The Royal Television Society (RTS), one of Britain's leading forum for television and related media, has announced the winners of the 20th annual RTS Student Television Awards with awards going to Irish projects ‘Shoot’ and ‘Skunky Dog’.
Rory Conway’s animated short film ‘Shoot’ won for Best Undergraduate Animation with the jury stating that its’ “An ambitious and professional film with great comic timing. Every stage of production is of a high standard, from scripting through boarding, design, lighting and animation. A well-paced and genuinely funny film.”
Coming from The Ballyfermot College of Further Education, the film also won an award at the Fingal Film Festival last year and received an honourable mention at the Dublin Animation Film Festival.
James Fitzgerald’s ‘Skunky Dog’ was also a winner on the night, winning Best Undergraduate Drama with the jury commenting that “ this was an ambitious, professional, deeply felt piece of storytelling. The performances were of the highest class; a poetic, absorbing, uneasy and truthful film with a strong sense of place.”
‘Skunky Dog’ also won for Best Camerawork (with Rory Conway’s Shoot also nominated in that category) and was nominated for Best Editing and Best Sound.
‘Skunky Dog’ tells the story of a young alcoholic boy in a rural fishing town who is confronted by the truth that he might never break his routine or leave the town. The film stars Ryan McParland, John Connors and David McSavage and was also nominated for a 2015 IFTA Award for Best Short Film. The film comes from The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire.
Chaired by Stuart Murphy, Director, Sky Entertainment Channels, the RTS Student Television Awards celebrate the best in student television. The Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards are judged in five categories: Animation, Comedy & Entertainment, Drama, Factual and, new for this year, Open – for films that are a maximum of three minutes in length and of any subject matter.
In addition, to reward excellence in craft skills, Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards are presented for Camerawork, Editing and Sound.
Students from higher education institutions across the UK and Ireland picked up awards, including Ballyfermot College of Further Education; Edinburgh College of Art, Screen Academy Scotland; National Film and Television School; Staffordshire University; The Arts University Bournemouth; The National Film School, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire; University of Central Lancashire; University of Leeds; and University of South Wales.
The winners were announced at a ceremony, hosted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, on Friday 5 June at the BFI Southbank. This year, for the first time, the nominated films will be transmitted on Sky Arts. A highlights programme from the Awards ceremony will also air on the channel at 7pm on 19 June.
Check out the full list of winners at www.rts.org.uk.
