Should BIAFF change?

[Dave Watterson]

BIAFF (The British International Amateur Film Festival) has been a major part of the IAC world since the start - albeit under a variety of different names. There is a tendency to assume that its format is fixed ... but in fact it has changed considerably over the years. Should it change again?

Is the current format a time-tested, well-proven and popular one which we should not tamper with? Or is is a tired formula overdue for a make-over?

My personal view is that some of the peripherals could go. Events on the preceding Thursday and during the day on Friday divert the time and energy of the organisers for scant benefit. When the festival was in London there was plenty for early-birds to do there. When it moved to the regions, outings were intended to introduce people to the area. We seem to have fallen into a pattern of using the same regions each time, so for regular attendees such excursions are unnecessary and for the organisers they become harder to devise each time.

The gala dinner is pleasant enough but wastes a lot of time. It would be possible to have a 90 minute dinner break and continue screenings afterwards. The dinner does serve a secondary function as an occasion for presenting honours, but those could be presented elsewhen.

If the dinner stays, then at least the after-dinner entertainment could / should / must please go. It is often second-rate and even when good is irksome. People want to break away from their table-mates, mingle, meet friends. If there were more movies some delegates (not all I accept) would go to see them.

The Sunday awards show usually attracts controversy. People often disagree with the judges. Fine. But there is another problem ... most of us are used to watching amateur film at clubs in batches of about 45 minutes at a time. (Most clubs do two sessions either side of a coffee break.) Watching a couple of hours at a time feels like an imposition. The audience gets perceptibly restless ... and this is regardless of how good or compelling the movies on screen happen to be.

The gala shows also have a problem in that we cannot, in practice, have a big enough screen and sometimes not a big enough sound system to present movies with maximum impact ... especially in rooms with flat floors as opposed to tiered seating. From that perspective the Tonbridge Wells BIAFF a couple of years ago triumphed ... they had two screens, back-to-back in the middle of a long thin hall. Two projectors driven from a single source showed the pictures. With half the audience on one side and half on the other, no one was more than about 20 rows away from the screen. The images were imposing. It sounds strange but it worked wonderfully well.

What are your views?

Dave

[Michael Slowe]

As one who remembers LIAFF's (London Amateur Film Festivals) from the St Ermins (Westminster) days in the early 70's I feel well qualified in joining Dave in trying to suggest changes.

Speaking personally I never go on any of the local trips but it may well be that those not so keen on watching films and who want to socialise do enjoy them. They shouldn't interfere in any way with the film programmes though, films are paramount as far as I'm concerned.

Certainly the dinner evening could be shortened as Dave suggests with films being shown from say 9 o'clock till 10.30. I think speeches and awards are a good fit with the dinner though.

It is the presentation of the award shows that requires the most care. These shows are critical and no venue has approached the old London one as regards presentation of films. The only proper way to show films is in a cinema or purpose fitted lecture hall. It would make the world of difference if somehow this could be done. I attended the Oslo Festival some years ago and they used their National Film complex with two cinemas and the films looked and sounded so much less 'amateur'. Are there no hotels away from the big cities with conference facilities (and therefore cinemas)? There are, and I know some, but of course they don't come cheap. We also have to decide whether we want a social event or a film event, it's nice to mix the two but very difficult.

What do other countries do, Dave, you are a great attender of overseas festivals, any comments?

[Stephen]

As a relative noobie to film making I have attended only a few BIAFF bashes...

but of the couple attended I loved being able to put names to faces and have a good old chin wag ... me thinks the social aspect of our hobby is a huge asset and not capitalised to its full .....

but I'm afraid I'm not a great fan of the gala dinner... it belongs to a "day gone by"

having a family and working full time means I must plan well ahead for any weekend bashes which, if lucky, will be there saturday or sunday. Films, films, films... shown in the best possible way is the way forward chaps !!!!! ....
why oh why (as Michael also suggests) do the organisers not hire a local small to medium cinema or purpose built multi media centre in the area.... ??

Have been unimpressed with the presentations to date (Harrogate, local area stuff at Scarborough etc)
As a tres keen film maker and unable to stop talking about making films !!!!!! (ask swmbo!!) the current state of affairs, unfortunately does require some attention to the itinerary and should be brought up to date...

hey... I'm the last guy to knock our IAC .... its a great outfit...
I just want to make sure it survives !

