Multiple nominations across two categories at annual event
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is already a guaranteed winner at this year’s North West Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Awards after claiming all three shortlisted places in the event’s animation category.
The annual event, which recognise the best in student talent from across the region, will hand out prizes in five categories: Animation, Factual, Comedy & Entertainment, Drama and Open. UCLan master's students Jordan King-McCoy and David Lambie will join final year undergraduate student Frances Humphries in the animation shortlist. UCLan has also been nominated in the drama category, with recent film production graduates Matthew Hall and Andrew St Maur shortlisted for their film Bored Games which looks at the potential breakdown of a 40-year marriage.
The winners will be announced in February with recipients then representing the North West in the national RTS Student Awards final which will take place in June.
"It feels great to be nominated and if I am lucky enough to go on to represent the North West in the national final it would mean a great deal to me and my family."
David Lambie, whose silent comedy film in the style of the early 20th Century cinema sees Dr Frankenstein create a daughter before sending her on a series of disastrous blind dates, commented: “It feels great to be nominated and if I am lucky enough to go on to represent the North West in the national final it would mean a great deal to me and my family.”
Fellow nominee 20-year-old Frances Humphries has created a two-minute film showing the northern countryside while two fishermen chat in the background with the ending providing a humorous twist.
She said: “I am truly thrilled to be nominated for the RTS and to not be very modest, I am very proud of myself. It would be one of my greatest achievements to win the regional and go onto the national final, I also think it would be an incredible start to my career in animation.”
"I am very proud of all three students for this achievement as well as the dedicated team in the animation department. It’s a great accomplishment that UCLan animation students continue to win this award year after year."
UCLan Animation Course Leader Sarah Kennedy commented: “I am very proud of all three students for this achievement as well as the dedicated team in the animation department. It’s a great accomplishment that UCLan animation students continue to win this award year after year.”
Film producer Andrew St Maur said: “Matthew and I said from the beginning that just to be shortlisted for the award would be amazing so we’re overjoyed. It’s a massive boost to our confidence and I’m sure will help to open doors in industry. We also want to say a big thank you to our film crew, all of whom are also UCLan graduates, for their work on the film.”
View the three nominated animation films on the UCLan YouTube Animation Channel and the film Bored Games.