BIAFF - the Festival

[TimStannard]

Either the films, company and dinner are so enthralling or there's no internet connection at The Coniston as there has been no word from the Festival!
I hope you're enjoying yourselves and I look forward to catching up with you when I join you tomorrow
(I hope that doesn't rub salt into the wound, Dave)

[Dave Watterson]

Some Facebook posts from Mark Anthony Games indicate that there is wifi at the hotel ... but I guess people are busy watching films and socialising ...

[fraught]

Early night for me... got a long drive and early start tomorrow! Why oh why is my film in the first session!? LOL.

See most of you tomorrow...

Sorry to not be catching up tomorrow Dave, i hope you are on the mend. Look forward to catching up somewhere else.

[Mike Shaw]

There is free wifi here at the Coniston - the service and food are absolutely top notch, the films are up to usual high standards, the company fantastic - who has time to come on the internet? See you here, or, more likely by the time you read this - good to have seen you here!

[Mark Anthony Games]

It might also help if BIAFF and the IAC had a voice... twitter, Facebook page.... then there might be a trickle of information to entice other film-makers / fans to join the party!

I have never worn hats much, but I would take it off to the efforts of Mr Newman and Co... a fantastic festival with a great atmosphere.

[TimStannard]

It was good to have seen you too Mike. What a packed day of films!

I think the right film won the Daily Mail and Best of British and I was delighted (as were others I spoke with briefly after the event). The great storyline and excellent acting won the day which is how it should be. That's not to dismiss the other films - there was plenty of top notch photography, audio and CGI on show. Well done to all whose films were shown on Sunday.

[Dave Watterson]

https://www.facebook.com/pages/IAC-the- ... 1271848296 is our Facebook page - linked from every page of the main IAC website !

Hope you all had fun ... and I am very envious. I was SO looking forward to being there.

[Michael Slowe]

First of all, Dave, I hope that you received my private E Mail, you were greatly missed and we all wish you a speedy recovery.

As to others on this forum, it was great to see you and to have the opportunity of lengthy conversations face to face, with some more than others - sorry Howard-Smith, we never did get around to having that drink!

The films were varied in quality as usual but there were some crackers. Well done John on your music video, the editing of the band sequences was wonderful. 'Fraught', your Selfie was brilliant, in my opinion might well have been in contention for the main trophy, although I agree with Tim that the eventual winner was the right decision. Ned's two were enjoyable, I particularly liked Jesse James & Billy the Kid, editing the fight must have been fun, not an easy job. Did any amongst you understand what The Question was all about, I'd love to know! There were quite a few films using the anamorphic type aspect, it looks good on a big projected image but I find not quite so effective on a TV screen, what do others think? How do you get that aspect, with a lens or set in the edit system? Presumably to have to frame when shooting specifically for it.

Great weekend, plenty of food for thought, thanks chaps for helping to create such a friendly and animated atmosphere.

[Dave Watterson]

I hope you all take a moment to look at the main website http://www.theiac.org.uk where there are "making of" articles about many top films and a wide selection of BIAFF entries of all grades online ...

[Mark Anthony Games]

I stand corrected, How did I not know there is a facebook page, I would have tagged had I known, sorry. However is the IAC and BIAFF the same thing.... it gets very confusing for a boy

There seems to be some very interesting stuff on there so I will check it out as my diary allows. I agree with all above, there were some great films shown but I need a little more convincing on the overall winner. I thought it was a fantastic concept, well acted, VERY well acted, very well made but seemed a little stretched in places. I do wonder though if films nominated for that award should be shown.... as in the nominees for the award for Baaa aala are: (Show Films) the winner is Sheep 2! Perhaps keep all awards secret apart from stars. It is a long day to sit through and the excitement could make it more engaging. I would also say contact the film makers, who will have films in the categories for an award, to ask if they are going to attend. If they have won an award and they can not come, perhaps a message from them could then be read!

Again though, I would like to say a huge well done to all the big cheese that sat on that straight table, I have no idea who you were but am told you are important and do some great stuff Everyone is uber friendly and beyond passionate about film making. It is a very creative and inspiring atmosphere, and should I be asked I shall be there again

[Ken Wilson]

This is a quick message to get things going as I have another wedding to edit. But for starters, it was a great weekend. It turned out to be a longer drive than we thought as traffic was bad both ways due to numerous roadworks and heavy traffic around the M25. It took us over 6 hours going down there and also again coming home, hence in anticipation of this, we left before the final section to get on our way.

We had some time for some catch ups with familiar film friends and especially Michael (Slowe) who we always enjoy talking to. We sat with Jill Lampert at the gala dinner. A lovely lady full of enthusiasm and a very good film-maker.
Some films really good. Some top notch material. A few rated a star too high I thought but a number rated too low. (Always that difference in opionion...more later.)

The hotel very modern, clean and good service and good food. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff who served us on Friday evening after everyone else as we arrived later than planned due to the long journey. So great for them doing all of that.

The only real negative was the low ceilings for the projection of the films. Again, a real problem with heads in the way and the usual bobbing around when subtitles appeared. On the Sunday show at least a dozen of us had to stand up at the back as we couldn`t read a word without doing so. That`s a real shame. Burnley festival have found themseleves a superb venue with a large screen and raked seating as Tom (of Harwick fame) will attest. BIAFF needs to find something similar.

But lots more to say later on. Awaiting more feedback from some of the others who were there.
In the meantime, well done to the organisers for all their hard work.

Ken

[TimStannard]

I do wonder though if films nominated for that award should be shown....

