Staffs filmmakers celebrate hattrick at industry awards

Filmmakers from Staffordshire University have scooped three awards at the RTS Student Midlands Awards

Winners of the Short Form category

The annual event hosted by the Royal Television Society recognises emerging talent from universities across the region and this year’s judging panel featured top industry names including Sir Lenny Henry.

Students and graduates from across Staffordshire University’s film and television courses received a total of 11 nominations and winners were announced at a celebratory ceremony last night in Birmingham.

Experimental documentary ‘The 38 to Hackney’ made by BSc (Hons) Television Production Technology and BSc (Hons) Film Production Technology graduates Jordan Tonge, Edward Walker, Seb Shackel, and Alex de Jesus Egan was named winner in the competitive Short Form category.

They not only impressed in this category but were also shortlisted to the last three for the prestigious Sir Lenny Henry award.

All of the graduates have been busy since graduating last summer with Seb and Jordan setting up an independent production company called Big Nose since, Alex working on corporate industry productions and Edward now teaching at Stoke On Trent Sixth Form College.

Alex de Jesus Egan, 24 from Milton Keynes, said: “We really enjoyed seeing all the amazing content produced by everybody here. I hope everyone is proud of what they’ve done.”

My Girls 83' by Soph Webberley from the BA (Hons) Media (Film) Production course won the Craft Skills: Editing prize. Soph, 23 from Wolverhampton, has been working at Sheffield company Warp Productions since finishing her degree last year.

She said: “I'm so proud to be a part of a family within Staffs. The course has embraced my confidence and allowed me to experiment with my own ideas. I am truly honoured to represent this university, pushing people to go above and beyond their talent to excel.”

The final award winner was fellow BA (Hons) Media (Film) Production graduate Carl Heffy who came out top in the Craft Skills: Sound category for this film ‘Twist Again’, a short documentary about a silent disco for pensioners.

Carl, 32 form Liverpool, said: "So proud that my award has won for best sound, not for me - although I am chuffed - but for the people over age of 60 who came for a good old boogie. Award night was such a great experience, glad to be part of it."

Students at Staffordshire University are supported and encouraged to enter their work to the Royal Televisions Society Awards each year and have seen a string of successes over the past decade.

Fiona Graham, Associate Professor of Film Technology, concluded: “We are very proud and thank the Society for their recognition. This is one of the most important events in the UK for film and television.

“As an institution we encourage students in their studies to be the very best they can be. Last night shows the very well-deserved recognition for their amazing work by industry in the wider Midlands region."

Discover more about Staffordshire University’s film and television course at an Open Day – find out more and book your place here.

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