Judges exhausted !
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:37 am
Many thanks, Competition Manager, for telling us that at BIAFF a combined
judging system session takes place at a single location over a weekend, when
all 18 judges work in teams of three - alternating after each session. I
think it's an excellent system and I've already promoted it in our regional
board of governors several times. I only thought that the British judges
took the films home. However, in Belgium nobody has the courage to change
it. They always say that it's even difficult to find 5 or 6 judges to form
a panel for two weekends of three days, judges who are obliged to watch at
least 120 films one after an other with an interval of two or three minutes
after each film. It gives them the time to write down their marks and to
write something on a sheet of paper. The filmmakers don't know what. There
are Belgian friends who read this forum from time to time. They know that
I'm not exaggerating. In my opinion there should be more respect for every
filmmaker, just like in Britain. It's ridiculous that a filmmaker works
on his 'work of art' for three, four months or even two or three years and
that a verdict is given in one or two minutes. It already happened that a
judge fell asleep. He was exhausted ! Watching films is very tiring for every
judge. It's normal that after 30 films they can't concentrate anymore. I
always enjoy films more as a viewer, as a member of the audience.
In Belgium the order of the films is always decided by drawing of lots. Imagine
that you have a fantastic film and that you are the very first to have your
film screened. In the beginning many judges hesitate. They don't know what
mark they should give. They don't have the courage to give gold already ...
Now I've been told that some leaders of the Belgian IAC, which is called
CvB and which is the national organisation for all photo and film clubs in
Flanders or the Dutch speaking part, have decided to force the organizers
of regional and national competitions to use a different system. More and
more Flemish filmmakers join NOVA, the Dutch IAC, because they hate the Belgian
system. Sorry for telling you all this. Perhaps you are not interested in
the systems that are used on the continent. I just want to emphasize that
I'm sure that all the British Film Festivals are the best in the world.
It's only a pity that the discussion about BIAFF-fees stopped very soon.
Dave wanted to know what we think about it. Only Ian replied and so did a
few other friends. Last week I met a Belgian friend who attended a British
Festival. He said that it was very expensive. 1 euro means 1 pound sterling
in Britain. That's the problem for foreigners. It should be 65 or 70 pence
! In the Middle Ages I organized trips to Kent, Scotland and Ireland. It
was easy to find enough people for one coach with 55 seats. I even had friends
whose names were on a "waiting-list". Now that's not possible anymore. Some
years ago I tried again. Someone had asked me to do so for his club of retired
people. Only 12 paid a deposit. Going to Greece or Turkey for 10 days is
much cheaper than going to the Garden of England for 4 or 5 days. That's
a pity of course. How interesting it would be to arrive at Royal Tunbridge
Wells in a coach with 55 Belgian friends ! I'm sure they would enjoy BIAFF
very much.
But of course the IAC can't change the value of the pound sterling. Our British
friends, however, have less reasons to stay at home. It's a film happening
that is unique !
judging system session takes place at a single location over a weekend, when
all 18 judges work in teams of three - alternating after each session. I
think it's an excellent system and I've already promoted it in our regional
board of governors several times. I only thought that the British judges
took the films home. However, in Belgium nobody has the courage to change
it. They always say that it's even difficult to find 5 or 6 judges to form
a panel for two weekends of three days, judges who are obliged to watch at
least 120 films one after an other with an interval of two or three minutes
after each film. It gives them the time to write down their marks and to
write something on a sheet of paper. The filmmakers don't know what. There
are Belgian friends who read this forum from time to time. They know that
I'm not exaggerating. In my opinion there should be more respect for every
filmmaker, just like in Britain. It's ridiculous that a filmmaker works
on his 'work of art' for three, four months or even two or three years and
that a verdict is given in one or two minutes. It already happened that a
judge fell asleep. He was exhausted ! Watching films is very tiring for every
judge. It's normal that after 30 films they can't concentrate anymore. I
always enjoy films more as a viewer, as a member of the audience.
In Belgium the order of the films is always decided by drawing of lots. Imagine
that you have a fantastic film and that you are the very first to have your
film screened. In the beginning many judges hesitate. They don't know what
mark they should give. They don't have the courage to give gold already ...
Now I've been told that some leaders of the Belgian IAC, which is called
CvB and which is the national organisation for all photo and film clubs in
Flanders or the Dutch speaking part, have decided to force the organizers
of regional and national competitions to use a different system. More and
more Flemish filmmakers join NOVA, the Dutch IAC, because they hate the Belgian
system. Sorry for telling you all this. Perhaps you are not interested in
the systems that are used on the continent. I just want to emphasize that
I'm sure that all the British Film Festivals are the best in the world.
It's only a pity that the discussion about BIAFF-fees stopped very soon.
Dave wanted to know what we think about it. Only Ian replied and so did a
few other friends. Last week I met a Belgian friend who attended a British
Festival. He said that it was very expensive. 1 euro means 1 pound sterling
in Britain. That's the problem for foreigners. It should be 65 or 70 pence
! In the Middle Ages I organized trips to Kent, Scotland and Ireland. It
was easy to find enough people for one coach with 55 seats. I even had friends
whose names were on a "waiting-list". Now that's not possible anymore. Some
years ago I tried again. Someone had asked me to do so for his club of retired
people. Only 12 paid a deposit. Going to Greece or Turkey for 10 days is
much cheaper than going to the Garden of England for 4 or 5 days. That's
a pity of course. How interesting it would be to arrive at Royal Tunbridge
Wells in a coach with 55 Belgian friends ! I'm sure they would enjoy BIAFF
very much.
But of course the IAC can't change the value of the pound sterling. Our British
friends, however, have less reasons to stay at home. It's a film happening
that is unique !