See student talent shine at the Sparkies

Published on 16, July, 2024

The University of Sunderland has celebrated the creativity of its students at this year’s Sparkies awards.

The event shines a light on the success, efforts and achievements of undergraduates and postgraduates across the University’s media courses, featuring a range of categories, including audio, TV, film, post-production and sustainability.

University of Sunderland MA Radio, Audio and Podcasting graduates Endurance Idowu and Jay Sykes hosted the red carpet event at the Fire Station in Sunderland. 

Winners on the night were: 

• Best Audio Documentary - Glass Children - Bobbi Bunker
• Best Audio Drama - Void - Aisha Adebayo, Dylan Burrows, Jacques De Fournas and Stuart Gibson
• Best Podcast - Behind the Scenes - Gracie Seales
• Best Animated Film or Visual Effects - Project Adron - Ben Lawson
• Best Commercial Project - The Book Sanctuary Launch - Fionna Lee, Gong Zhi Chieng, Hongi Huang, Reese Harris and Ian Law 
• Best Live or As Live Production - The Academy Angel - Tristan Stephenson, Sean Chapman, Adrian O'Byrne and Callum Jacques 
• Best Factual Film - Another Me - Muhamman Luqman bin Azain, Gong Zhi Chieng, Hongji Huang, Fu Yu So and Shaun Fong Yugendran
• Best Non-Factual Film - One Foot Out the Door - Dylan Drury, Ian Law, Reese Harris, Jamie Jackson, Fiona Lee, Abidemi Praise Omopariola, Victoria Clark and Ruihao Wang 
• Best Editing - Another Me - Hongji Huang
• Best Cinematography - Another Me - Gong Zhi Chieng

• Best Sound Design - Dream Oddity - Joah Verat
• Best Script - Dream Oddity - Adam Gilmore
• Best Director - One Foot Out the Door - Dylan Dury
• Best Producer - Old Love - Reese Harris

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award - Muhammad Luqman bin Azian
• Sustainability Award - The Way Back - Kevin Gatens and Sam Barlow
• Best Overall Postgraduate Project (Audio) - Nothing Ever Happened Near Me - Meg Percival
• Best Overall Postgraduate Project (Film) - When the Light Turns Red
• Best Overall Undergraduate Project - One Foot Out the Door
• Best Newcomer - Jake Fletcher
• Student of the Year - Fionna Lee

Opening the ceremony, Lee Hall, Head of School of Media and Communications at the University of Sunderland, said: “This venue is a glittering example of the great things happening in our city right now. Sunderland is undergoing cultural transformation, becoming a 5G Smart City. Soon, we expect, it will be home to one of the biggest film and high-end television production facilities in Europe, Crown Works Studios. 

“But all of this is nothing without the talent and energy of creative people. People like you.

“Whether or not you are nominated, whether or not you win on this occasion, we are so proud to have supported you on your journey and we hope your experiences at the University of Sunderland will shape you and serve you well.”

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