Urbain Appeltans European champion !

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Willy Van der Linden

Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Willy Van der Linden »

Urbain Appeltans who won the "Daily Mail Trophy" (BIAFF) in April, and who
won the top award at the Benelux festival in Luxemburg this year, was very
delighted this morning at the news that he has also become "European champion"
! "The European Championship for Amateur Movies" - that's how it is called
- was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, for the first time. There
were entries from Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Austria, Slovenia
and Belgium. A selection of the best European productions was shown, films
which had been prequalified through participation in one of the 6 previous
regional Euro-Filmfora. Urbain Appeltans had taken part in the Oslo Film
festival with his film "Prinsje" (Little Prince), the film about the tortoises.
The best films have the best results at all international festivals, Dave
said some weeks ago. I think he is right.
Peter Rouillard

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Peter Rouillard »

"Willy Van der Linden" <forums@theiac.org.uk> wrote:
Urbain Appeltans who won the "Daily Mail Trophy" (BIAFF) in April, and who
won the top award at the Benelux festival in Luxemburg this year, was very
delighted this morning at the news that he has also become "European champion"
! "The European Championship for Amateur Movies" - that's how it is called
- was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, for the first time. There
were entries from Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Estonia, Austria, Slovenia
and Belgium. A selection of the best European productions was shown, films
which had been prequalified through participation in one of the 6 previous
regional Euro-Filmfora. Urbain Appeltans had taken part in the Oslo Film
festival with his film "Prinsje" (Little Prince), the film about the tortoises.
The best films have the best results at all international festivals, Dave
said some weeks ago. I think he is right.
Willy, that is great news about Urbain - I'm sure it is well deserved, he
really is a superb film maker. I remember " Prinsje " being my number one
choice in our festival in 2004. And he has won two more 'Lilies' this year
too! We are all keeping our fingers crossed for him to attend the 'Lily'
this year. Speaking of the Oslo Festival, I was going to enter my latest
film in that festival - until I saw that the entry fee was 30 euros!! this
is a really high entry fee in my opinion, what do others think ?

Peter Rouillard
Willy Van der Linden

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Willy Van der Linden »

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:
Speaking of the Oslo Festival, I was going to enter my latest
film in that festival - until I saw that the entry fee was 30 euros!! this
is a really high entry fee in my opinion, what do others think ?
I also intended to say this on the forum some time ago, Peter, but I hesitated.
I am happy that you have told your opinion now. I took part in the Oslo Festival
only once. Also at that time it was rather expensive. I remember that I won
a silver frame which is a diploma, but I didn't know what the judges really
thought about my film. Sorry for the organizers, but Biaff and Guernsey
are much better and they don't charge so much. I know that everything in
Norway is very expensive. I was there about seven or eight years ago. I had
a wonderful time in spite of the rainy days. The waterfalls were very impressive
and the fjords were breathtaking, but the fares were extremely high. It was
also breathtaking to buy a beer. Luckily I am not a beer drinker. Perhaps
the organizers of the Oslo Festival do not realize that their entry fees
are too high for filmakers from other European countries. I have seen that
there were many entries from Switzerland and Austria as well. Also these
countries are very expensive. For those filmmakers 30 euros is perhaps "a
peanut", but what do filmakers from Estonia and Slovenia think about it ?


Some days ago Urbain Appeltans told me the good news. It seems to me that
his health condition is a bit better at the moment. He still has plans to
go to Guernsey because he has already tried to find a better way to go to
Guernsey. He will decide mid-September. He knows that he can go by ferry
from St. Malo and that there are easy and cheap flights from Dinard, but
of course there is still the distance by car from Belgium to Brittanny and
the "péages" on the French motorways. Now he has found that he can go by
air from Eindhoven in Holland - which is not so far from his town - to London
and then to Guernsey. The fares are reasonable and knowing that the winners
receive at least 150 pounds sterling in Guernsey... Hopefully also the other
Belgians who have won lilies will be able to attend the most friendly festival
in Europe as Dave Watterson has written somewhere. I know that Urbain was
also asked to go to Denmark for the ceremony of the "European Championship",
but of course he can't or he couldn't go and accommodation was very expensive.
Our European festivals must be for non-sponsored amateurs in the first place.
There are also festivals for the other ones. My clubmate Douglas Boswell,
who has become a professional filmmaker in the mean time, takes part in the
other festivals now. He works for a Belgian television channel and he would
feel embarrassed to take part in a real international amateur film festival
he said. For his last film "Romance" he received 70,000 euros from the Flemish
government I remember. He spent all his money on the film (actors, catering,
equipment, etc...) and he has not become a rich man, he told me. I believe
him because he is the most friendly and honest filmmaker I have ever met.
I know that some friends on this forum don't agree with me about professionalism
and amateurism, but I can't change my opinion. Organizers of international
festivals want as many excellent films as possible in their winners show.
I understand, but it may also be very discouraging for friends who only make
films for fun. Guernsey is really exceptional ! The organizers are very generous,
perhaps too generous even. I wonder if it would not be better to give no
money to filmmakers who have won, but who cannot attend the festival or
who do not want to go to Guernsey. A festival must be for friends who enjoy
watching films, who are proud that they have won (why not ?) and who want
to make new friends.
Peter Rouillard

