The new categories for 2024 are: Actor (Female); Actor (Male); Writer; Breakthrough Award OnScreen and Breakthrough Award Off-Screen for newcomers to the industry and special recognition for those working behind the scenes with a new Post-Production category and a special Hidden Hero Award.

The winners will be announced at the 9th RTS NI Awards ceremony which will take place in the prestigious Titanic Belfast as part of the Belfast Media Festival on 14 November 2024.

Sarah McCaffrey, Chair of RTS NI said: “I am delighted to announce seven new additions to this year’s RTS NI award categories to highlight the amazing work of our writers, actors, newcomers and those who work behind the scenes. After a tough year for the industry in 2023, it is great to see so many productions back in action in Northern Ireland plus we have the opening of the amazing new £72m Studio Ulster virtual production complex to look forward to in November. It’s now more important than ever for the RTS to recognise the exceptional talent working in Northern Ireland’s screen industries.”

Adam Smyth, Director, BBC Northern Ireland said: “We are committed to supporting the local creative sector and to showcasing the best in home grown storytelling and talent to audiences here and throughout the UK. The RTS NI Awards recognise the excellence of television production in Northern Ireland and we’re pleased to support them again this year.”

Richard Williams, Chief Executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “The Royal Television Society Awards for Northern Ireland celebrate the vibrant creativity and talent that define our local industry, and we are delighted to support the awards again this year. We welcome the introduction of the new award categories that will recognise the emerging talent both on and off screen, honouring and celebrating the outstanding contributions of our industry's brightest stars and unsung champions at this year's ceremony.”

Georgia Parkinson, Chair of the RTS NI Awards 2024 said: “The RTS NI Awards are the most sought-after TV awards in Northern Ireland and we look forward to applauding the very best of the creative industries in Northern Ireland, at our awards ceremony in the Titanic Belfast. With 19 awards up for grabs this year our aim is to recognise and promote the high quality content being made here by independent producers, broadcasters, streamers and freelancers based in Northern Ireland.”

The 2024 RTS NI Award categories are:
1. Children’s / Animation
2. Comedy
3. Current Affairs
4. Documentary
5. Drama
6. Entertainment
7. Factual Entertainment Format
8. Lifestyle and Features
9. News Coverage
10. Original Music Score
11. Post-Production
12. Specialist Factual
13. Actor – Female
14. Actor – Male
15. Writer
16. Breakthrough Award (off-screen)
17. Breakthrough Award (on-screen)
18. Hidden Hero
19. Brian Waddell Award for Outstanding Contribution to the industry.

The RTS NI has once again partnered with BBC Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Channel 4 for these prestigious awards. Judging in each category will be carried out independently by an experienced panel of judges with the finalists being announced in Autumn 2024 ahead of the winners being announced at the RTS NI Awards Ceremony at Titanic Belfast on Thursday 14 November 2024. The deadline for all entries is 5pm on Friday 5 July, 2024. To qualify for entry, all content must have been aired on television or released online for the first time between 1 January 2023 and 31 May 2024 inclusive, except for the Brian Waddell and Hidden Hero Awards . Full entry criteria available here RTS NI Awards 2024