[Dave Watterson]

Many other festivals last for longer - up to a week. That gives more time for leisurely blocks of films and for socialising.

UNICA - a week - not typical since here nations compete and film-makers are not often present. They often manage tiered seating. Their awards ceremony is mixed into the closing banquet and rather low-key.

GUERNSEY LILY - weekend - flat viewing room. Awards at special gala screening with Queen's representative and dignitaries. Good meals are an important part of the weekend but not integral to the awards.

FESTIVAL OF NATIONS (Austria) - a week - blocks of 90 minutes or so of film followed by public discussion with the jury. Takes places in a small town slightly off the most popular tourist trails but in a cinema with raked seats. The award giving is fairly high-key on stage with certificates, prizes and occasional music interludes to cover any gaps in proceedings and followed by a buffet banquet.

CZECH NATIONAL - long weekend in theatre with raked seating, but small audiences because films have all gone through local and regional heats in the preceding months and are well known. The plus side is that this lets people socialise a lot. Awards with some ceremony in a separate hall and followed by buffet. Presentation and awards show organised by professional tv company and hosted by actress.

FIFA WILDLIFE - (France) - week - in modern cinema with tiered seating. Awards a fairly grand event on the stage with professional presenter as host. Being in France means meals are taken seriously but usually in restaurants. General audience has no closing banquet but workers, jury members and occasional VIP guests have super "picnic" in a historic house afterwards.

RIVER OF EUROPE - (Bulgaria) - four days in fancy theatre with raked seating. Awards relatively low-key in style during the closing banqet in a hotel ... but the Deputy Prime Minister presented them and got tv coverage

Like Stephen I am not knocking IAC or the wonderful people who have organised BIAFF festivals in recent years. The festival is organised by a region with major input from the Competition Manager and some guidance from IAC national council. I fear this means each tends to copy the previous one because no one clearly "owns" the event. Various attempts to use lecture theatres etc have not been popular because many of the older delegates like to stay in one building for their accommodation and films.

- Dave

PS Rumpole fans will realise that swmbo = "she who must be obeyed" = wife.

[Brian Saberton]

As a regular attender and supporter of BIAFF (including serving as a judge on a few occasions) I don't see the need to change what is obviously a winning formula given the very large number of delegates who now attend (this year being a case in point). The only point I agree with is that we don't need entertainment after the gala dinner but neither would I wish to sit watching more films! Given that most of us have already spent the whole day watching films, and will be doing the same on the Sunday, the gala dinner is a welcome opportunity to have a break, relax and enjoy a nice meal in convivial company and afterwards catch up with friends old and new for a chat. As to the length of the individual screenings I think they are about right.

[Pqtrick]

BIAFF – A half outsider’s view. It was good to come over for the last event despite my unfortunate experience and feel part of that ‘international set’.

My impressions of the last BIAFF have not really changed. It should continue to be about seeing interesting films and having the opportunity of meeting people. Seeing the films well projected is a must. There must be a barrage of reasons why things are done the way they are.

I just wonder whether there is any real merit in having all the Saturday mini-cinemas just showing the ‘also rans’ in a token situation. Showing these films to just a handful of people, pays little but lip service to them. My last offering was shown thus and I note that Willy from a previous post was of a like mind.

Delegates select their viewing out of choice, it is said, but do they? Or do they scurry to the grand arena seeing the films which are perceived to be of greater merit? I consider myself to be a more than average cinema goer, but some of these leave me yawning and wondering ‘is this really what film making is all about’?

If balance is of essence, why not screen that choice of films across all the cinemas? Projecting them as large as possible is essential, the five étoiles with the lower ratings; this would make it truly representative and get a more balance audience.

The IAC is made up of a large group of foot soldiers who faithfully follow and support events from year to year. It is these who should be served and not some of those outsiders who obviously are better resourced. They just enter films and snatch up the awards. I wonder if the ‘making of’ notes were published and read before the event, whether some of these films would really be eligible?

