Sleeping Lions – a short drama factually produced by Salford lecturer Julia Berg – scooped a top Royal Television Society (RTS) award at a ceremony in Manchester last month.
Julia, from the BA TV and Radio programme, was factual producer of the film, which was made for BBC2 by Libra Television and David & Goliath.
It won the prestigious Best Production (Craft) trophy at the RTS North West Awards 2015, beating Cucumber (Red Productions for Channel 4),Newzoids (Factory/Citrus TV for ITV) and Peter Kay’s Car Share(Goodnight Vienna Productions for BBC One).
Sleeping Lions was made to raise awareness of sexual abuse among teenagers, aged 13-16, and to encourage disclosure.
Julia said: “It is based on rigorous factual research, which involved months of interviews with survivors of sexual abuse as well as charities up and down the country, the police, social services, schools and academics.
“It was commissioned by the BBC to be shown in schools, with the support of teachers, and accompanied by a guide to classroom use.”
A gripping short drama, Sleeping Lions tells the story of Mia, an introverted 15-year-old, who has a dark secret that she has never shared for fear of destroying her mother’s happiness.
Written by BAFTA-winning Neil McKay, Sleeping Lions was nominated for three awards – Best Learning or Education programme in memory of Katy Jones, Best Production (Craft) and Best Performance in a single Drama or Drama Series (Female) for the young actress, Sorcha Groundsell, who plays a sexually abused teenager.
Julia added: “the credit really goes to David Barnes (Director) and Louise Lynch producer, who literally crafted this film so beautifully. But the whole team were so excited when we saw the camera pointing at our table and realised we had actually won.”
The RTS North West Awards 2015 took place at the Manchester Hilton on Saturday 14 November