More success for Herts students as they triumph again at the Royal Television Society East Student Awards
Three films from last year’s graduating class were nominated and students won in categories including Best Drama, Best Editing and Best Screenwriting.
The Lost Ingredient, a film about a Ukrainian mother and daughter living in England with a host family after fleeing the war with Russia, won its creator, Oleksandra Harmash, 25 and from Hatfield, Best Drama and Best Screenwriting awards.
The current postgraduate Film Production student said: “I’m incredibly honoured to receive the RTS award and am very grateful for the support I received from Herts during the project. The guidance and encouragement from tutors played a huge role in bringing my story to life. It’s wonderful to see that work being recognised.”
Knock Knock, a comedic horror set on Halloween night, took home the award for Best Craft Editing. That honour was claimed by recent graduate Jack Cann, 21, who said:
“When I started editing, I lacked confidence in my abilities, so to progress and win an award for editing feels almost unreal.
“The course and the lecturers really helped polish my skills with their weekly workshops on both editing and practical equipment, teaching the best techniques to capture the audience.”
Also nominated was Forget Me Not, the story of a woman experiencing the onset of dementia at the end of her career, and how she and her daughter move forward together. The team behind Forget Me Not, which was nominated in the editing category was Tiffany Alexandrou, Charlie Barnes, Eeyind Chee & Jessica Dabbs.
Over 570 films were entered into the awards from undergraduates in universities across the UK. The Royal Television Society East Student Awards winners were announced at a ceremony held at Old Divinity School in Cambridge last month.
The success follows Herts students winning five awards in 2025.
Dr Stephen Partridge, Dean of Creative Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, said:
“Our continued success in the Royal Television Society Awards is good news for the buoyant film sector in Hertfordshire. I am immensely proud of all our students who took part for their hard work and for the high-quality creative skills they have demonstrated.
“We are delighted that the judges at the RTS joined us in recognising the outstanding quality of these films. The success we continue to have at the RTS East Student Awards is a testament to the university’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of filmmakers, animators, writers, cinematographers, and editors.”
Ranked the best creative arts school in the UK in the 2025 Rookies Global School Rankings, the University of Hertfordshire’s School of Creative Arts continues to offer students exceptional industry exposure. Through regular masterclasses and guest talks, students have the opportunity to learn directly from leading figures in global film and media.
Recent visitors include Oscar-winning model maker Lorne Peterson, who shared behind‑the‑scenes insights from his work on iconic films such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future Part II, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Students will soon also have the chance to hear from acclaimed British filmmaker Mike Leigh (Secrets & Lies, Vera Drake, Mr Turner), further strengthening the School’s ties with influential creatives.
This year, the University is also opening its new film studio, Propeller Stage One - a state-of-the-art professional environment designed to enhance hands‑on learning and boost students’ career prospects as they prepare to enter the industry.
Find out more about the RTS East Student Awards 2026 winners here:
https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-east-student-awards-2026-winners-announced
More details about the winning films and the University’s Film and Television Production programme.
Photo credit: Liana Williams