News

Derby students triumph at Royal Television Society Awards

1 March 2019

University of Derby Media and Film Production students triumphed at the Royal Television Society Midlands Awards 2019 with no fewer than four awards.

Having already secured the University’s highest ever number of nominations ahead of the ceremony at The Rep in Birmingham on Thursday (28 February), the Derby graduate and undergraduate teams picked up the awards for the following categories:

Meatball also collected the Sir Lenny Henry Award after the celebrated actor and comedian selected it as his personal favourite of all the entries for this year’s competition.

Swan’s Signature, part of a trilogy of films made by Derby student Josh Timmins about artist John McDonald, has already been screened at a number of film festivals in the UK and abroad.

The triple award-winning Film Production students worked with University of Derby lecturers Baza Squires, Tom Craig, Stephen Watson, Russ Cherrington and Nick Whitfield.

Chas Andrews-Roberts, Head of Discipline for Media and Arts at the University, said: "Many congratulations to all of the BA (Hons) Film Production students on their remarkable and well deserved achievements.

“The work they have produced for these awards is testimony to their dedication and their passion for the subject. We are all very proud of the students, winning such prestigious, competitive categories."

The students who made Writer’s Block, landing the University’s second RTS Awards success in the Drama category, worked with Media Production lecturers Phil Basi, Maurice Hutchinson, Daithí McMahon and Mark Smith.

The success marked the third consecutive year that Media Production at the University of Derby has won a major RTS award, confirming its high standing in the industry.

Senior Lecturer in Radio Production and Scriptwriting Daithí McMahon said: "We are absolutely delighted at the students’ success at the RTS Awards. They have put in so much hard work in these projects and absolutely deserve the recognition they've received.

“The success of Writer's Block in particular reflects the changes we have made to the scriptwriting element of the Media Production programme, and our award-winners tonight are among the first to come through this new process.

“It also shows that the University of Derby is a progressive and responsive University open to new pedagogic approaches that help students learn more and produce higher quality work and, ultimately, succeed.”

It is hoped that Writer’s Block will feature in the UK film festival circuit throughout the year.

Find out more about our Film and Media courses

Media Production team at RTS Awards

For further information contact the press office at pressoffice@derby.ac.uk.