IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

At the British International Amateur Film Festival 2006 this weekend ...
the top prize, the Daily Mail Trophy, went to Urbain Appletans and Magda
Verbist for their film 'Hannah' ... neatly described by John Astin as being
set in Enid Blyton land - a rich, saturated colour landscape like your dreams
of childhood, placed in the vague past. A charming tale of a disgruntled
little girl and a wise grandma. It was a very popular choice.

Much controversy about experimental film 'Nothing Girl'. Much admiration
for the feature-length crime movie 'The Team'.

Praise from many of our overseas visitors for the quality of the meals !!!

IAC Fellowships were presented to Peter Copestake, Alice Dunckley and Tom
Hardwick.

The UNICA Medal for contribution to the film making cause went to Brian and
Alice Dunckley.

A special framed certificate went to Finchley Cinevideo Society to mark their
75th year.

Otherwise there were lots of delights ...

Dave

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

At the British International Amateur Film Festival 2006 this weekend ...
Dave

Did you have a good time?
Did you enjoy it?
Please tell us all the gossip!

Ian Gardner

What a great turnout on Sunday! Talk about bums on seats - we could hardly
breathe in, the chairs were so tightly packed together. Such breath-taking
variety in films, from the wierd to the wonderful, from one minute to 100
minutes, from the happy to the sad. One of the good thing about amateur
movies is you haven't a clue what's coming next; it adds greatly to the anticipation.

The video projection was excellent, with switching between 4:3 and 16:9 to
show the films at their best. What doesn't look so good now is to see a
relatively small and wrinkly screen for such a huge room and distinguished
audience, and it was suggested to me that we might investigate getting a
wide screen supplied as 'sponsorship' for the next three-day event. The
sheer picture quality available now would suggest that bigger will indeed
be better.

Great to meet you all yesterday. The day isn't long enough.

tom.

"Ian Gardner" <ian@gardner44.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

At the British International Amateur Film Festival 2006 this weekend ...
Dave

Did you have a good time?
Did you enjoy it?
Please tell us all the gossip!

Ian Gardner


We had a fantastic time, Ian and I watched your film "Insomnia". I enjoyed

it very very much. Congratulations ! You are a very creative filmmaker !
I could feel that you have enjoyed making it.

I had a chat with Ken Wilson and Michael Slowe as well, two enthusiastic
filmmakers who write messages for this forum from time to time. It was pleasant
to talk to British friends.

Ian, next year Biaff is in Tunbridge Wells. That's not so far from the Isle
of Wight ...
Cheers.
Willy

"Willy Van der Li nden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:

"Ian Gardner" <ian@gardner44.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

At the British International Amateur Film Festival 2006 this weekend ...
Dave

Did you have a good time?
Did you enjoy it?
Please tell us all the gossip!

Ian Gardner


We had a fantastic time, Ian and I watched your film "Insomnia". I enjoyed
it very very much. Congratulations ! You are a very creative filmmaker !
I could feel that you have enjoyed making it.

Thank you Willy. I LOVE making films. It was my first `proper` story film.
I love filming shots from different angles. Unfortunatly, my video camera
isn`t so good at low light. It produces very grainy pictures. I`m looking
in the long run to get a decent camera. Maybe the SONY that has 3CCD, Widescreen
and HI Def! All for about £2000. Great value.
I`m glad you enjoyed it.

I had a chat with Ken Wilson and Michael Slowe as well, two enthusiastic
filmmakers who write messages for this forum from time to time. It was pleasant
to talk to British friends.

I will hope to go next year.

Ian, next year Biaff is in Tunbridge Wells. That's not so far from the Isle
of Wight ...

40 minutes on the Car Ferry and about an hour on my motorbike if I push it!
My auntie lives in Folkstown so I could stay with here, but no drinking at
the festival then!

Cheers.
Willy

Ian Gardner

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

At the British International Amateur Film Festival 2006 this weekend ...
the top prize, the Daily Mail Trophy, went to Urbain Appletans and Magda
Verbist for their film 'Hannah' ...

British food is bad ! Our Belgian cuisine is much better ! That's what most
Belgians think. Indeed, Dave, not only the gala dinner was excellent, but
also the meals on Friday night and on Sunday. We had a spacious room with
a wide view on the City of Bedford with its river Ouse and its swans. It
was a unique view from the seventh floor ! (In Belgium swans must stay inside.
You cannot see any swans on our canals in Bruges at this moment.)

Needless to say that Urbain Appeltans was very proud. Please write "Appel"
instead of "Apple". So, it's "Appeltans", not "Appletans". You're too British,
Dave ! Not only "Hannah" is a fantastic film - He made that one together
with his actress Magda Verbist -, but also his "Cinemascope" and so were
his "Dimato" and his "Prinsje" some years ago. I'm a chauvinist (and also
an anglophile), but I think that I may say that he deserved it.

