Competitions and entry fees
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 11:14 pm
I have rather belatedly, being catching up with the various threads on this
web-site. I expect that there may be many people who read this forum but
do not contribute to it, which is sad as it seems to be the same half-dozen
or so who keep this forum going. However, my main point on this occasion
is the comments made about competition entry fees in general and the BIAFF
one in particular.
As I have mentioned before (probably about the time of the BIAFF competition
last year) there is a lot of work which goes into organising this event and
such similar festivals. I know that Brian Dunckley has said that there are
only a few days in the whole year when he is not doing something for BIAFF.
Much goes on behind the scenes which most people do not see. When our competition
and festival was over, I was still typing up comments and sending films back
for a couple of weeks afterwards and this is very small peanuts compared
to the major competitions.
Our entry fee was only £5 and was intended only to cover the cost of the
£100 prize to the winner and one trophy. There was also a few pounds for
judges refreshments and that was it! I can well understand that a much bigger
competition requires a much bigger budget to continue.
However, having said all of that, I do think that the entry fees for BIAFF
are now reaching a crisis point were many people will think seriously about
what they will send in. Film makers like myself who often make several movies
a year will now have to become more selective in choosing their best films.
I seem to think that entry fees were around the £8 mark when I began entering
the IAC competitions more than a decade ago and have gone up most years since
then.
In the years when I produced perhaps 4 or 5 films, I was choosy in any case,
not because of cost, but mainly because you are kind of competing with yourself.
As with the Guernsey Lily in 2006, I sent in two comedies, hoping for a chance
at the comedy award, but of couse knowing that my two films would in effect
compete with each other. This is also the case with multiple entries into
BIAFF.
But with rising entry fees, cost does start to be a consideration and there
is little point in sending a movie in to the competition when you know it
is not one of your best efforts.
As we have said here many times, it is not so much about the winning as having
your film screened to an audience that matters, but if your best hope is
for a Silver award or lower, with no guarantee of a showing, is it worth
paying the much higher fees?
I expect that most of this money is to cover judges expenses as it is only
right that these are covered when people give their time for free and travel
great distances, but there comes a point when entry numbers will fall away
as the price goes up.
I would suggest a serious look at capping entry fees if possible and particularly
with a view to cutting the cost of multiple entries.
Ken.
web-site. I expect that there may be many people who read this forum but
do not contribute to it, which is sad as it seems to be the same half-dozen
or so who keep this forum going. However, my main point on this occasion
is the comments made about competition entry fees in general and the BIAFF
one in particular.
As I have mentioned before (probably about the time of the BIAFF competition
last year) there is a lot of work which goes into organising this event and
such similar festivals. I know that Brian Dunckley has said that there are
only a few days in the whole year when he is not doing something for BIAFF.
Much goes on behind the scenes which most people do not see. When our competition
and festival was over, I was still typing up comments and sending films back
for a couple of weeks afterwards and this is very small peanuts compared
to the major competitions.
Our entry fee was only £5 and was intended only to cover the cost of the
£100 prize to the winner and one trophy. There was also a few pounds for
judges refreshments and that was it! I can well understand that a much bigger
competition requires a much bigger budget to continue.
However, having said all of that, I do think that the entry fees for BIAFF
are now reaching a crisis point were many people will think seriously about
what they will send in. Film makers like myself who often make several movies
a year will now have to become more selective in choosing their best films.
I seem to think that entry fees were around the £8 mark when I began entering
the IAC competitions more than a decade ago and have gone up most years since
then.
In the years when I produced perhaps 4 or 5 films, I was choosy in any case,
not because of cost, but mainly because you are kind of competing with yourself.
As with the Guernsey Lily in 2006, I sent in two comedies, hoping for a chance
at the comedy award, but of couse knowing that my two films would in effect
compete with each other. This is also the case with multiple entries into
BIAFF.
But with rising entry fees, cost does start to be a consideration and there
is little point in sending a movie in to the competition when you know it
is not one of your best efforts.
As we have said here many times, it is not so much about the winning as having
your film screened to an audience that matters, but if your best hope is
for a Silver award or lower, with no guarantee of a showing, is it worth
paying the much higher fees?
I expect that most of this money is to cover judges expenses as it is only
right that these are covered when people give their time for free and travel
great distances, but there comes a point when entry numbers will fall away
as the price goes up.
I would suggest a serious look at capping entry fees if possible and particularly
with a view to cutting the cost of multiple entries.
Ken.