BIAFF 2006

[Michael Slowe]

I would just like to add my brief note to the effect that for me also it was
a wonderful event. I was only able to spend a few hours there on Saturday
and all Sunday and, as Tom Hardwick wrote, there simply wasn't enough time.
I so enjoyed seeing our contintental friends again and it was worth the
trip just to see Urbain Appeltans' face when the ultimate winner was announced!
Luckily the breaks allowed time to catch up with people but of course the
films were the thing and although there was no oustanding production such
as Passing By and The Middle Way from last year I believe the overall standard
was higher. Dave (he was visible from all parts!) was right in stating that
Nothing Girl caused ripples right at the start (clever programming that)
and I was one of its fans. The assembled company was split right down the
middle on that one, no one was half way!

Just a mention of Tom Hardwick's note about the desirability of a larger
and different aspect screen for this type of festival (any festival). The
16:9 aspect ratio is fast becoming common place if not the norm and organisers
have to be able to accommodate it. Projectors all have a menu option for
this aspect but it produces too small a picture on a 4:3 screen. The only
answer has to be a larger screen, even if it is not configured to 16:9.
Mind you the pictures at Bedford were faultless, well done the technicians
of North Thames!

Roll on next year and I even hope to have one or two films myself by then.

[Peter Rouillard]

"Michael Slowe" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:

I would just like to add my brief note to the effect that for me also it
was
a wonderful event. I was only able to spend a few hours there on Saturday
and all Sunday and, as Tom Hardwick wrote, there simply wasn't enough time.
I so enjoyed seeing our contintental friends again and it was worth the
trip just to see Urbain Appeltans' face when the ultimate winner was announced!
Luckily the breaks allowed time to catch up with people but of course the
films were the thing and although there was no oustanding production such
as Passing By and The Middle Way from last year I believe the overall standard
was higher. Dave (he was visible from all parts!) was right in stating
that
Nothing Girl caused ripples right at the start (clever programming that)
and I was one of its fans. The assembled company was split right down the
middle on that one, no one was half way!

Yes, BIAFF was a great event. Unfortunately, Mary and I had to leave early
due to a family emergency and missed the very last session on the Sunday.
However, we had seen two of the films from this section before, so only missed
out on the other two in this session. Brian Dunckley chose a great programme
for Sunday's viewing and all the films shown, bar one, were superb. I would
not be surprised if 'Nothing Girl' (should be re-titled 'Nothing Film') goes
down in IAC's history as the most inept piece of 'work' ever to gain an International
Award, so much so in fact, that talking to some real film makers after the
show, we agreed that we should find all our old offcuts and string a few
together to win an International Award ! Luckily, the rest of the show contained
some real stunners, with 'Hannah' and 'The Team' being the most impressive
cinematically. I must also mention Narelle Summers performance in 'Confidentially'
- what a great piece of acting!! We were sorry we could not be there to congratulate
her at the end. We were also sorry not to be there to congratulate Urbain
on his well deserved Daily Mail Trophy - and to see his face when it was
announced!
So, another great weekend of movies and socialising with friends. Can't wait
for BIAFF 2007!

Peter Rouillard