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Student film clinches top place at Royal Television Awards

03/11/2016

A film made by University of Wolverhampton Video and Film Production graduates has clinched top place at this year’s Royal Television Society (RTS) Midlands Centre Awards 2016.

Steve George and Ryan Sibanda directed and produced “Si” which was nominated in the Best Short Feature Category. ‘Si’ was also nominated in the Craft Skills (Editing) category.

Steve George, 39 from Sutton Coldfield, who scooped the award, said: “Si is a comedy about a lonely wet floor sign in a busy office building who narrates his everyday routine. When Mary, a worker who Si adores, is attacked by a colleague, Si has to save the day. Not easy when you're a free standing sign and made of plastic.

“It was great to be put forward by the University and nominated for these awards – but even better to win the award! We received excellent support in making the film from our Video and Film Production tutors, especially Don Adamson who very kindly gave up a Saturday to supervise filming (and also agreed to appear as an extra).

“Our biggest fear when making Si is that no one would laugh and it was worse thinking that a room full of TV industry professionals wouldn’t laugh either! But luckily, “Si” made an impact and it has all been a fantastic experience.”

A clip of "Si" is available on YouTube.

Christopher Cronin’s short film, ‘KEBABYLON’, was also nominated in the Best Drama category. Matthew Hutchinson and Arron Preedy were nominated for Craft Skills (Sound) for ‘KEBABYLON’.

The University of Wolverhampton School of Media sponsored two categories at the awards ceremony which was held at the National Motorcycle Museum – Best New Talent and Journalist of the Year.

Dr John Pymm, Dean of Faculty of Arts at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “Video and Film production (now relaunched as Film & television Production) have been RTS winners on at least three previous occasions and Animation have also won awards as well.  We have a good track record of getting nominated.

“We have built good links with broadcast partners and businesses to shape our curriculum so that students benefit from real life projects and work placements.  Being involved in such a high profile awards event is an amazing experience for our students and we’re delighted to be nurturing future broadcasting talent at the University.”

The University works closely with RTS and hosted its Regional Schools challenge in summer 2016 and will be working with them alongside the BBC Academy on a Bounce into Broadcasting event for Career Development Week during February 2017.

The Royal Television Society is an educational charity which promotes the art and science of television, encouraging and celebrating work and achievements in television production, digital and broadcast production in the Midlands region.

Anyone interested in studying a course in the University of Wolverhampton School of Media should check out the website or visit our next Open Day on Saturday 19th November 2016.

Picture caption from left to right: Joshua LA Baggott, Ryan Sibanda, Steve George and L.J ‘Stark’ Greenwood.

For more information please contact the Media Relations Office on 01902 32 2736 or 01902 518647.

Date Issued: 4th November 2016

For more information please contact the Corporate Communications Team.

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