ARU film team in line for Royal Television Society student gong

One of the films shortlisted by the Royal Television Society for the national RTS Student Television Awards 2024 is a supernatural music video produced by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) students.

Directed, written and produced by Guilherme Pires, Why Don’t You Stay for Tonight has been nominated in the Postgraduate Entertainment and Comedy Drama category.

A picture taken during production of Why Don't You Stay for Tonight. Picture: ARU

Guilherme moved to Cambridge from Portugal in 2020 to study ARU’s BA (Hons) film and television production course, and is now taking the master’s in film and television production.

He said: “Why Don’t You Stay for Tonight is a music video where the ghosts suffered in life but now, in death, they party all night, and we’ve flipped the style halfway through from a typical ghost story aesthetic to a more retro-futuristic approach.

“The film came to life thanks to an incredibly passionate crew and it grew far beyond my original expectations, but special thanks goes to Yegor Chmilewsky – the director of photography, VFX supervisor, co-editor and composer of the music – whose help has been invaluable throughout.”

A picture taken during production of Why Don't You Stay for Tonight. Picture: ARU
Yegor Chmilewsky. Picture: ARU

Dr Catherine Elliott, course leader for the MA film and television production at ARU, said: “Guilherme Pires, Yegor Chmilewsky and Christopher Buckenham were all part of the production team that won a Royal Television Society East of England award earlier this year for Eternity’s Grace and we’re delighted their skills are now receiving wider attention at the RTS national awards for Why Don't You Stay for Tonight, which is an exceptional piece of filmmaking.”

Sinead Rocks, Channel 4 managing director for Nations & Regions, and chair of the RTS Student Television Awards, said: “Winning an RTS Student TV award is a real badge of honour on any CV and one that is taken incredibly seriously by professionals.”

ARU student Guilherme Pires directed, wrote and produced ‘Why Don't You Stay for Tonight’. Picture: ARU
A picture taken during production of Why Don't You Stay for Tonight. Picture: ARU

The RTS Student Television Awards 2024 are sponsored by 4Skills, Channel 4’s nationwide training and development strategy. The winners will be announced on 21 June.