From Kyrgyz landscapes to early flight: LSBU stories shortlisted at RTS London Awards
London South Bank University (LSBU) students have been nominated for two regional film and television awards, recognising the creativity, ambition and technical excellence emerging from the School of Arts and Social Sciences.
The Royal Television Society (RTS) London Student Awards recognise the best audiovisual work created by students at undergraduate and postgraduate level across the capital. They are among the UK’s most prestigious platforms for emerging filmmakers, celebrating standout storytelling and craft across drama, documentary, production design, editing and more.
This year, LSBU BA Film and Television Practice students are shortlisted in two categories: Best Drama for Peri and Best Production Design for Wright Brothers: The Musical.
Peri is an expansive and atmospheric drama set across the vast landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, exploring three generations of women and one woman’s lifelong navigation of the quiet, often invisible sacrifices embedded in tradition.
Wright Brothers: The Musical is an ambitious and beautifully realised short musical reimagining the birth of aviation. The project combines original music with a dramatised retelling of Wilbur and Orville Wright’s early experiments with flight.
A strong record of award success
The nominations build on LSBU’s significant and sustained success in film and television awards.
At the RTS London Student Television Awards 2024, students received Best Long Form Documentary for Some Hairs Never Fall and Best Editing for the psychological thriller Four Soldiers. Some Hairs Never Fall was also recognised at the Yugo BAFTA Student Awards, highlighting its impact beyond the UK.
LSBU films have also performed strongly on the festival circuit: the film Wool, written and directed by an LSBU graduate, received the Best Student Film award at the Feel the Reel International Film Festival, received an Honourable Mention at the New Renaissance Film Festival and won Best Drama at the Vienna International Film Awards.
This record reflects LSBU’s strong industry‑linked teaching, highly specialist studio facilities and a long-standing reputation for nurturing original, ambitious voices in film and television practice.
Dr Matthew Hawkins, course leader for Film and Television Practice, said: “These nominations highlight the imagination, skill and determination our students bring to their work. Both films demonstrate the distinctiveness of LSBU storytelling; emotionally rich, technically innovative and unafraid to take creative risks. We couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve achieved.”
The 2026 Royal Television Society (RTS) London Student Awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 31 March 2026 at The Magic Circle, London. The winners from the event will then be considered for the national final in June.