The films that I enjoyed very much ? I enjoyed all films, but in particular
"La Battaglia Delle Arance" (Karin & Bernard Hausberger from Austria), "Packin'
It In" (Emile de Gruiter & Hilbert Nijzink from The Netherlands), "Extinction
Event" (Alan Atkinson, Rugby), "Living in the Past" (a film about Rome made
by Michael Gough from Sunderland), "Reasons" (Alan Colegrave from Middlesex).
Also "U 482" (by Preston Movie Makers)was a wonderful film and so was the
one minute movie "Plan B" (C.M. Atkins from West Midlands). These films
were shown on Sunday (The Award Winners Show), but I also enjoyed some films
that were screened on Saturday, for instance "How the Time Flies" (Uwe Germar
from Germany). A fantastic film with a length of only 5 minutes, but what
a photography and such a powerful story ! I was also lucky that I could see
"Rhythm in Steam" (Geoff Caudwell from Derby),"Encounter" (Ken Wilson from
West Yorkshire) and last but not least "Working Venice" (John Astin from
Herts). John always makes travelogues that are not boring. That is not easy
! I always admire the narration (personal commentary) in his films. Some
friends told me that "Nexus" made by the young and friendly Dutch filmmaker
Berry Van der Vorst (who was in Bedford) is excellent.

Next year BIAFF will be in Tunbridge Wells, the town of John Nash and the
Pantiles. It's in "The Garden of England" !, the place where my English friend
Brian Higbee lived for about 35 years. Maybe I could invite him as well next
year... And Tunbridge Wells not so far from the continent.

I would also like to take the opportunity to thank all my British friends
(in particular Alice and Brian Dunckley) for their extraordinary hospitality.
They were very very helpful. Also Urbain knows what it means... : English
hospitality, the willingness to help people . BIAFF was great ! Vera and
I had a wonderful weekend !

I cannot argue with any of the comments on BIAFF. It was a great success -
the Sunday programme was a gem. Brian Dunckley had, of course, to try to
show as many of the International standard winners as possible. He cannot
control what films are entered or which ones the judges choose. But he did
arrange them in an excellent sequence.

First NOTHING GIRL which boldly begins using just a strip of image across
the foot of the screen and includes many deliberately out-of-focus shots.
That got debate going which lasted all day and probably much of the evening
too.

Then BIYIK a comic fantasy starting from the idea that everyone in Turkey
has a big moustache: men, women and children. It went on to tell a little
tale of love, loss and reconciliation. It charmed most people.

U482 followed with Preston Moviemakers proving that it is possible to make
a convincing submarine from the carboard centres of carpet rolls, old electrical
parts and a lot of ingenuity.

THE BATTLE OF ORANGES was a documentary about an event you might think was
fiction: a town carnival where people fight by throwing oranges at one another
... for three days! Film makers Karin and Bernhard Hausberger were often
right in the thick of it, being battered and bruised by flying fruit.

Then came a welcome tea/coffee break.

The second part of the morning was devoted to the stunning feature-length
movie THE TEAM by John Curran. Nothing in this fast-moving tale of a violent
gang of robbers was done by halves. Lots of locations, lots of explosions,
fire-fights and a wealth of characters. It was a stunning achievement.

After a break for lunch or a windy stroll by the river ...

CONFIDENTIALLY - Ken & Carol Wilson's psycho-drama featuring Narelle Summers
in a role which won her the best acting award. Making a monologue visually
interesting was an impressive piece of film making. For me there was one
moment which might have got a laugh in a lesser work, but here thanks to
the impact of photography and performance just earned a gasp. (I cannot say
more without spoiling the film for those yet to see it.)

Next, easing the tension, came THE GRAND SALE was another of Tana Fletcher's
puppet animations about the characters in Willoughby Drive. Sadly injuries
caused by a fall a couple of weeks ago prevented Tana being present.

A good laugh was earned by Clive Atkins's PLAN B ... next year the one-minute
movies will be judged by audience vote and if he can match that standard,
Clive must be in with a good chance of the prize.

Having got us thoroughly relaxed, Brian then threw at us PACKIN' IT IN -
a character study of two 20-something people. Their marriage has broken down,
he has a new girl and his ex-partner is supposed to quit the house. They
flip between anger and careful politness to one another in performances and
dialogue that was wholly convincing. It was our second study of women suffering
for love and ended with a bang.

After that we needed something calmer. Brian gave it to us in Urbain Appeltans's
HANNAH. A simple tale, set in an idyllic past but based on truths about human
nature which are timeless. As soon as it ended one film maker leaned over
and whispered to me: "We've seen the winner - and it deserves it completely."
When the top prize was announced at the end of the show, he was proved right.
What impressed me was that he was the maker of another film which was also
in the running for the Daily Mail Trophy.

To follow Urbain's rich colours would have been difficult but Brian picked
LITTLE WONDERS OF NATURE which featured glorious colours in a simple but
beautiful study of the wildlife in Florent Van Opstal's garden. On paper
having two Belgian films together may have seemed strange, but it was the
perfect choice.

Then having relaxed us, Brian hit us with REASONS a powerful tale told in
the style of a tv investigation interviewing people and piecing together
just by their conflicting and biased accounts pictures of events which formal
official enquiries failed to reveal. It was all too credible and took us
into the dark side of human character.

