Media students win big at RTS Awards

Stirling media students were the big winners of the Royal Television Society’s (RTS) Scotland Student Awards.

Having received all the nominations up for grabs in both the Animation and Factual Production categories, Stirling students took home a record four awards, marking the best awards haul any institution has received at the event.

‘The Tortoise and the Square’ by Gregor Forbes picked up the award for best animation. 

 ‘A League of Their Own’ documentary team with event host, STV entertainment reporter, Laura Boyd

The Factual category was won by ‘A League of Their Own’, a documentary created by Ryan Anderson, Niall Cluness, Lauren Hollinsworth and Lorenzo Franchitti. Lauren also received the top honour in the Editing category.

While Ryan Bensen walked away with the top award in the Camerawork category for his work on ‘Moving Mountains’.

Animation winner Gregor Forbes said: “It was an honour to win this award and I'm grateful to RTS Scotland for recognising my work. 'The Tortoise and the Square' is both a win for me and for creative animation at the University of Stirling. The film was in part inspired by the abstract stylings of Stirling-born animator Norman Mclaren.

“I'm grateful to my lecturer Staci Rowlinson for her support and guidance throughout the project and I'm proud of the work of my fellow students, especially my fellow nominees."

Animation winner Gregor Forbes

Digital Media lecturer, Staci Rowlinson, said: “The Animation category was a competitive one and provided our institution a new opportunity to showcase our expanding skillsets in Digital Media, Visual Communication, and Motion Graphics alongside an already established Film and Media Production provision. 

“We have made quite an impression on the professional sector by taking all the nominations and winning the category, showcasing what we can provide to the growing and steadily more prominent animation and motion graphics industry within Scotland.”

Ryan Bensen poses with his award for Camerawork

Professor Dario Sinforiani, Head of Production Teaching in the Division of Communications, Media & Culture at the University of Stirling, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have picked up so many awards, which is real testament to the hard work and talent of the students, and the quality of the practical teaching and support they are receiving in the Division.”

Hosted by STV News entertainment reporter Laura Boyd, the RTS Scotland Student Awards recognise the best Animation, Entertainment and Comedy Drama, and Factual films produced by students in the last year.

The event also honours talented filmmakers in five craft categories: Camerawork, Editing, Production Design, Sound and Writing. With multiple entries from 12 universities and colleges across Scotland, this year’s awards were hugely competitive.

Gail English, Chair of RTS Scotland Student Awards, said: “The TV industry is crying out for new talent and the RTS Student Awards presents opportunities for talented students to share their work and meet with industry professionals – and this year’s showcase shows there is no shortage of talent in Scotland.”

The fill list of winners can be found on the Royal Television Society website and all of the nominated films, as well as highlights from this year’s ceremony, will be available for viewers across the UK to watch on streaming service, STV Player.