Short and Sweet has teamed up with Getty Images to launch a film challenge with a twist.
Getty Images approached producer Basil Stephens and Short and Sweet founder Julia Stephenson with the idea of setting up a film competition which would make use of images in Getty's Hulton Archive. Stephenson drew from her in-depth knowledge of the short film arena to suggest a selection of talented filmmakers.
After picking out ten up-and-coming directors, she gave them the opportunity to pitch. Four of the filmmakers made it on to the shortlist and got the chance to realise their ideas. They were given three months to create their films.
The challenges aim was to highlight the breadth and depth of content available at the Hulton Archive, which offers a unique resource to filmmakers and creatives alike. But rather than set a rigid brief, the challenge offered key words and phrases as prompters to guide the filmmakers creativity. Examples of these prompters included discover our past, images that shape our future, still & moving imagery, ordinary people, ordinary things and extraordinary people, extraordinary things.

more info at www.tomjudd.co.uk/bruce

I Stood Up was the winner of the 2008 Smoke and Mirrors 48 Hour Film Competition. It was also Runner Up Best Newcomer at Rushes Film Festival and has been broadcast several times on the BBC HD channel. It was screened at the BFI in Summer 2009 and has since been on an international tour with the OneDotZero Adventures in Motion festival.

The film was based around the word "luck" and it alludes to the 7/7 London tube bombings. It shows a man as he deals with survivor's guilt after giving up his seat to a fellow passenger on that tragic day in July.

Giving up your seat on your daily commute to somebody who is less able is seen as common courtesy. But what if this simple act becomes a matter of life or death?

Written/Directed: Lucy Tcherniak and James Willis
Cinematography: Zac Halberd
Editor: Anina Simpson
Art Director: Lindy Anderson
Music: Christian Howes

Lead actor: Simon Tcherniak

Official Video for White Corolla by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
Advance Base Battery Life CD/LP out February 10, 2009 on Tomlab Records
Directed by: Julia Pott
Animated by: Julia Pott and Robin Bushell