website: rts.org.uk. In the event of a winning production being either a co-production or an independent production commissioned by a broadcaster, the award and any press/publicity should be granted to both parties and written/spoken credit shall be given to both parties.
The awards MUST be described as "RTS West of England Awards". Broadcasters must NOT refer to winners as simply ‘RTS Award winning’ or similar phrase in any published or transmitted context as this confuses the regional awards with the national awards in the public’s mind.
The Judges' decision is final.
RTS West of England Award Categories 2025
TALENT
On Screen Talent
Award for outstanding on-screen talent featured in a production, scripted or non scripted • Presenter, Actor, Journalist, Show Host, Interviewer, Commentator
The judges will consider the talent’s understanding of their subject/role, appropriate communication style with interviewees if non scripted, a standout performance if scripted, professionalism and audience engagement. The submission can be one complete episode featuring the talent or could include a compilation of their work, no more than three examples, which should be no longer than 15 minutes in total.
‘Flying Futures’ Talent Award (Nominated by an employer - max two nominations per employer)
This Award recognises outstanding emerging talent in any part of the behind-the-camera production process including Research, Production Management, Producing, Development, across all genres (aimed at those with no more than two years’ experience in television). This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated the desire, skill and determination to go right to the top in the television industry. The judges will want to see evidence of extensive contributions to a team effort, demonstrate newly learned skills, creativity, innovation, professionalism and lots of potential. An enthusiasm for the sector and the region will be considered by the judges. The written nomination will be between 500 and 1000 words and can be supported by video or other supporting material to demonstrate the entrant’s work. This award recognises the emergence of a significant new talent in UK production, either freelance or staff.
PRODUCTION
Scripted
Award for best scripted content -for example serial or single drama, comedy, comedy-drama, one off special and returning series. Must be at least principally shot in the West of England (60%) AND/OR principally produced in the West of England. You must enter one whole episode from a scripted series or the whole of a one-off piece of scripted content. The judges will be looking for high quality story-telling, originality, creativity and technical expertise throughout the production.
Natural History
Award for excellence in the production of Natural History Programme/Content or Series
Entries may come from one off programmes or a series - although only one edition of the series may be submitted.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Factual
Award for excellence in the production of Factual Programme/Content or Series including Popular and Specialist Factual ; Science • Religion • History • Adventure • Arts •
Entries may come from one off programmes or a series - although only one edition of the series may be submitted.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Documentary
Award for excellence in the production of Documentary Programme/Content or Series
Entries may come from one off programmes or a series - although only one edition of the series may be submitted.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Factual Entertainment and Features
Award for excellence in the production of Features and Factual Entertainment Programme/Content or Series including • Lifestyle • Entertainment • Food and Drink
Entries may come from one off programmes or a series - although only one edition of the series may be submitted.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Children’s
Award for excellence in the production of Factual and Entertainment Programme/Content or Series or Animation, produced for the children’s audience and broadcast during children’s
airtime.
Entries may come from one off programmes or a series - although only one edition of the series may be submitted.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Animation
Award for the best animated Programme/Content or Series, broadcast on any platform.
This category includes stop motion animation, CG animation and 2D drawn animation. Judges will consider the animation craft and how well the animation works for its target audience.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
Short Form
Award for short form content, premiered on an online/and or broadcast platform - in any genre- 20 minutes max- non scripted and scripted singles or series.
Judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism throughout the production.
CRAFT
Director
Award for Best Director of a Programme/Content or Series, in any genre.
Entrants should submit one complete programme or a portfolio of up to three items (from a series) no longer than 15 minutes in duration
The judging panel will consider originality, creativity and innovation, technical competence, versatility with a range of material and use of resources.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration
Cinematography
Award for best camerawork and photography; including lighting camera or camera operation, in any genre.
The judging panel will consider originality, creativity and innovation, technical competence, versatility with a range of material and use of resources.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration.
Sound
Award for best use of sound including sound design, recording and dubbing, in any genre. For individuals and teams.
The judging panel will consider originality, creativity and innovation, technical competence, versatility with a range of material and use of resources.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration.
Composer
Award for best composition of original music, in any genre.
The judging panel will consider originality, creativity and innovation, technical competence, versatility with a range of material and use of resources.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration.
VFX and Digital Creativity
Award for professional excellence in the field of visual effects and digital innovation in any genre. In visual effects it covers animation, CGI or content graphics and in digital, both original content and extensions of existing IP published on any platform including web mobile, app, IPTV, experiential VR, AR or any cross-platform combination. Emphasis will be placed on creativity and user engagement through the moving image
The judging panel will consider originality, creativity and innovation, technical competence, versatility with a range of material and use of resources.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration.
Editing
Award for best editing of a programme/content or series, in any genre. The judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and technical expertise throughout the production/portfolio.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted (from a series), 15 minutes maximum duration.
Grading
Award for best grading and picture enhancement, in any genre, in a programme/content or series. The judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and technical expertise throughout the production/portfolio.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted (from a series), 15 minutes maximum duration.
Production Management
This award is for roles such as Production Manager, Line Producer, Production Executive or Head of Production in any genre. The judges are looking for excellence in financially, logistically and collaboratively managing a complex project, to help realise the creative vision.
Complete programmes can be submitted as an example of work (but a time code reference recommending 15 minutes to be viewed must be supplied) or a compilation of no more than three extracts can be submitted, 15 minutes maximum duration.
NEWS
News or Current Affairs Journalist
This award recognises strong investigative and reactive journalism and is open to any journalist or reporter working in regional, national, international news or digital formats.
The journalist or reporter can nominate themselves or be nominated by others. The judges will consider news values, writing and strong storytelling, originality, professionalism and production techniques. This award will recognise high standards in television journalism in news and current affairs
Entries should be no longer than 15 minutes and can be a single report or up to three separate items- a portfolio- demonstrating the breadth and depth of journalism.
News or Current Affairs Story
An award for a single news/current affairs report or news/current affairs item that demonstrates a high standard of journalism, production and technical delivery.
The judges will be looking for quality, originality, creativity and professionalism, as well as genuine news values.
Entries can be from a regional news programme or current affairs show/series (including current affairs inserts within other formats) or from a journalist based in/reporting from the region working on a national/international news programme.
The guide length for the single story is 10-15 minutes, within a programme/show, or, in the case of a current affairs show, the whole programme should be submitted if covering the same story. A series of reports can also be entered if covering the same story, guide length 10-15 minutes. Please note we are NOT looking for a series of excerpts of different stories/showreel of news highlights over the year as an entry.