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Peter Rouillard »

"Peter Rouillard" <rouillard@cwgsy.net> wrote:

Speaking of the Oslo Festival, I was going to enter my latest
film in that festival - until I saw that the entry fee was 30 euros!! this
is a really high entry fee in my opinion, what do others think ?
Willy wrote;
I also intended to say this on the forum some time ago, Peter, but I hesitated.
I am happy that you have told your opinion now. I took part in the Oslo
Festival
only once. Also at that time it was rather expensive. I remember that I
won
a silver frame which is a diploma, but I didn't know what the judges really
thought about my film. Sorry for the organizers, but Biaff and Guernsey
are much better and they don't charge so much.
Yes, Richard and I won a 'Silver Frame' last time we entered the Oslo festival,
but I'm sure that the entry fee was not as expensive then.

Willy wrote;
Some days ago Urbain Appeltans told me the good news. It seems to me that
his health condition is a bit better at the moment. He still has plans to
go to Guernsey because he has already tried to find a better way to go to
Guernsey. He will decide mid-September. He knows that he can go by ferry
from St. Malo and that there are easy and cheap flights from Dinard, but
of course there is still the distance by car from Belgium to Brittanny and
the "péages" on the French motorways. Now he has found that he can go by
air from Eindhoven in Holland - which is not so far from his town - to London
and then to Guernsey. The fares are reasonable and knowing that the winners
receive at least 150 pounds sterling in Guernsey... Hopefully also the
other
Belgians who have won lilies will be able to attend the most friendly festival
in Europe as Dave Watterson has written somewhere. I know that Urbain was
also asked to go to Denmark for the ceremony of the "European Championship",
but of course he can't or he couldn't go and accommodation was very expensive.
Our European festivals must be for non-sponsored amateurs in the first place.
There are also festivals for the other ones. My clubmate Douglas Boswell,
who has become a professional filmmaker in the mean time, takes part in
the
other festivals now. He works for a Belgian television channel and he would
feel embarrassed to take part in a real international amateur film festival
he said. For his last film "Romance" he received 70,000 euros from the Flemish
government I remember. He spent all his money on the film (actors, catering,
equipment, etc...) and he has not become a rich man, he told me. I believe
him because he is the most friendly and honest filmmaker I have ever met.
I know that some friends on this forum don't agree with me about professionalism
and amateurism, but I can't change my opinion. Organizers of international
festivals want as many excellent films as possible in their winners show.
I understand, but it may also be very discouraging for friends who only
make
films for fun. Guernsey is really exceptional ! The organizers are very
generous,
perhaps too generous even. I wonder if it would not be better to give no
money to filmmakers who have won, but who cannot attend the festival or
who do not want to go to Guernsey. A festival must be for friends who enjoy
watching films, who are proud that they have won (why not ?) and who want
to make new friends.
You give our festival a glowing report Willy, thank you!. Glad to hear that
Urbain is improving, and also pleased that you are still in contact with
Douglas Boswell - another gifted film maker. Those who think Belgium is only
famous for Hercule Poirot had better think again!!
You make a good point Willy, with your suggestion that we should only give
the cash prizes to the winning filmmakers who attend the festival,- it is
something which we have been considering and we may well impliment this rule
next year.
Some European festivals make the rule that, unless the films to be shown
have been chosen by the preliminary judges, all other selected films will
only get shown to the final jury if the film maker attends their festival.
So in this light, many worthy films do not get a chance to compete for awards
above the 'Diploma' level. Times are hard for the serious film maker!

Peter Rouillard
Ned C

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Ned C »

We have discussed entry fees at AMPS and feel they should be kept as low as
possible as our two major sources of entries are retirees and students. We
may wish there were more people "in the middle" entering but this is the
present reality. Where does the entry money go? Our biggest expense is postage,
no one associated with AMPS receives any payment. Any balance goes to support
the Newsletter and Convention. Government/State support for the arts is very
difficult to get here in the USA and our attempts at Corporate sponsorship
have produced nothing, not even an answer from Sony/Panasonic/Canon I am
sure this is because we are so small!

Sorry to learn that Mr Boswell is too embarrased to enter amateur Festivals,
I suppose it is the word "amateur" that is the problem for a professional.
(Get off that hobby horse, Ned)

Now a request for help. We are having great difficulty recruiting members
for AMPS, we are not a club so there are no age/style barriers, we produce
a bimonthly Newsletter that is interesting, members enjoy reduced entry fees
to the Festival and there are awards open only to members. We have tried
advertising in the largest circulation popular video magazine with no detectable
results. Any suggestions?

