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Student ‘show-stopper’ wins national film honour

Supernatural music video is celebrated at the Royal Television Society’s awards

Students from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge have scooped a top national honour for a film produced as part of their course.

The Royal Television Society (RTS) recognised the work of Guilherme Pires, Yegor Chmilewsky, El Hakim and Gundham Onorati at their national RTS Student Television Awards held in London.

The ARU students won the Postgraduate Entertainment and Comedy Drama category for their supernatural music video Why Don't You Stay For Tonight, which saw off competition from two films produced by students from the National Film and Television School.

The RTS judges described Why Don't You Stay For Tonight as:

“A wild card entry that paid off! This was cited as a visually arresting, surreal and compelling watch. 

“The lyrics, use of music, sound and choreography to tell a story came together really well and felt very different to the other entries in this category. This was definitely a show-stopper that commanded attention.”

The film was directed, written and produced by Guilherme Pires, who is studying for a Master’s in Film and Television Production at ARU in Cambridge. Guilherme said:

"I'm honoured. It feels surreal – I still can't believe that what started as a small, silly idea for a special Halloween short has gained the attention and recognition of the Royal Television Society on a national level. 

“I couldn't be happier and more grateful for having such a fantastic team who spent hours and hours, days to weeks, doing their best to bring this project to life, even in a very short window of time.”


Dr Catherine Elliott, Course Leader for the MA in Film and Television Production at ARU, said:

“I am so thrilled for these students who have created such a brilliant, original film. It’s a real achievement, especially as the competition is so tough. 

“We have enjoyed a great deal of success previously at the RTS East regional awards, but this is the first time that ARU students have won a national RTS award, and we are extremely proud of them.”

 

 

Photo: RTS/Richard Kendal