The RTS West of England Awards in association with Evolutions Bristol took place on Sunday 26th September at Bristol Old Vic with a gala ceremony hosted by children’s TV presenters Andy Day and Naomi Wilkinson.
The television community of the West of England turned out in force to celebrate their work over the last year, a challenging one for the TV industry.
Guests included writer, presenter and campaigner Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall (War on Plastic: The Fight Goes On), Sarah Beeny (Sarah Beeny’s New Life in the Country) and Megan McCubbin (Springwatch).
Locked In: Breaking the Silence (BBC Storyville) had a successful evening, with three awards for Documentary, Director and Editing. Filmmaker Xavier Alford has a rare and life changing illness and in this film confronts his fears to discuss it with his family and fellow patients. The judges described it as ‘a highly personal story, which was powerful, poignant and brave, made by a top class director’.
Offspring Films also scooped three awards for Earth at Night in Colour (Apple TV) - a spectacular and breathtaking look at animals’ nocturnal lives. It won in Natural History, Cinematography and Grading.
The Sir Ambrose Fleming Memorial Award is the RTS West of England’s special award for outstanding and enduring contribution to television in the region. And this year Laura and Harry Marshall and Icon Films were recognised as one of the founders of the region’s independent production community. Jeremy Wade (River Monsters) presented the award and highlighted Icon Films as “one of the most successful indies in terms of international profile, sales and merchandise. And perhaps more importantly, Icon has placed a big emphasis on fostering and growing new talent.”
The Factual award went to Saving Britain’s Pubs with Tom Kerridge from Bone Soup Productions and War on Plastic: The Fight Goes On triumphed in Factual Entertainment and Features. The Scripted award went to The Trial of Christine Keeler starring Sophie Cookson and James Norton.
In News, BBC Inside Out won in News Story for Monumental: Bristol after Colston, described by the judges as “ a standout piece - informed by strong journalism and painting a portrait of Bristol and its identity.”
Lynn Barlow, Chair of RTS West of England and Assistant Vice-Chancellor Creative and Cultural Industries Engagement, UWE said “It was really special to be able to hold this year’s awards, in person at the Old Vic – so many of our winners were made during the Pandemic, against the odds, proving just how much world-beating creative talent we have in the region.
“And, what would we all have done without the TV over the past year”?
