Julia Irastorza Torres was named the overall winner at the RTS Midlands Student Television Awards at The MAC in Birmingham last month, when she lifted the prestigious Sir Lenny Henry Award.
The Nottingham Trent University student’s film, Orange Striped Socks, which also won in the Animation category, was chosen by the Dudley-born comic and actor, who praised its “extraordinary craftsmanship”, calling it “very moving and beautifully well done”.
The night’s other principal awards were shared around the region’s universities.
Staffordshire University student Anya Szelewska took home the Drama prize for The Birds Nest. The Entertainment and Comedy Drama award went to Unscripted, which was made by Coventry University students Toby Stephenson, William Smith and James Wise.
Aaron Badhan, Abdulrahman Jalfar, Dario Liguori and Mohammed Ahmed from Birmingham City University triumphed in the Factual category with Gambling: A Gambler’s Gambit.
In the craft categories, Coventry University’s David Bohus bagged two awards: the Camera prize for Birth of the Butterflies and the Editing gong for 97%.
RTS Midlands Chair Kully Khaila said: “I lost count of how many times the guests who kindly agreed to give out awards were stunned by the incredible work they saw on screen. I echo their thoughts wholeheartedly: the level of entries this year was outstanding. The Midlands screen sector has a radiantly bright future.”
RTS Midlands Student Television Awards winners
Sir Lenny Henry Award and Animation — Orange Striped Socks — Julia Irastorza Torres, Nottingham Trent University
Drama — The Birds Nest — Anya Szelewska, Staffordshire University
Entertainment and Comedy Drama — Unscripted — Toby Stephenson, William Smith and James Wise, Coventry Uni.
Factual — Gambling: A Gambler’s Gambit — Aaron Badhan, Abdulrahman Jalfar, Dario Liguori and Mohammed Ahmed, Birmingham City University
Craft Skills: Camera — Birth of the Butterflies — David Bohus, Coventry University
Craft Skills: Editing — 97% — David Bohus, Coventry University
Craft Skills: Sound — Big Boys Don’t Cry — Oscar Bell, Darcey Wootton-Davis and Cameron Tura, Staffordshire University
Craft Skills: Writing — The Leak — Ed Griffin, Nottingham Trent University
