RTS NI

The creator, writer and executive producer of Derry Girls Lisa McGee was awarded the coveted Brian Waddell Award for her outstanding contribution to the broadcast industry for her wonderful immortalisation of her hometown in the phenomenally successful Derry Girls. While Series 2 of Derry Girls also won the Best Scripted Comedy award for Hat Trick Productions.

“Raiders of the lost archive” discussed the huge wealth of digital archive material available which could be used to enhance TV and film content production, as well as providing interesting material for film exhibitors, especially those working in a community setting. 

Ciara Chambers, head of film and screen media at University College Cork, gave a rundown of her work on the TG4 project to save century-old newsreels documenting the political history of Ireland.

RTS NI committee member and UTV head of news and programmes Terry Brennan and UTV operations manager Alan Mackey guided the 25 visitors around the 11,000 sq ft premises.

UTV has moved to a one-studio operation at City Quays 2 from three studios at its previous base at Havelock House, which it left at the end of June – yet the broadcaster can make the same number of in-house productions.

The new high-definition (HD) studio is used for regional news programme, UTV Life, as well as news bulletins, weather forecasts and politics shows. 

The winners are:  

Ulster University, Belfast for Animation with Hunger by Matt McDyre, Scott Gill, Daniel Boyle, Hannah Loughridge and Hannah Turkington, sponsored by Performance Film and Media Insurance. Ulster University also picked up a highly commended award in this category for To The Moon by Gianni Francesco De Giuseppe, Rhea Hanlon, Phillip McDowell and Ryan Beatty.

The panel of film marketing specialist Jo Taylor, Eximo Marketing founder Andi Jarvis and RTS NI Chair and Stellify Media joint managing director Kieran Doherty discussed the influence of social media platforms on audiences at Belfast arts venue, the MAC.

The panel was chaired by Hugh Odling-Smee, project manager of Film Hub NI, one of nine hubs around the UK that aim to increase audiences for independent cinema.

The day featured a series of workshops and masterclasses run by industry professionals, and was attended by 300 people. 

David Monaghan and the BBC Make It team offered a “social media surgery”, while Games NI Chair Kitty Crawford ran a gaming workshop.

BBC NI talent manager Helen Thompson and Nicola McConville organised a “creative clinic”, which focused on how to stand out in CVs and interviews. The clinic was followed by a speed-dating event, with telly execs dispensing quick-fire advice.