I believe they are, effectively, Mark. The top 8 films in the festival are awarded Diamonds and these, being the top films are the nominees for the Best of British and Daily Mail trophy. The only exception would be if all eight diamond winners were made by non Brits.
Thanks for your comments and I'm glad you enjoyed the festival and the company.

[Mike Shaw]

It would be virtually impossible to find a raked seat theatre that was a} Inexpensive enough and b) close enough to an equally excellent but inexpensive hotel here in the South, and so one has to cope as best as possible with the facilities available.

The question about being able to see the subtitles arises every year. Every year the organising Region does their best to eliminate or overcome the problem.

And every year, the subtitles are added (as 'SUB' titles) to the bottom of the screening area.

Why oh why don't they put them at the top? Whatever problem that creates would be far far less disgruntling than having them where they cannot be seen.

I missed the point and story line of at least three films this weekend, simply because I couldn't see the subtitles, and swinging from side to side and waiving around like a dervish wouldn't have helped the people behind me too much. Had the titling been at the top, I could have read the book and watched the film at the same time and perhaps been able to follow the plot...

Whatever the reasons why the titling cannot be at the top, I bet they're not as valid as 'not seeing the film at all.

Please don't beg reliance on raked theatres or high ceilinged hotels. Hard enough finding hotels with sufficient rooms to cope with BIAFF's needs - at a sensible price. Place the titles at the top so people can at least have a glimmer of what is happening!

PS Everyone around me without exception - and apparently in other parts of the theatre as well -was saying the same thing -'Why don't they put the titles at the top'. You really cannot expect the organising committee to find a raked seat theatre/hotel - because there is one in Outer Timbukneverland it doesn't mean every corner of the country has them!

Titling at the top. No excuses!!

[Bob Lorrimer]

Five hours with a brief stop....both there, and back for me, Ken, and a total distance of 240 miles each way give or take a traffic cone.

I decided to set off at 5.00am from Sittingbourne and found myself already in heavy traffic on the M25 at 6.00 am...still, it paid off (for once) as I was ahead of the pack.

*****

All in all....I thought it to be an excellent show....and the Hotel was in very good order.

I know a good Hotel Room when I'm in one as I have not the IQ which is required to turn on the 'taps' in the bathroom. I also tested the personal 'Safe' by locking a copy of my celebrated "WRITER's BLOCK" within it. By morning I had forgotten my own "pass code" so the Disc is still there and will probably seriously disturb the next guest who finds it!

The FILMS (which I saw) were presented by a Computer......normally this would cause me to throw a 'glitch and skip' wobbly of epic proportions......but as far as I could tell the films presented well. There will always be room to improve, in projection terms, as inevitably compromises have to be made.......the blackout at the CONISTON was not bad by any means but some screen vibrancy and saturation was lost to the ambient light which will always creep in to a 'ballroom' venue during daylight hours.

Every so often the tremendous array of Ballroom speakers which were secured to the ceiling would 'kick in' with great effect.

An additional pair of speakers left and right on stands midway down a large room would add resonant weight to the mid and rear auditorium without deafening the front two rows....just a thought.

I had conversations with many enthusiasts which was great and sat next to Michael Slowe at the Gala dinner who grumbled that he cannot find his OWN films on VIMEO! So for those who would like to visit his site....here is the Link!

https://vimeo.com/105481673

My overall impression was that there were some very good 4 star films snapping at the Heels of those of us who made it through to the clear water of 5 Stars.....We will have to raise our game!

[Dave Watterson]

Bob, Michael ... and other enthusiasts who may have missed the occasional film or who could not make it to BIAFF ...

Go to the IAC website http://www.theiac.org.uk click the WATCH menu and choose BIAFF 2015 SELECTION ... there a panoply of super films is available to see online including Michael's PASSION IN KILBURN and Bob's WRITER'S BLOCK, a mass of movies by Mark Anthony Games and many more including the Daily Mail and Best British winner: COPY THAT.

SUPERtitles - apart from aesthetic issues (the top third of the frame includes the eyes most of the time) - those are applied by the film makers not by the IAC. Most film festivals are held in raked seated theatres where SUBtitles are not a problem. It is our insistence on using one venue that causes the problem. There are plenty of places where a good hotel is within fair distance of a small cinema or theatre which could be used. There are umpteen educational establishments with lecture theatres and modest accommodation available. But we have tended to put audience convenience first, partly in recognition of an aging clientele who dislike too much walking. Perhaps that must change.

We have also fallen into the pattern of trying to pack far too much into the limited time available. The short breaks for tea/coffee and meals do not really allow time to stretch the brain muscles, let alone legs, necks and shoulders. This is specially evident on the Sunday show which has become a marathon. Partly this is designed to allow all the Diamond winning films to be shown in the day (this year they were short which made that simpler) and in a balanced programme that would be entertaining.

Mark is absolutely right: we lack all sense of razzamatazz. We almost seem to apologise for having winners! Various variations have been tried over the years and perhaps it is time to revamp the formula again so that we can truly celebrate our winners - even if some have to be represented by others or by a video of thanks. (BTW several of us made strenuous efforts to get Kingsley Hoskins to the festival without revealing that she had taken the top prizes ... and she wanted to be there, but is starting off in the film and tv industry now and could not get away from work.

A suggestion I have made before is worth repeating ... make Saturday the day for the Gala Show which could run until late evening with a much-reduced dinner in the early evening. It is a pattern used successfully for many years by the Guernsey Lily Festival. That would allow for a slghtly more leisurely Gala Show and for a proper presentation session at the end with as much ballyhoo as we can muster.