Over 450 programme makers, commissioners, supporters and executives attended the event alongside a host of presenters and celebrities. The ceremony and dinner celebrated all aspects of media production in the region - from television shows to on-line programmes and video games.
The RTS North East and Borders Awards is the biggest media event in the region, honouring achievements in TV production, online programmes and video games and were expertly hosted by Steph McGovern, popular business presenter on BBC Breakfast.
Among those presenting awards was Teesside-born Stephen Tompkinson and winners included Robson Green's Tales from Northumberland, which took the best factual award. Gina McGee won the Performance of The Year category for her role as mum Pauline in Hebburn, beating Brenda Blethyn for Vera and Elaine Cassidy for The Paradise. Vera from ITV Studios won the award for Best Drama.
Saville sponsored the Professional Excellence for Photography category, presented on the night by sales and marketing director Ed Everard. Apart from one enforced absence, Ed has attended every single event since the first in 1987.
Against a starcloth backdrop, a large, curved screen of PixelMesh LED panels was built on stage to display all the category sponsors' logo graphics. Two 8000 lumen Barco HD projectors and 12ft wide side screens were used for the video clips and live camera feeds. A recorded output was also supplied for the BBC and ITV Tyne Tees News to use the following night.
Saville regional events manager Sara McKenzie said, "We are extremely proud to have supported this event every year since it began. It's good to see the many successful major productions, from dramas to animations, produced by the talented people in the north east."
RTS technical producer Lucy Jolly replied: "A big thank you for everything, both on the night and in the run-up to the Awards. Everything looked great and went smoothly, which is no mean feat as it is quite a big production to pull off successfully. We've had lots of positive comments about the event and many people have said how fantastic they thought the LED screen looked."
(Jim Evans)
