Two Arts University Bournemouth undergraduates have been named among three winners of a national creative award for their short films submitted during lockdown.

AUB Students Robert Kiernander and Udochukwu Emeka-Okafor, along with Zoe Storer, from the University for the Creative Arts, have been crowned this years winners of the annual EIZO Student Award.

This year's judges include photographers, videographers and a journalist, including Tim Flach, a London-based animal photographer, Alistair Taylor-Young an esteemed British photographer and film director and Helen Jennings, an editor, curator and co-founder of award-winning media brand Nataal.

Robert Kiernander’s work ‘Hours Worth’ is about the brief of tragedy, and how Covid-19 has affected Robert in his local area.

The photographs included in his piece are documents of his one hours worth of exercise allowed during lockdown and was chosen by Alistair Taylor-Young as his favourite entry.

On winning the award Robert said: “I am over the moon to have a work placement with Alistair Taylor-Young, and gain valuable experience and knowledge and thank you for selecting my work for this year’s competition.”

Considered one of the nation’s most prestigious student creative awards, the EIZO Student Award, run by leading visual technology solutions company EIZO Limited, was open to both film and photography entries.

The award had a record number of submissions from around the country for this their fourth annual competition.

Arts University Bournemouth student Udochukwu Emeka-Okafor’s film ‘Beings’, which comments on masculinity and feminity through androgynous fashion, was selected by Helen Jennings.

On winning the award Udochukwu said: “I am over the moon to be one of the winners of the 2020 EIZO Student Award! This is a huge achievement for me.

“The more I learn about photography and film, the more passionate I become about developing my career within the industry. I look forward to my work placement with Helen Jennings, whose work I very much admire. Thanks again to EIZO for this invaluable opportunity!”

Each student will receive an EIZO ColorEdge CG279X monitor and a placement opportunity at one of the judges’ studios.

Hayley Osborne, Head of Marketing and Communications for EIZO Limited, said: "We are always blown away by the exceptionally high standard of work entered and wanted to say an enormous thank you to all those involved, in what has been an unusual year.

“The amount of entries received during lockdown shows how creativity always shines through.

"A massive congratulations to Robert, Udochukwu and Zoe on being the 2020 winners for their amazing work and we wish them all the very best on their placements, which will give them a kick-start into a successful career in the creative industry."