Animation student films impress Royal Television Society North West Student Awards judges

Several skilled young animators have once again impressed the judges at the Royal Television Society North West Student Awards, the industry pinnacle for student filmmaking. 

Three student films made by BA (Hons) Animation students have been shortlisted in the Craft Skills - Sound category and two student films have been shortlisted for the Best Animation award.

This follows on from last year’s success at the prestigious awards which saw graduate film ‘Luz’ scooping the Best Animation prize.

Being shortlisted for the RTS is an honour as well as a huge boost of confidence for my ongoing studies and future prospects.

2020 graduates Sanna Rasanen, Emily Griffith Mortimer, Em Rothwell, Sophie Pickup and Ryan Quigley are shortlisted for Best Animation with their film ‘Taketalvi’.

Meanwhile, current third year students Samuel Carson, Mya Whittaker, Karla Engstrom and Abbey Hardman are shortlisted with their second year film ‘Silk Worm’.

Both of these films have been created using stop motion, demonstrating the growth in this area of the course.

‘Silk Worm’ has also been shortlisted in the Craft Skills – Sound award category alongside two other student films.

The team who created ‘Silk Worm’ said: "As a team we had so much fun working on this project. We were given so much support from tutors and peers which really helped sculpt 'Silk Worm' into the film it is now, a film we're all so proud of. The fact that it was also then shortlisted for two RTS Student Awards was just an amazing accomplishment and we're excited for more people to see this film!"

Current third year students Emilia Schneider, Maciej Repeta and Alex Lescionok are also in the running for the Craft Skills – Sound award with their second year film ‘Lampion’ along with Jedd McRae, Geraint Thomas and Billy Varden with their second year film ‘First Man’.

Jedd McRae said: “Being shortlisted for the RTS is an honour as well as a huge boost of confidence for my ongoing studies and future prospects. This has really allowed my team mates and I to realise our potential.”

The annual RTS North West Student Television Awards recognise and celebrate the best audiovisual work created by students at undergraduate and postgraduate level within the region.

The Royal Television Society Student Awards are the pinnacle of our year and recognition in these demonstrates the extraordinary talents of our students and very high teaching quality on the programme.

Categories at the awards span across Animation, Non-Scripted, Scripted, Craft Skills – Camerawork, Craft Skills – Editing, Craft Skills – Production Design, Craft Skills – Sound and Craft Skills – Writing. 

Gavin Parry, Head of Media said: “The Animation team, here at Manchester Metropolitan University, are delighted to see our 2nd (for the first time) and 3rd year students nominated for RTS awards this year.

“The Royal Television Society Student Awards are the pinnacle of our year and recognition in these demonstrates the extraordinary talents of our students and very high teaching quality on the programme. We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements and can certainly see bright futures for them all in the profession.”

The winners will be announced during an online awards ceremony taking place on May 4, 2021.