Students from Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Leeds triumphed in the two principal categories at the RTS Yorkshire Student Television Awards in mid-March.
ITV Yorkshire presenters Christine Talbot and Duncan Wood hosted the online ceremony from the ITV News Calendar studio.
Scripted winner Future For Our Children, made by a team of Sheffield Hallam University students, is set in a refugee camp for Syrian children. The judges praised the film for its “extraordinary naturalism”, which was backed up by “technical excellence and incredible performances”.
Canada’s Keepers, a University of Leeds documentary about the destruction of the identity of indigenous Canadian women, took the Non-scripted category. The judges said this was an “ambitious film, telling an untold story using powerful testimony and excellent film-making techniques”. Karyan Au-Yeung also won a Craft Skills: Sound award for Canada’s Keepers.
“Despite the conditions under which students, university, and college staff have had to work over the past year, the quality of submissions was extremely high, with a number of broadcast quality productions,” said RTS Yorkshire Chair Fiona Thompson.
“Some films were so moving, they left judges in tears. The students have demonstrated excellent creativity, resilience and innovation in their storytelling, which suggests that the future of our industry is secure in their hands.”
Prizes in nine craft categories were made at the awards, two of which (for Editing and Sound) went to Jude, made by Amos Menin and Megan Decaluwe from the Northern Film School.
Candour Production and Universal Production Music sponsored the awards.
Five zoom sessions, featuring industry specialists discussing factual film-making, scriptwriting and short films, were put on for students following the ceremony.
RTS Yorkshire Student Television Awards winners
Non-scripted
Canada’s Keepers
University of Leeds
Scripted
Future For Our Children
Sheffield Hallam University
Craft Skills: Camerawork
Submerged in Nature
Omar Skalli, Sheffield Hallam University
Craft Skills: Editing
YSTV Does Hunted
Thomas Schubert, University of York
Jude
Amos Menin, and Megan Decaluwe, Northern Film School, Leeds Beckett University
At Work with Winston
Danny Haywood, Sheffield Hallam University.
Craft Skills: Lighting
Night Shift
Northern School of Art
Craft Skills: Production Design
Louise and Becca
Teva Fux, University of York
Craft Skills: Sound
Canada’s Keepers
Karyan Au-Yeung, University of Leeds
Jude
Amos Menin and Megan Decaluwe, Northern Film School, Leeds Beckett University
Sweet 16
Amelia Lund, Northern Film School, Leeds Beckett University