Press Release
DIRECTORS UK AND ARRI PRESENT MAGICAL CHALLENGE ALEXA-WINNING SHORT FILMS
16 May 2019
On Wednesday 15 May, Directors UK and ARRI joined forces to screen the latest Challenge ALEXA and Challenge TRINITY-winning short films at Vue West End, joined by a full house of fellow directors, industry professionals and friends and family.
Challenge ALEXA, a competition run by Directors UK and ARRI, gives winning directors access to ARRI shooting equipment for two days in order to create new and original short films. Created to encourage applications from the varied talent pool of Directors UK members, this year the competition called for members to pitch their ideas inspired by a new theme: magic.
Screening last night, the Challenge ALEXA-winning films included How Can I Forget by Natalia Andreadis, Unearthed by Emma Swinton, The Last Mermaid by Fi Kelly, Shawafa by Ashtar Al Khirsan, The Cunning Man by Zoe Dobson and Chips by Karen Kelly.
Amy-Jo Bryant, Events and Member Services Manager for Directors UK who also serves as Executive Producer for the ARRI Challenges said: “It is amazing to finally be able to share the work of our brilliant member directors. Through access to ARRI equipment, our members have once again been able to realise their vision by using some of the best technology in the business. Seeing the finished films on the big screen is testament to the power of our members’ creativity, and to the world-class ARRI equipment we’ve been able to use.”
ARRI’s Business Development Manager and Executive Producer for the ARRI Challenges Milan Krsljanin added: “Seeing how well winning directors and their cinematographers have embraced the creative potentials of Large Format cinematography throughout the competition has been marvellous. Making great use of our Signature Prime lenses, the directors have put their own aesthetic signatures on the screen. By harnessing the boundless possibilities of the TRINITY, we’ve seen them enhancing their narratives by choreographing impressive camera moves that reflect their ambition.”
Challenge TRINITY winners The Yearning by Isabel Anderton and A Bullet Wasted by George Milton opened the evening, with other Challenge TRINITY-winning films The Letter by Diego Barraza, Exit to Stage by Daphne Schmon and Emily Carlton, One by Luke Bradford and A Midwinter Night’s Dream by Martin Gooch having premiered at a screening in January. Challenge TRINITY tasks directors with creating a one-shot film in one day.
Directors UK remains committed to offering career-focused development opportunities, like the ARRI Challenges, to its members. Laura Adams, Head of Member Services for Directors UK said: “Through our partnership with ARRI, we are able to offer our members the chance to use the very best equipment without hiring fees. We believe that by offering real development opportunities for our members, we can create real change for directors by attempting to eliminate barriers to their career. By showcasing what they do best in the ARRI Challenges, they have another credit to their name, and another piece of work to carry them forward onto their next project.”
About Directors UK
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,000 members - the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About ARRI
Arnold & Richter Cine Technik (ARRI) is a global company within the motion picture media industry, employing around 1,500 staff worldwide. The company was founded in 1917 in Munich, Germany, where the headquarters is still located today. Other subsidiaries exist in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
Directors UK is the professional association of UK screen directors. It is a membership organisation representing the creative, economic and contractual interests of over 7,000 members - the majority of working TV and film directors in the UK. Directors UK collects and distributes royalty payments and provides a range of services to members including campaigning, commercial negotiations, legal advice, events, training and career development. Directors UK works closely with fellow organisations around the world to represent directors’ rights and concerns, promotes excellence in the craft of direction and champions change to the current landscape to create an equal opportunity industry for all.
About ARRI
Arnold & Richter Cine Technik (ARRI) is a global company within the motion picture media industry, employing around 1,500 staff worldwide. The company was founded in 1917 in Munich, Germany, where the headquarters is still located today. Other subsidiaries exist in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Australia.
The ARRI Group consists of five business units: Camera Systems, Lighting, Media, Rental, and Medical. ARRI is a leading designer and manufacturer of camera and lighting systems for the film and broadcast industry, with a worldwide distribution and service network. It is also an integrated media service provider in the fields of film post- and coproduction, international sales, as well as equipment rental, supplying camera, lighting, and grip packages to professional productions. ARRI Medical focuses on the use of core imaging technologies for surgical applications.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized ARRI’s engineers and their contributions to the industry with 19 Scientific and Technical Awards.
Author
