Creative students make regional shortlist

18 January 2017

Eight UCLan nominations for the 2017 North West Royal Television Society Awards

Creative students at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are starting the New Year on a high after making the regional shortlist of a major competition.

The undergraduates have been nominated eight times for the 2017 shortlist of the Royal Television Society’s North West Student Awards.

The large number of nominees means the University has more students on the list than any other higher education institution in the region.

UCLan is guaranteed success in the animation category as all three nominees are UCLan students. They are Jake Blakeston with Matchstick Zombies; Gemma Vickers with Wish in a Box; and Liam Springthorne, Amberleigh Eloise Kennedy, Thomas James Hardman with Epilation.

Two of the three shortlisted entries in the drama category are also UCLan students. Jack Simpson, John Powell, Cameron Browne, Rachael Beardmore have been shortlisted for Happy Place; while Dan Ollerhead, Paddy Alcock, Annie Stenhouse, Cameron Browne, Ash Betton, Alun Hullock have been selected for Radio Silence.

"We have a great tradition for winning prizes at both a regional and national level in this competition and this year’s cohort have an excellence opportunity to improve on that."

The comedy and entertainment category sees two of the three selected entries by Central Lancashire students. Yousef Thami, Liberty Shaw, Jake River Parker and Heather Davenport have been chosen for Headless – the Ed Shales Story; and Yousef Thami, Joe McDonald, Hazel Scott, Liberty Shaw have made the list with JP Cooper – Five More Days.

Ashley Collier is the sole UCLan representative in the short film category with Felix.

John Holloway, Head of the School of Journalism, Media and Performance, said: “It’s wonderful news to have so many of our very talented students shortlisted for this year’s North West Royal Television Society Awards. We have a great tradition for winning prizes at both a regional and national level in this competition and this year’s cohort have an excellence opportunity to improve on that.”

The North West final will take place on Wednesday 22 February at the Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays.