A documentary about a 'swingers' club in Rochdale, made by two Leeds Trinity University Media students, has won 'Best Factual Film' at the Royal Television Society Yorkshire Student TV Awards 2019.
Holly Murphy and Joe Greenough, who graduated last summer, made The Swinging Life of Rochdale during their documentary module in the final year of their Media degree last year.
They were announced as winners at the regional RTS Student TV Awards at Leeds College of Music on Wednesday 27 February. They will now represent Yorkshire at the national RTS Student TV Awards in London on Friday 28 June.
Holly, 22, from Liverpool, said: "I'm absolutely buzzing, after the months and months of hard work, I can't believe we've won!"
ITV Calendar Presenter Christine Talbot announced the winners of the awards, and said that the judges thought the film gave "unique access into a world we don't normally see, it is filmed with humour, warmth and great characters offering great audience appeal."
Holly added: "We decided to film a documentary about swingers as we knew it's a taboo subject that not many people understand or know about so we wanted to shine a light on the subject and make it seem funny and light-hearted. We followed a club owner for a few months and on the way met and documented the regulars to her club.
Glyn Middleton, Senior Lecturer in Broadcast Media at Leeds Trinity University, said: "I'm delighted with the RTS judges' decision to give Holly and Joe the award for Best Factual Film. It sends a great message to all students that success lies in getting out of the university bubble, finding intriguing, colourful characters with a great story to tell and taking care to secure excellent access. The best documentaries often provide a window on a world that viewers don't know and may never see - and that's exactly what Holly and Joe did with this film. I really hope that judges at a national level recognise its great qualities."
The RTS Yorkshire Student Television Awards are sponsored by Daisybeck Studios and celebrate emerging talent in Yorkshire. The national RTS Student TV Awards recognise excellence across the entire range of programme making and broadcasting skills, and the best audiovisual work created by students at undergraduate and postgraduate level throughout the UK.