The annual event hosted by the Royal Television Society celebrates emerging talent from across the region, with winners revealed at a ceremony held at The Midland Arts Centre in Birmingham.
Recent University of Staffordshire graduate Owen Nettle scooped the Craft Writing prize for his short film Remember When.
The 23-year-old, from the Isle of Man, said: “It is a tremendous honour to have won an award like this. I was never someone who had any trophies displayed in their bedroom growing up, so to secure one not just in filmmaking but in a category like this is an amazing feeling!”
Made as his final year project while studying BA (Hons) Film Production, Owen’s film follows two siblings who reminisce about better times when their mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
“One sibling wants to relive and recreate precious memories on camera while the other disagrees with this wholeheartedly,” Owen explained. “I made this film with the intention of conveying how, despite the luxuries we get to enjoy nowadays with modern technology, it shouldn’t mean that we should live our entire lives through a camera or phone lens.”
Since graduating, Owen has launched his own production company with support from University of Staffordshire’s Be Inspired business scheme.
Reflecting on his time at University, he added: “I was regularly pushed out of my comfort zone with each project that I took on. I would like to express my gratitude to the team at University of Staffordshire for making it a transformational and unforgettable three years. Without that support, I wouldn’t be sitting here with an award like this.”
Fellow University of Staffordshire graduate Tom Millington was also recognised, with a nomination in the Factual category for his documentary Just Get Faster about twins Alex and Ben Wood and their passion for competitive sports. Since graduating, Tom has secured a role with creative agency Dissident in Stone.
Colin Mottram, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Film Production, said: “We were absolutely delighted to receive two nominations at this year’s Royal Television Society Awards. I’m really proud of Owen and Tom, they have both worked incredibly hard to achieve this success, putting their heart and soul into their filmmaking projects and now are reaping the rewards. Recognition by the RTS’s judging panel of industry professionals is testament to the high calibre of work the students have produced.”
Applicants and current students from low income backgrounds can apply for a Royal Television Society bursary of £1.5k per academic year to support their studies at University of Staffordshire.
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