Animated short films from the NFTS and Manchester Metropolitan University recognized at annual event showcasing the talent, potential and enthusiasm of students across the UK.
The Royal Television Society has announced the winners for the national RTS Student Television Awards 2024, sponsored by 4Skills — Channel 4’s nationwide training and development strategy. Hosted by rapper, author and broadcaster Guvna B, the winners were crowned at the prestigious awards ceremony at the IET in Savoy Place Friday, June 21. The annual celebration showcases the talent, potential and enthusiasm of students across the UK, identifying exceptional skills and craftsmanship.
The National Film and Television School took home the most wins, receiving eight awards across the 24 categories with five of the organization’s students winning each craft award, including Camera Work, Editing, Production Design, Sound and Writing for the postgraduate categories. Additionally, three projects from the NFT achieved two awards during the ceremony — Crab Day, Jellyfish and Lobster and With Woman — with each project receiving both a crafts and genre award.
The newly formed Factual categories, now divided into Factual Short Form and Factual Long Form, crowned Strongwoman for Undergraduate and Death at Sea for Postgraduate in the Factual Short Form categories. Walking the Labyrinth took home the Undergraduate Factual Long Form award, and With Woman received the Postgraduate award. The redefined Saving the Planet award, previously known as Environment and Sustainability, received a wealth of high quality submissions with Tails of Cumbrian Heritage winning Undergraduate and Cowboys vs Prairie Dogs winning for Postgraduate.
“The RTS Student Television Awards are a brilliant opportunity to recognize the next generation of industry entrants at the top of their games, who are creating dynamic, skilled films and soon to be transforming the screen industries,” said Sinéad Rocks, Managing Director, Nations and Regions at Channel 4 and Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards. “As we celebrate our winners and nominees, it is a reminder of the value of creating content and its ability to evoke conversation and change. We are now looking forward to receiving submissions for the RTS Student Television Awards 2025.”
The RTS also launched the 2025 RTS Student Television Awards, with submissions now open until Monday, November 4, 2024, with the ceremony set to take place in June 2025. The awards are open to all students enrolled with higher education colleges, universities and institutions in the UK and Ireland only. Entries must have been made between November 1, 2023 and October 31, 2024. Visit the RTS website for additional details.
Below is the list of nominees and winners in the Undergraduate Animation and Postgraduate Animation categories, including citations from the juries. The full list of nominees and winners can be viewed HERE.
Undergraduate Animation
Doggerland – Michael Blake & Martin To (University of the West of England, Bristol)
The Curse of Dracular – Jack Paterson (Norwich University of the Arts)
WINNER – Sketchbook –James Watt, Nyah Deamer, Marta Smielewski & Steven Watt (Manchester Metropolitan University)
“The judges felt that the poignancy of the story in this short was well matched by the beautiful and ambitious animation. The attention to detail on color and visuals was particularly commented upon.”
Postgraduate Animation
Mum’s Spaghetti – Lisa Kenney, Emma Grazette, Martina Buendia Silva, Jack Maraghy & Team (National Film and Television School)
Singularity - Conor Mullin, Alexander Leeming Froudakis, Joe Flowers, Pip Denning & Team (University of the West of England, Bristol)
WINNER – Crab Day – Ross Stringer, Aleksandra Sykulak, Bartosz Stanislawek & Donya Maguire (National Film and Television School)
“The judges loved this fresh take on a coming-of-age story told with humor and poignancy. The beautiful and deceptively simple animation style only served to enhance the clever storytelling in this captivating short.”
Source: The Royal Television Society
