RTS names Chair of Student Television Awards at annual ceremony

Previously serving as BBC’s Nations Director (Interim), Richards succeeds Sinéad Rocks, Channel 4’s outgoing Managing Director, Nations and Regions.

Richards stated: “I’m absolutely delighted to take on the role of Chair of the RTS Student Television Awards. These awards shine a light on the extraordinary imagination, craft and ambition of students across the UK – individuals who are not just learning their trade but actively shaping the future of our creative industries. It’s an honour to celebrate their work, their voices and their potential. At a time when fresh perspectives have never been more vital, these emerging storytellers remind us why this industry matters, and I look forward to championing their talent and the brilliant institutions that support them on their journey.”

The event, hosted by TV and Radio Presenter Remel London, also named the best audiovisual work from students in the UK and Ireland across 24 competitive categories.

Out of the 12 postgraduate categories, the National Film and Television School led the way with eight wins, including two for Roar of the Tiger in the Saving the Planet and Craft Skills – Editing categories, and a further two for Death’s Peak in the Animation and Craft Skills – Sound categories. Other postgraduate projects receiving multiple wins included the University of the West of England’s Colourise: Exploring the Magical World of Biofluorescence, which took home awards for Factual – Long Form and Craft Skills – Camerawork.

Among the 12 undergraduate categories, the University of Salford garnered three accolades, including two for Dogbone in the Drama and Craft Skills – Production Design categories, and one for Down the Line in the Factual – Short Form category. Nottingham Trent University also received two gongs, with Pigeons winning the Animation category, and Goblin! winning Craft Skills – Writing.

 

Full list of 2026 winners with judge commentary:

 

Undergraduate Animation

Pigeons – Zazie Capobianco (Nottingham Trent University)

The judges enjoyed "the distinct character designs and the 50s/60s cartoon aesthetic." They were impressed with "how the visuals worked in combination with the strong storytelling.”

 

Undergraduate Drama

Dogbone – Austen Taylor Pease, Robert Peddie, Theo Hughes, Josie Harris, and team (University of Salford)

The jury thought that "this story captured a true aspect of life, and the feelings around oppression very well. The sound was excellent and the performances were incredible." One jury member described the short as "Tremendous!”

 

Undergraduate Entertainment and Comedy Drama

What Now? – Ben Pywell, Thomas Crawley, Luke Bean, Matthew Rawstron, and team (Northumbria University)

The jury noted how "this film subverted audience expectations at almost every turn." They praised "its humour, strong performances, regional accents, and confident cinematography," describing the piece as "very funny with plenty of charm and appeal.”

 

Undergraduate Factual – Short Form

Down the Line – James Kersey (University of Salford)

The jury praised this "beautifully shot film for its strong structure, engaging characters, and sincere storytelling. They particularly enjoyed the aerial and movement shots, describing the piece as "very charming and engaging with a satisfying conclusion.”

 

Undergraduate Factual – Long Form

The Bird and The Moon – Joe Humphrey, Emmett Laverty, Isaac Richardson, Tanis Burton, William Healy, and team (Sheffield Hallam University)

This was described by the jury as “visually beautiful and emotionally resonant, with carefully crafted imagery and strong narrative delivery. The bold use of archive and silence, combined with excellent pacing, created a powerful and lasting impact.”

 

Undergraduate Journalism

Remembering You – Libby Marchant, Katie Green, Harry Strubel, Jacob Rosenberg, Cody Osei and team (Bournemouth University)

The jury found this to be "a brave and powerful piece featuring raw, confident presenting and a clear, compelling narrative supported by a strong range of voices. Impressive camera work paired with outstanding writing and production to create deeply engaging storytelling. It captivated [us] from start to finish, hitting the right tone throughout.”

 

Undergraduate Saving the Planet

Soil Survivors – Joe Mugridge, Holly Parfitt, Connor Cousins, Dylan Burgess, and team (Bristol Film School Boomsatsuma)

“A bold and original entry that uses humour and inventive personification to bring the hidden world of insects to life, delivering an urgent environmental call to action with creativity and charm,” said the jury.

 

Undergraduate Craft Skills – Camerawork

Blackthorn – Wilfy George (University of the Arts London: London College of Communication)

According to the judges, “the camerawork demonstrated exceptional skill, with highly intentional framing and strong use of symmetry. The visual style gave the film a premium, high-end feel, with a considered grade that elevated the overall production." The jurors noted that "the cinematography truly lifted the film.”

 

Undergraduate Craft Skills – Editing

Meal Deal – Niamh McArdle and Amy Mulcahy (University of the West of England)

The jury praised the "exceptional editing craft, highlighting its skillful pacing and ability to balance emotion and humour in a short runtime." They described the editing as "brilliant and masterful," noting the "confidence, professionalism, and precision with which every shot was assembled.”

 

Undergraduate Craft Skills – Production Design

Dogbone – Josie Harris (University of Salford)

For this piece, the judges highlighted that “the production design created a fully realised world with very little, showing strong attention to atmosphere and detail. Mature use of lighting helped define the film’s visual identity, and the execution throughout felt highly professional." The jurors described the work as “brilliant,” praising its "effective world-building and sense of place.”

 

Undergraduate Craft Skills – Sound

Before Lights Out – James Doherty (University for the Creative Arts)

According to the panel, “the sound design and music enhanced the film’s otherworldly tone, creating a cohesive and immersive sensory experience. Creative choices, such as the imagined sound of the dog levitating, added to its artistry and impact. The overall soundscape was beautifully crafted and deeply engaging.”

