Salford scoops over half the nominations at RTS North West Student Television Awards 2021

The respected awards celebrate the best audio-visual work created by students, with categories across Animation, Camerawork, Filmmaking, Editing, Production Design, Sound and Writing.

Beth Hewitt, Creative Director - Media City Directorate, said: “These nominations are a fantastic acknowledgment of the emerging media talent within our Media City campus. Employability is a major aspect that is embedded into all our courses and to be nominated 18 times across the RTS categories recognises not only the talent of the students, but also the breadth and depth of their skills."

Amongst the nominees is Romanian-born filmmaker Dorothea Sterian, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Television and Radio Production. Her film Staying Sane (During a Global Pandemic),  which documents her personal struggles last year, has been shortlisted in the Non-Scriped, Craft Skills – Camerawork and Craft Skills – Writing categories.

Speaking of the documentary Dorothea said: “The inspiration for the film came from my feelings and thoughts during lockdown, when I felt that I was slowly losing my sense of identity, my sense of purpose.

“I had picked up candle-making as a hobby at the time, but I wasn’t happy with my results, I wasn’t happy in general. I was angry - so I decided to channel it all in an authored, self-reflective documentary. It was a tough process, but it allowed me to find perspective, better understand myself and find what I now believe to be my true purpose.”

Dorothea has recently landed an Edit Assistant role at Manchester-based factual broadcast TV production company Workerbee.

Fellow graduate Teona Bonsu’s excellent children’s show Globetrotters is also shortlisted in the Craft Skills – Production Design and Non-Scripted categories. Teona has been leaving a good impression on the team at Gobstopper TV while working there, being tipped as a “brilliant series producer of the future”.

Salford’s Film Production programme has plenty cause for celebration too, with their students receiving an unbelievable ten nominations at the upcoming awards, including Mackenzie Thompson for his short film In Vitro.

The film, nominated in the Craft Skills – Writing and Scripted categories, follows the story of Natalie and Lucas who are trying for a baby and one negative pregnancy test after another results in the gradual breakdown of their relationship. Fellow student Alfie Gadsby Kane has also been nominated in the Craft Skills – Editing category for the same film.

Beth Hewitt added: "This achievement is a great nod to the industry expertise and understanding of our staff who work so skillfully with the students, ensuring they reach their full potential, ready to step out into the media industry as the next generation of creatives, and producers. A big congratulations to all our Media City students and staff and best of luck for the RTS NW Students Awards 2021.”

The awards will take place at a virtual ceremony on 4 May 2021.

You can find the full list of nominees here https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-north-west-student-television-awards-2021