Five graduate film projects from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have been shortlisted for this year’s Royal Television Society (RTS) Scotland Student Awards, with nominations across three key categories.

The annual awards, organised by the Royal Television Society, celebrate emerging talent from Scotland’s film and television schools and provide an important platform for students and graduates to showcase their work to industry professionals. 

This project has been an incredible journey that I was able to share with my incredibly talented crew. It is a tremendous honour to have this film nominated for RTS Scotland Student Awards, and I hope the story will resonate with audiences to make renewed considerations and approaches to their relationship with the natural world.

On the Red List, director Mathilde van Ooijen

 

Nominated in the Saving the Planet category, On the Red List by Mathilde van Ooijen, Andrea Costa, Carla Basu, and Sean Burns, and Myths of Nature: A Selkie’s Story by Jack Robertson are both in contention. Meanwhile, A Wee Knight’s Adventure by Matthew Grant, Claire Bryan, and their team has secured a place in the Animation category.

In the Drama category, two UWS productions have been recognised: Gas & Electricity by Daniel Kelly, Grace Bisland, William Duguid Cox, Kelly Halpin, Lewis Robertson, Eszter Kenez, Greg Brian Coyle, and Skye Morrison, and Lamia by Daniel Thomson, William Duguid Cox, Tushar Chauhan, Kelly Halpin, Lauri Lehtipuu, Tom Pearsal, Fraser Cox, Dominic Rafferty, and Greg Coyle. Notably, the lead roles in both Lamia and Gas & Electricity were played by students from UWS’s Performance course, demonstrating the collaborative nature of the university’s creative disciplines.

These nominations highlight the strength of UWS’s creative programmes. The BA (Hons) Filmmaking & Screen Writing degree offers students the opportunity to engage creatively and critically with all aspects of filmmaking. The programme combines practical experience in scriptwriting, pre-production planning, hands-on filmmaking, and post-production, alongside the study of film as an art form. ​

Similarly, the BA (Hons) Broadcast Production: TV, Radio & Podcast Production course prepares students for success in the broadcast industry by teaching them how to create, produce, and understand television, video, radio podcasting, and other short form content. Students work in UWS's radio, podcast, and television studios, using the latest broadcasting facilities and digital editing suites. ​ 

All of these nominations were made collaboratively by teams of students, and this really demonstrates their ability to work together creatively so that a wide variety of skillsets can flourish.

Kate Cotter, Programme Leader for BA TV, Radio & Podcast Production

 

Jack Robertson, creator of Myths of Nature: A Selkie’s Story, added: “This film was born out of a love for nature and storytelling, so to have it recognised by RTS Scotland means the world. I’m beyond thankful to everyone who supported me and collaborated on this project – it’s been a journey rooted in passion and teamwork.”

On behalf of A Wee Knight’s Adventure, Matthew Grant said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the nomination. Animation is such a collaborative art form, and this recognition reflects the dedication and creativity of our entire team. We couldn’t be prouder of the finished film and the hard work that went into every frame.”

Daniel Kelly, director of Gas & Electricity, commented: “We are honoured to be shortlisted in the Drama category. The process of making this film was a deeply collaborative experience and I’m thankful for an amazing cast and crew who brought the story to life. Being nominated alongside such strong work is an achievement we’re all proud of.”

For Lamia, Daniel Thomson shared: “Lamia was a challenging and rewarding project from start to finish, and it’s a real privilege to be recognised by RTS Scotland. I want to thank every member of the team for their creativity and commitment – this wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

These nominations are a testament to the incredible talent, professionalism, and storytelling ability of UWS students. The RTS Scotland Student Awards are highly competitive, and for UWS to have five shortlisted projects this year is an outstanding achievement. I’m immensely proud of the students and the teams behind these films.

Dr Gill Jamieson, senior lecturer and Programme Leader for BA Filmmaking course 

 

The RTS Scotland Student Awards 2025 take place on Thursday 27 March at St. Luke’s, Glasgow, with free tickets available via the RTS website. Full nomination list available here.

 

The nominated UWS student films support several UNSDGs, including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through themes of conservation and environmental awareness. Their success also reflects SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by equipping graduates with industry skills, while their diverse storytelling promotes SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) in film and media.