South East Technological University (SETU) and NEMETON TV enjoyed another standout year at the Student Media Awards. Students of the Higher Diploma in Television and Media Production secured 13 nominations across three categories for short films, while securing two major wins.
Victor Bayda
Victor Bayda won the Údaras na Gaeltachta Award for Léiriúcháin Teilifíse i nGaeilge - Faisnéis agus Drámaíocht for his imaginative and compelling short documentary Aniar Aneas.
Victor is a fluent Irish-speaker from Russia now living with his family on the Iveragh Peninsula in Kerry. His film takes us on a moving journey around the area exploring where it was once linguistically rich with Irish speakers over 100 years ago. By the 1980s the language had sadly almost disappeared, but Victor is now part of an important revival of the language in his work with the community organsiation Comhchoiste Ghaeltacht Uíbh Ráthaigh.
Deir sé: “Is onóir dom an gradam seo a fháil agus táim an-bhuíoch leis na moltóirí, le foireann iontach ar fad Nemeton TV, atá ag forbairt na Gaeltachta, a chruthaigh an cúrsa seo agus a thug an-chabhair agus an-spreagadh dúinn, le hOllscoil Teicneolaíochta an Oirdheiscirt as an cúrsa seo a óstáil, le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta as an tacaíocht maoinithe don chúrsa, le muintir Uíbh Ráthaigh atá mé dóchasach atá sásta leis an tslí ar inis mé a scéal, agus buíochas ar leith le mo bhean chéile Kira as an tuiscint agus as an gcabhair ar fad atá sí a thabhairt dom.”
Andrea Foley
Rising star animator and filmmaker Andrea Foley from Dungarvan, Co Waterford won the TG4 Bloc Gearrfhíseán Dátheangach na Bliana 2025 for her unique short film Peadar ar Thine. Andrea describes her film as an icebreaker into understanding your friendly, local drag artist.
Delighted with this reward for her hard work, she says: “I am so happy to have won at the National Student Media Awards. Thank you to all the staff at SETU and Nemeton TV for your support and thank you to the drag community for being so welcoming.”
Thirteen nominees
Other documentaries nominated included Fermoy’s Margaret O Brien, who created a moving exploration of her grandmother Mary Rice Kent, mother of Thomas Kent, who was one of the leaders of the 1916 Rising. Artist Éamon Wall from Co Waterford was also nominated for his historical documentary on Waterford poet Pádraig Ó Miléada, who wrote the famous song Sliabh Geal gCua na Féile.
Drama films from SETU which were nominated on the big night included former winner Cassie Kirby from Dungarvan, Co Waterford for her quirky vampire story An Mhian, and Fionn Barron’s Liombó, a humorous take on Irish language miscommunication with immigration officers.
Dominating the SMEDIAS
“For almost two decades SETU has been dominating at the SMEDIAS in these categories and many of award winning the short films can be viewed on the TG4 Player in the series CÉAD SEANS,” says Dr Moira Sweeney, Stiúrthóir Cúrsa, An tArd Dioplóma I Léiriú Teilfíse agus na Meán.
Dr Sweeney continues, “There is good news for anyone interested in directing and editing short drama, documentary film or digital marketing content. The course will commence again in September 2025 with an exciting and innovative blend of practical workshops and online classes. The eight-month course is uniquely tailored to the needs of students who wish to develop their skills while working. The high-quality films produced are broadcast on TG4’s series Céad Seans and achieve recognition at festivals around Ireland. They have been winning at the National Student Media Awards since 2014.”
Partnership with Nemeton TV
The Higher Diploma in Arts in Television and Media Production is run by SETU in association with Nemeton TV, one of Ireland’s leading production companies, and Udarás na Gaeltachta. The next course commences in September 2025. For more details see SETU’s website by clicking here.
The full list of SETU nominees include:
LÉIRIÚCHÁIN TEILIFÍSE I NGAEILGE – FAISNÉIS AGUS DRÁMAÍOCHT 2025:
- Aniar Aneas by Victor Bayda WINNER
- Mary Rice Kent by Margaret O Brien
- Sliabh gCua na Féile by Éamon Wall
- Tinman & an Banphrionsa by Darrell McCrone
- An Mhian by Cassie Kirby
TG4 BLOC GEARRFHÍSEÁN DÁTHEANGACH NA BLIANA 2025
- Peadar ar Thine by Andrea Foley WINNER
- Liombó by Fionn Barron
- Céimeanna Trí Gaeilge by Ellen Coughlan
- Huartan by Ainle Ó Cairealláin
- Eitilt i bPáirc an Fhionnuisce by Penelope Kipps
- Rocket Woman by Tomás McCarthy
TV PRODUCTION OF THE YEAR 2025
- Aniar Aneas by Victor Bayda
- Mary Rice Kent by Margaret O Brien
- Sliabh gCua na Féile by Éamon Wall
