Cannock student in film contest shortlist

A Cannock film student has been shortlisted for a prestigious short movie award.

The film which James Sieradzki made for £50 will be judged by actress Thandie Newton and directors Mike Newell and Duncan Jones in the Virgin Media Shorts awards

James, aged 21, of Sherbrook Road, has a chance of winning the grand prize of £30,000 funding in the annual short film competition which celebrates the best up-and-coming British film talent.

The Staffordshire University student is one of 12 shortlisted directors. His short film Blind Luck was among 1,600 films that were submitted. The winning film will be announced at a ceremony in central London on October 5.

Blind Luck tells the story of a man working a late shift at a newsagent when a blind man comes in to try his luck on a scratch card. The plot developed from James' own curiosity about the moral dilemma one might face in this situation. "I'd never have expected to get this far after having a go at the last minute and making a film in a couple of hours, all on a £50 budget," he said.

To see James's film and vote for him visit www.virginmediashorts.co.uk