Being a life long agitator for change, in my more settling moments I must admit that I enjoy the festival dinner. Perhaps give urgent consideration to a choice of speaker, but retain it very much as it is. Make national costume obligatory and let the women go wild with the exposure of more hairy knees! It cannot have gone unnoticed that it is mostly the European set who wear le traditional smoking attire.

Lastly, is a full meal at lunchtime really necessary when everyone has had their bacon and beans? Why not something less formal, so that people can circulate and chat about life and what the event is all about – Filmmakers.

[Brian Saberton]

I think the merit of the mini cinemas is that those of us who haven't attained the hights of the top awards have the opportunity to have our films shown to an audience. it also lets us see what other people are doing and to spot any trends in subject matter or technique. Sometimes the audience can be small, as was the case with one of my own films this year, but I didn't mind because I received some very nice comments from a few of the people who were there and this was very encouraging. Part of the fun for me is going through the programme on the Friday night and selecting which ones I am going to see. I tend to look for programmes that offer a good variety of subject matter and perhaps some familiar authors or clubs.

[Peter Copestake]

I really do feel that the top films at BIAFF should be shown in a cinema. I realise this might not be possible at all our usual venues but I would have thought we should do try to do this and invite the public. For my money, which is now a good deal less than I expected or my pension provider promised, gala dinners and smartish hotels are out and I agree with a previous writer that lunch does not need to be a sit-down affair. However I'm unlikely to attend many more BIAFFs so perhaps I should shut up!

[Brian Saberton]

Some years ago when I was involved with the old Scottish 8 amateur film festival we tried hiring an easily accessible civic theatre (near a railway station, on a main bus route and with acres of free parking) which also operated as fully fledged cinema in the hope that we would attract members of the public. In the three years we tried this not one member of the public turned up, in spite of publicity in the local press. The consequence was that a relatively small number of faithfull supporters were rattling around in a 400 seater auditorium. A couple of years ago we in SAM looked into the possibilty of hiring a small cinema for one of our events but the cost was prohibitive - sadly these things don't come cheap any more and I think it's too risky when you can't depend on achieving sufficient ticket sales to cover the cost.

[fraught]

I've only attended the Festival a handful of times... and have been fortunate enough to attend one when it was in London, which i prefered. When i do attend, i never go for the "Gala Luncheons", or Trips, etc... i just want to see the films, have a cuppa during the break and a chat, then More and More films.

I think it is sad that the festivals tend to stay in one area of the country, and i think it would be great if it could move about it. I'm a southerner... so London was perfect for me! But i understand that that is not good for everyone. If the festival is trying to be more "international", i would have thought holding the festival in London would attract more attending film makers from abroad?

I agree on the presentation... i've seen my films presented on a Cinema screen, with me and my friends sitting in tiered seating... the impact on me was awesome! If the next BIAFF could pull that off... that would be great!

[Mike Shaw]

BIAFF does move around - each year a different region takes on the responsibility of organising it. A couple of years ago we (Seriac) held it down South here - at (Royal) Tonbridge Wells. However, I have to say that costs down here in the South seem to be far in excess of those available in the North - and to hold the Festival in London itself would I think be exorbitant, cinema wise, hotel wise, every wise. Our local Hotel for example, currently proudly announces rooms at around £100 a night per person - and we're on the borders of greater London and Kent. Cheaper perhaps to go to Majorca!

[Brian Saberton]

The Festival used to be held in London every year until costs became prohibitive and attendances declined significantly.

[Dave Watterson]

Let's just note that running a film festival like BIAFF is a huge task. One reason IAC took to moving its one round the regions was to spread that load a bit. When it was held in London for many years the same people did the hard graft year after year.

Next year (2010) BIAFF will be in Bedford, though still in a hotel and thus no tiered seating. Hiring commercial cinemas costs too much and they lack the other "socialising spaces" we need. Occasionally lecture theatres in colleges/universities have been used. The screenings were good but many of the older delegates disliked using student accommodation and having to walk from their accommodation to a separate building for the shows. Since we depend on their support financially their views and needs have to be taken into account.

The Netherlands now has three superb hotels which have large theatres built-in - they are ideal for film festivals, but people might object to travelling there ...

Dave

[Brian Saberton]

Dave - I don't know about the older delegates not liking the student accommodation or having to trail around a multitude of different buildings but I didn't care much for it either at the time.