 

Undergraduate Craft Skills – Writing

Goblin! – Matthew R. Jones (Nottingham Trent University)

This piece was recognised for “the writing [that] blended American humour with a distinctly English delivery, full of well-crafted gags and subtle, clever touches. The concept was highly original and consistently entertaining, relying on strong writing throughout." The jurors highlighted "how difficult this balance is to achieve, noting that it was executed with real skill.”

 

Postgraduate Animation

Death's Peak – Willy Fair, Louis Jousselme, Tracey Murray, and team (National Film and Television School)

The judges "enjoyed this clever dark comedy." They applauded "the technical polish, specifically the beautiful lighting and the richness of detail throughout the film.”

 

Postgraduate Entertainment and Comedy Drama

Checkout – Mairead Hamilton, Steven Jeram, Simon Williamson and C.J. Lazaretti (National Film and Television School)

The jury noted "strong production values and a clear sense of visual comedy throughout." They particularly "enjoyed the sequence of the neighbour/murderer dancing in the aisle, which drew laughter out loud [from the judges]. The film’s humour and execution made it a real standout.”

 

Postgraduate Factual – Short Form

No Kidding – Sarah Ford (University of the West of England)

The jury described the film as "amusing, quirky, and fun, with strong contributors and humorous characters". They enjoyed "the original and whimsical take on human-wildlife conflict, particularly the portrayal of goats as menaces." The piece was noted for its "charm, originality, and well-built tension throughout.”

 

Postgraduate Factual – Long Form

Colourise: Exploring the Magical World of Biofluorescence – Naveendran Jayabalan, Soo Kai Liang and David Atthowe (University of the West of England)

The jury were "hugely impressed by this truly unique and extraordinary film. The technical capabilities of cinematography ensured an intensely immersive visual experience, shedding light on the unknown world of darkness. The film was well-structured with an incredibly engaging contributor who hooked [the judges] in from the beginning." It was deemed "ready for broadcast such was the calibre of the execution.”

 

Postgraduate Journalism

Ghosts in the Machine: The invisible eyes of cybercrime – Rithula Nisha (University of East Anglia)

According to the judges, this was “a highly creative, broadcast-ready piece that stands out for its strong access and incisive questioning on an underreported topic. Compelling case studies and a well-crafted sense of suspense kept us engaged throughout. The storytelling is reinforced by stark statistics and excellent use of graphics, delivering both impact and clarity.”

 

Postgraduate Saving the Planet

Roar of the Tiger – Tushar Bhojwani, Suzy Shepherd, Carrie Penn, Anita Xu, and team (National Film and Television School)

The jury called this piece “an impressively constructed and emotionally resonant film that weaves together layered storytelling and technically brilliant visuals to highlight conservation challenges with suspense, empathy, and narrative sophistication.”

 

Postgraduate Drama

Twenty Twenty – Alex Salam, Saffia Sage, Matt Mead, and Jonathan Ley (National Film and Television School)

The jury described the film as "beautiful, heartbreaking, and powerful". They felt "the choice to shoot in black and white elevated the drama and gave it a strong visual style. The use of location and positioning of characters was effective, with an expressive approach that conveyed isolation and anxiety. Overall, they praised it as "sparingly and beautifully done.”

Postgraduate Craft Skills – Camerawork

Colourise: Exploring the Magical World of Biofluorescence – Naveendran Jayabalan (University of the West of England)

The judges said: “The camera work in this film mesmerised the judges’ five senses. You are immersed in a hidden underground world where darkness reveals the inner beauty of nature at work. The judges were blown away by how every shot was beautifully crafted in challenging low-light conditions, showcasing their ability to capture a compelling narrative that held their attention throughout. This filmmaker should be particularly proud of how they made their £1,000 budget look 10 times that on screen, demonstrating an instinct for telling a compelling narrative.”

 

Postgraduate Craft Skills – Editing

Roar of the Tiger – Suzy Shepherd (National Film and Television School)

The panel emphasised: “The editing was key to driving the message and storylines in this film; seamlessly piecing together many different types of media to form a very coherent documentary. Given the subject matter of the winning entry, the editor must have gone through hours of footage, creating an inspiring, ‘in the moment’ feel that made this film stand out from the rest, highlighting the clash of two worlds trying to live in the same landscape.”

 

Postgraduate Craft Skills – Production Design

Cuerpos – Kezia Hessam (National Film and Television School)

The jury observed: “When the production design requires a consistent colour palette across multiple locations, sourcing props locally, and ensuring the film felt realistic while shooting abroad, [the judges] were fully engaged in a world where the actors used this stage to bring their characters to life. This would not have been possible without careful consideration of the authenticity of every scene, and attention to detail in the depiction of this period drama came across on screen.”

 

Postgraduate Craft Skills – Sound

Death's Peak – Nicholas Smyth (National Film and Television School)

For this piece, the panel said: “Both the sound design and mix were incredibly layered, making the world feel alive and constantly moving. This film was superbly crafted; the audio was expertly balanced, brilliantly timed to bring this animated tale to life.”

 

Postgraduate Craft Skills – Writing

Welcome Home Freckles – Huiju Park (National Film and Television School)

The judges concluded: “There was a fiercely contested debate on the winning entry for writing, but in the end, it was this film’s multilayered storyline that made it stand out from the rest. The story was allowed to breathe, giving all participants the chance to express their feelings honestly. In particular, when the director is depicted as the main contributor on-screen, the intimate storytelling made for compelling viewing, especially when confronting her father, the perpetrator, about the domestic violence she and her family faced as a child.”

At the RTS Programme Awards 2026, Netflix’s Adolescence won four awards – Limited Series, Single Drama, and Writer of Drama. Owen Cooper also won both the Breakthrough Award and Supporting Actor – Male categories. Discover more here.