22 Brits are signed-up to go to UNICA 2006 ... fewer than went in 2005, but
perhaps that's because the 2006 event will be held on the other side of the
world, in South Korea. That's very exciting but very expensive.
How would you like to spend a week's holiday in an interesting place, with
excellent company ... and top-knotch movies?
There are several festivals around the world which offer that. They all
have in common a relaxed timetable which lets you see lots of movies without
missing out on relaxation, conversation, eating, drinking, sight-seeing and
having fun. UNICA 2006 is probably too far away and too pricey to make a
good place to test the waters.
There are two alternatives: wait for UNICA 2007 in Slovakia - just 4 hours
flying time from UK ... or plan to head for the lovely Austrian mountains
in June and take in The Festival of Nations.
The Festival of Nations is like UNICA - it runs a week, around 120 movies
are pre-selected for viewing, a jury watches with the audience and goes on
stage two or three times a day to give their views on what they have seen.
There are little outings, barbecue, picnic and surprises.
The only catch is that jury discussions are mainly in German (though as I'm
on the jury in 2006 there will be a certain amount of English.) Of course
if you have a film in competition the jury will discuss it in English as
a matter of courtesy. For everything else you need no German ... 75% of the
people there have excellent English, most announcements are made in both
languages and there's always someone on hand to help if you need a translation.
There's a real community spirit at the festival. You make friends quickly.
The town in which it takes place is Ebensee - not a real tourist town in
summer so you don't have puff-candy stalls or postcard shops everywhere.
It is a nice working town that just happens to be in a stunning setting nestled
between mountains beside the beautiful Traunsee lake. The cable car runs
all year so you can get to the top for a walk and photo session quite easily.
(Or you could do what I do and get to the top for a healthy exercise in drinking
lager and wolfing down Apple-Strudel.)
The nearest airport is Salzburg, but you can get cheaper flights at sensible
times of day from Stansted to Linz or Graz. From there the excellent and
cheap railway service will whisk you through a range of Austrian scenery
to Ebensee.
Can you guess that I'm hooked on the event?
I know that for most Brits the notion of a week at a film festival is peculiar.
Yet you might go for a week's holiday skiing, fishing, cruising or exploring
Florida theme parks. Why not take your holiday where you can enjoy seeing
great amateur movies ... and still do all the holiday things like sunbathing,
over-indulging and having a good time?
Dave (looking forward to his holidays)