IAC DISCUSSION FORUMS

It's a thought, Howard. On the other hand, Jan often points out that it is much easier for judges to use just three categories. If necessary each of those categories could be assessed by separate judges and split into 3. That is more-or-less what happened in the past. On one weekend judges would do ...

After the first two days of BIAFF (online) ... what did you think?

Howard Smith made a comment on the lines of: "This evening we can see what a wide range the "three star" category encompasses."

Was that enough to cover the different qualities of film on offer?

I will look forward to seeing it there ... and expect it will get a very good rating. UNICA juries are not easily baffled by unusual film themes.

To be fair ... most of us will only see a film once. If it does not achieve its aim in that screening, it has failed. Of course there are a few which are worth a second screening. I have to subtitle the films we send to the UNICA Festival. That painstaking process often reveals subtleties I missed o...

The longer I reflect on this issue, the more I wonder if it arose because of a long-standing division among enthusiasts. Some love the technical and mechanical side of film making. Others love the aesthetics and art.

This is why many great amateur films included both types of people in their team.

There was a stage when both the Kodak Colour Show (with Tony Rose) and LIAFF (forerunner to BIAFF) went on the road. They enlisted the help of local clubs to bring films to regions far from London.

For both commercial and amateur "silent" movies, music was usually played to give general support to the themes. The video era made it significantly easier to record lip-synch and - crucially - to play it back perfectly. It did take a year or so before most amateur film makers came to grip...

Hurrah!

There was a time when an Albert Noble animation was held in high regard in IAC circles - not to mention the one which played a supporting role in commercial cinemas !

I am also deeply disappointed at the star-rating for ELISE ... but I was not a judge this year.

The IAC is a registered charity. People tend to forget that. It does not exist to give its members special treatment. Its purpose is to be educational for the general public who are interested. For that reason it would be risky to give the critique service only to IAC members. The crits (for better ...

I have been unsure about how to respond to this message from Willy. At the personal level, Jan and I will be very sorry not to meet Willy and Vera again as we have often done in the past. The same will be true of his many friends in British film making. We have many happy memories, and were delighte...

The star ratings and more are now live in http://www.biaff.org.uk

Entrants should receive their award notices and judges' comments on Thursday 29th. The BIAFF website will list the results later, to give time for all entrants to receive their news first. The nominations for special awards will be listed on the website, but the winners will not be announced until t...

For clarification: Entrants should receive on Thursday 29th February their star rating awards, judges' comments and certificates. They will also be advised if they have been nominated for a category award. The category awards will be announced and presented as part of the BIAFF dinner and awards sh...

They are not ALL depressing ... but I take your point.

Is it that top-class film makers tend to gravitate towards serious subjects? There are usually lots of club comedies in the 2 and 3 star awards.