UWS has continued its incredible run of success in student filmmaking, with two national wins at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Television Awards.

Recent graduates Mathilde van Ooijen and the team behind Gas & Electricity have both been recognised at the TV industry awards for their exceptional work, further cementing UWS’s growing reputation as a leader in creative media education.

Mathilde van Ooijen’s short documentary, On the Red List, made as part of her BA (Hons) Broadcast Production: TV & Radio degree, has achieved an extraordinary hat-trick with her conservation documentary On the Red List, which has now won three RTS awards: the RTS Student Award in the Saving the Planet category, the RTS Scotland Award for Best Student Film Overall, and now, the national RTS Student Television Award for the category of Saving the Planet.

This national award places On the Red List at the forefront of student filmmaking and sets it apart as the single most outstanding student production of the year.

Created in collaboration with fellow recent graduates Andrea Costa and Federica Massini (Filmmaking & Screen Writing), Sean Burns (Broadcast), On the Red List explores the devastating decline of Scotland’s Herring Gull population and the efforts of conservationists fighting to save this critically endangered bird from extinction.

 

It still feels surreal to have our film recognised at this level. On the Red List was a true team effort, and we’re so proud that a story about Scotland’s fragile natural world has resonated with audiences and juries alike. I’m incredibly proud of what we created together, and thankful to UWS for providing the support, resources, and creative freedom that helped us bring our vision to life.

Mathilde van Ooijen speaking after the ceremony

 

In a second major win for UWS, Gas & Electricity, directed by Daniel Kelly and created by a team of graduates Grace Bisland, William Duguid Cox, Eszter Kenez, Kelly Halpin, Lewis Robertson from the BA (Hons) Filmmaking & Screen Writing programme, was awarded the National Award for Undergraduate Drama following its RTS Scotland win earlier this year. The film also features a standout lead performance by Skye Morrison from UWS’s Performance course.

Broadcast Production Programme Leader Kate Cotter praised the team’s achievement: “These wins speak volumes about the creative ambition, professionalism and drive of our students. To see their work recognised at both Scottish and UK levels is truly special, and it reflects the industry-standard training, guidance and support they receive throughout their time at UWS.

“Their success is not only a personal triumph, but one that shows the strength and relevance of our programme in developing socially conscious storytellers ready to make their mark on the industry.”

Mathilde’s success builds on an already promising trajectory. She has been selected, alongside two of UWSs MA Filmmaking graduates, to join The Big Real: Virtual Production Film Academy at Abertay University this summer – a highly competitive programme aimed at training the next generation of filmmakers in virtual production techniques.

 

Winning any RTS Student Award is a huge achievement, but to see UWS graduates not only win at the Scottish level but go on to triumph at the UK-wide awards is phenomenal. These achievements reflect the depth of talent, creativity and resilience within our student community. We’re incredibly proud.

Filmmaking and Scriptwriting Programme Leader Gill Jamieson

 

The BA (Hons) Filmmaking & Screen Writing degree at UWS offers students hands-on experience in scriptwriting, production, and post-production, preparing them for careers in the film and media industries. The BA (Hons) Broadcast Production: TV, Radio & Podcast Production course equips students with the skills to create and produce engaging digital media content across multiple platforms.