Stirling documentary makers land double victory at national TV awards

Film and Media students from the University of Stirling are winners for the fourth year in a row at the Royal Television Society (RTS) Scotland Student Television Awards.

Students from the 2025 Documentary Production module at Stirling won both Best Short Form Factual and Best Long Form Factual at a ceremony in Glasgow on Thursday, 26 March.

Ben and Nathan McQuaid, Dylan Antscherl and Jack Cunningham made Turning the Tide about the charity Autism on the Water, which has given hundreds of autistic children sailing experience.

Maisie Pirrie, Kyle Bruce, Cairnie Glaister and Greta Martin produced Sumo Like a Scotsman about Scott Findlay, president of Scottish and British Sumo.

Absolute highlight

Maisie Pirrie, director of Sumo Like a Scotsman, said: “It’s amazing to see the documentary getting recognised in such a way.

“A huge thank you to Dario [Sinforiani, Head of Production Teaching] and all the staff [at the University of Stirling] for the amazing help and guidance throughout, as well as Scott Findlay and the Clan Sumo family for being so amazing throughout.

“Making this documentary was an absolute highlight of my time at Stirling, and it’s something I will look back fondly on for a long time.”

Very happy

Ben McQuaid, director of Turning the Tide, said: “We are very happy to have won this award. In telling Murray's story, we wanted to make a film that pushed us as a group, tested us as filmmakers and told a story just as ambitious as the lives of our contributors.

“We were inspired that we got to make a documentary that allowed us to meet so many new people and film in locations across the country.

“We’re very thankful to the staff [at the University of Stirling] for allowing us to make such a film and for teaching us many of the skills required to do it right.

“Getting to make this film and tell the story of Murray, Kirsty and of the lives touched by Autism on the Water has been something we are all very proud of.”

Proud record

Since 2023, Stirling students have won eleven RTS Scotland Awards, including four consecutive best Long Form Factual gongs.

Professor Dario Sinforiani, Head of Production Teaching, said: “Teaching and technical staff in production are delighted that films produced by Stirling students have again been recognised by industry judges to be the best in Scotland.

“We are very proud of the long track record of success for Stirling students, and these two films are outstanding examples of the quality of work that they can produce. These films tell important stories in creative, engaging and very impactful ways.”