Double win for student film at national awards

A duo from University of Staffordshire is celebrating two wins at the national RTS Student Television Awards 2025.

The annual awards, hosted by the Royal Television Society, celebrate the best new filmmaking talent and are open to all students enrolled with higher education colleges, universities and institutions in the UK and Ireland.

Recent BA (Hons) Film Production graduates Ekaterina Trufanava and Darcy Wootton-Davies picked up two awards for short film Happy Death, which was recognised in both the ‘Undergraduate Factual – Long Form’ and ‘Undergraduate Craft Skills – Editing’ categories.

The documentary follows Victor, a tattoo artist from Ekaterina’s native Barcelona who shares his candid experiences of depression, and how creativity and art have helped to save his life.

Ekaterina said: “Winning the national RTS feels pretty surreal. I remember coming for an open day and seeing the RTS awards in the cabinet in the media centre and thinking ‘wow the people who have won must be mind-blowing in their craft’. To now think that ours is going to be there, for other people who are joining Staffs to see and understand that anything is achievable with the correct mindset and support, feels really good!

“My course helped me immensely, from the tutors to the people working in the media centre to the support my classmates gave me. I remember having meetings with every film tutor to make sure I was on the right track on my projects and being able to have advice from different people specialising in different areas made this project what it is today. And this is what makes the Film Production course at University of Staffordshire the best choice I have ever made.”

Despite being shot with minimal equipment, the judges commended the technical execution and picture grading of the film, noting they were both of a particularly high standard. The jurors also praised the editing, stating that the pacing “swept them along effortlessly”.

Darcy said: “This was a super run and gun project and a prime example of it’s not what kit you have it’s what you do with it. We went over to Barcelona with one camera, one light, a mic and bought a tripod for £5.

“This project is super special to the both of us as it tells a deeply personal story of Victor’s life, struggles and overcoming mental illness. It feels amazing to be recognised by the Royal Television Society for all our hard work. To be awarded two awards at the national event is truly amazing and a big milestone for me.”

Colin Mottram, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Film Production, added: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the film get the recognition it deserves. I am proud to see all Ekate’s and Darcey’s hard work and creative talent being recognised with these national awards. It is great to see our graduates developing ambitions to create work across the globe, telling meaning full stories in creative ways – this is the real impact of our Film Production degree programme at University of Staffordshire.”

Discover more about University of Staffordshire’s BA (Hons) Film Production degree course.