Promotional film for Arsenal's Charity of the Season, TreeHouse, shortlisted for international award

Pockets, the promotional video for Arsenals Charity of the Season, TreeHouse starring Arsène Wenger and several Arsenal players was shortlisted for a Cannes Film Lion at Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival this week. The short film, produced and directed by advertising agency CHI&Partners was shot at Arsenals Training Ground and remarkably took less than six hours to shoot.

As part of the Be a Gooner. Be a Giver campaign, which ran throughout the last Premier League season to celebrate Arsenals partnership with TreeHouse the National Charity for Autism Education - Pockets was filmed in December 2007 and stars William Gallas, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas, Gael Clichy, Manuel Almunia, Nicklas Bendtner alongside the Arsenal Manager.

The esteemed Festival, renowned for rewarding the most creative work produced as part of advertising and communication campaigns, hosted four awards ceremonies this year during the six-day period and while Pockets didnt scoop a prize, being shortlisted within the Fundraising and Appeals category is a massive achievement for everyone involved with the project.
Account Director Ben Gillibrand of CHI&Partners said: Working with TreeHouse and Arsenal to create Pockets was hugely enjoyable for all involved. For the film to be nominated for a Cannes Film Lion in such a strong year is fantastic. Were thrilled for TreeHouse that the film has been recognised at the advertising industrys most prestigious festival.
The Be a Gooner. Be a Giver. campaign was launched in December 2007 to encourage everyone associated with Arsenal Football Club to make a contribution, no matter how small, to help reach the £250,000 target to fund sports facilities at TreeHouse School in north London. Pockets kicked off the campaign in true style and illustrated that all players and directors at the Club were donating a days pay to the campaign.
TreeHouse Chief Executive Ian Wylie said: We are delighted that Pockets was shortlisted for this years Cannes Lion award. The film played an important part in what has been a fantastic partnership with Arsenal Football Club. Not only has it raised TreeHouses profile considerably, but has also secured us with funds which will help us to transform, through education, the lives of many more children with autism and the lives of their families. We are also hugely grateful to CHI&Partners, the advertising agency which created Pockets, who have supported us for many years. Many congratulations to them and a huge thank you to Arsenal for their dedication over the past year.

Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger said: It was a lot of fun and a huge pleasure to star in Pockets and to now hear that it was shortlisted for a Cannes Lion award this week is amazing. We put in a very small amount of time and effort compared with those at the advertising agency and a massive congratulations should go to the team for their fantastic work.

Pockets was show on the big screens inside Emirates Stadium every matchday last season and is repeatedly featured on ad breaks on ArsenalTV. It can also be viewed on Arsenal.com and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpxwiqJ_txc.