Again the pace was changed as we delighted in the music and cutting of MAKING
MUSIC by Tristam Thomas which took the youth award. It allowed us inside
Abbey Road recording studios where he showed the intense concentration of
a session orchestra making the soundtrack for a feature film.

To round off the show came Alan Atkinson's latest story of his pig-farming
hero, EXTINCTION EVENT - this time our hero spotted a coment coming to destroy
the Earth - and eventually found an unlikely solution. It is packed with
jokes visual and verbal, many with a special twist for British amateur film
makers. It brought us to a laughter filled conclusion of the screenings.

Thanks, Brian, for such a masterly structuring of the shows. Thanks all
the makers for such amazing, powerful movies.

Dave

"Dave Watterson" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

Just a quickie to let you all know ...

IAC Fellowships were presented to Peter Copestake, Alice Dunckley and Tom
Hardwick.

The UNICA Medal for contribution to the film making cause went to Brian
and
Alice Dunckley.

A special framed certificate went to Finchley Cinevideo Society to mark
their
75th year.

Otherwise there were lots of delights ...


I think you have forgotten to mention Kenneth Seeger, Dave. In Dutch we say

: he's a monument in the IAC. "A legend" in English ? Something I would like
to add myself : BIAFF is an international festival with a world wide reputation
... also thanks to a bearded man who has his roots somewhere in Scotland.
He promotes BIAFF everywhere in Europe and he does quite a lot behind the
scenes to encourage film makers to take part in and to attend BIAFF.

"Willy Van der Linden" wrote:

I think you have forgotten to mention Kenneth Seeger, Dave.

He received the certificate on behalf of Finchley Cinevideo Society which
marked their 75th anniversary. He did not get a personal award this time.
You may also have noticed a lady walking with a stick. She was Muriel Agius,
another long-serving member of the Finchley club, whose husband was also
an important IAC Council member for many years.

Mind you, of Kenneth,I could agree with you that

he's a monument in the IAC. "A legend" in English ?

As for getting Urbain's second name wrong - that is entirely my fault. Maybe
I think of his rosy, happy face as being like an apple. I do apologise.

Michael's note reminds me that Urbain was in tears when the Daily Mail Trophy
was announced. On my way to take a photo he emerged from the crowd and we
met ... and spontaneously hugged each other. I know it was also a special
joy for him to receive the award from our President, Val Ellis for whom he
has a specially deep affection. In the year of his film PRINSJE featuring
a tortoise - or rather a whole team of tortoises - he presented her with
a model one, which she treasures.

Dave

"tom hardwick" <tomh@rdwick.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

The video projection was excellent, with switching between 4:3 and 16:9
to
show the films at their best. What doesn't look so good now is to see a
relatively small and wrinkly screen for such a huge room and distinguished
audience, and it was suggested to me that we might investigate getting a
wide screen supplied as 'sponsorship' for the next three-day event. The
sheer picture quality available now would suggest that bigger will indeed
be better.

Great to meet you all yesterday. The day isn't long enough.

tom.
Agreed, as long as we can see the bottom of the screen from all parts of

the auditorium, essential when there are sub-titles,
Otherwise, thanks to all who gave me such a marvelous time.
Peter.

"Peter Copestake" <copestak@fish.co.uk> wrote:

"tom hardwick" <tomh@rdwick.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:

The video projection was excellent, with switching between 4:3 and 16:9
to
show the films at their best. What doesn't look so good now is to see
a
relatively small and wrinkly screen for such a huge room and distinguished
audience, and it was suggested to me that we might investigate getting
a
wide screen supplied as 'sponsorship' for the next three-day event. The
sheer picture quality available now would suggest that bigger will indeed
be better.

Great to meet you all yesterday. The day isn't long enough.

tom.
Agreed, as long as we can see the bottom of the screen from all parts of
the auditorium, essential when there are sub-titles,
Otherwise, thanks to all who gave me such a marvelous time.
Peter.

I agree that the standard was extremely high as usual (which it should be
as it is one of the best festivals in the world, amateur or professional).
Brian and company did a fabulous job organising it, and it was, as usual,
a marvellous social occasion, providing an opportunity for film makers and
enthusiasts to meet and have a great time seeing a superb selection of films.
This is really the best reason for having a festival. I was absolutely delighted
that Urbain Appeltans was awarded the Daily Mail trophy, as he is one of
the truly great amateur film makers, unsurpassed when it comes to producing
films that really involve an audience and have a wonderful "feel good factor"
with a stunningly naturalistic style and truly brilliant seemless and "invisible"
editing. The presentation of the films was very good, although I would emphasise
the importance of raising the screen as high as is possible in the auditorium,
in order that all of the screen is visible to everybody in the audience,
particularly when there are subtitles. Overall, it was another superb festival
weekend, with a very high standard of entries, and everybody involved in
the organisation and presentation of the event should be justifiably proud
of their work.

Richard Rouillard