Ned C





"Willy Van der Linden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:

Speaking of the Oslo Festival, I was going to enter my latest
film in that festival - until I saw that the entry fee was 30 euros!! this
is a really high entry fee in my opinion, what do others think ?

My clubmate Douglas Boswell,
who has become a professional filmmaker in the mean time, takes part in
the
other festivals now. He works for a Belgian television channel and he would
feel embarrassed to take part in a real international amateur film festival
he said.
Michael Slowe

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Michael Slowe »

Willy, I don't agree it is discouraging to have (semi) professional films
in festivals, on the contrary it encourages us to make better films surely.
I too make films purely for fun but I reckon I take more trouble to get
things right than the professionals do because as it's for fun I can afford
to take so much more time than they can. With all the modern equipment now
available to us the old ideas of the professionals having advantages is no
longer valid. It is a much more level playing field now than it ever has
been.

I know that some friends on this forum don't agree with me about professionalism
and amateurism, but I can't change my opinion. Organizers of international
festivals want as many excellent films as possible in their winners show.
I understand, but it may also be very discouraging for friends who only
make
films for fun. Guernsey is really exceptional ! The organizers are very
generous,
Ned C

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Ned C »

I agree with Michael and an interesting point is that we have received a number
of comments about Willy's films that say how "professional" they are. This
means high quality technical work linked with a structure that pleases the
viewer. There are many professionals who would be happy to hear this,

Ned C


"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:
Willy, I don't agree it is discouraging to have (semi) professional films
in festivals, on the contrary it encourages us to make better films surely.
I too make films purely for fun but I reckon I take more trouble to get
things right than the professionals do because as it's for fun I can afford
to take so much more time than they can. With all the modern equipment
now
available to us the old ideas of the professionals having advantages is
no
longer valid. It is a much more level playing field now than it ever has
been.


I know that some friends on this forum don't agree with me about professionalism
and amateurism, but I can't change my opinion. Organizers of international
festivals want as many excellent films as possible in their winners show.
I understand, but it may also be very discouraging for friends who only
make
films for fun. Guernsey is really exceptional ! The organizers are very
generous,
Willy Van der Linden

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Willy Van der Linden »

"Michael Slowe" <michael.slowe@btinternet.com> wrote:
Willy, I don't agree it is discouraging to have (semi) professional films
in festivals, on the contrary it encourages us to make better films surely.
I too make films purely for fun but I reckon I take more trouble to get
things right than the professionals do because as it's for fun I can afford
to take so much more time than they can. With all the modern equipment
now
available to us the old ideas of the professionals having advantages is
no
longer valid. It is a much more level playing field now than it ever has
been.
Ned and Michael,
Douglas Boswell ... Yes, perhaps I've given a bad example, because it's me
who encouraged our professional filmmaker to take part in BIAFF with his
sponsored film "Romance". Now I'm perhaps a bit contradictory, but I'll try
to explain. I always do my utmost to ask our best Belgian fimmakers, who
are very professional, to enter festivals abroad. This gives me less chance
to win an award myself, but I do not mind at all. Some forum-friends know
that very well. I already feel very happy when people seem to have enjoyed
my films. Ned sent me a very positive report written by some New Zealanders
I think, some friends who had seen my Yoda-film. However, there is a difference
between "money-makers" and professionals. That's what I mean. In fact I should
have used the word "money-makers". Douglas Boswell is not a money-maker.
On the contrary ! He enjoys making films and that's the only reason why he
makes them. I also voice the feelings of the members of my club. I'm not
talking about international festivals now ... but some say : "Why should
we take part in the national competition ? We have no chance to win something.
We make films for fun and we don't feel the necessity to enter competitions
on a higher level. We do not want to compete with those 'professionals' (read
'money makers'). Some years ago I also asked Urbain to become a member of
the IAC and to take part in BIAFF. At that time he was very professional.
He retired some time ago. He had his own firm called "Cineac". He made promotion
films of about 30 seconds for regional and national TV-channels. He went
to BIAFF driving the car of his own firm. On it you could read something
like "Cineac Video Productions". On the other hand he made his "Dimato",
his "Prinsje", his "Hannah" and other excellent films only for fun. Urbain
has all equipment, but I'm not jealous at all, Michael. I am not discouraged
by that. On the contrary. By the way, where's the limit ? I have a sony 2000
camera and most members of my club have a very cheap mini-camera. Some years
ago one of our Belgian 'professional' filmmakers showed his "Making Of" film
in our clubhouse. I repeat I'm voicing the feelings of my members now...
They said that it was very discouraging because they don't have all those
things like rails etc.... Last week I finished the Dutch version of my film
"Breendonk". I am very happy that a clubmate is making a "Making Of" film
about "Breendonk". In that film you can see me sitting in a wheelchair doing
some camerawork. I wanted to make a "rider". You can also see other primitive
ways of filming. Well, I'm very happy that my clubmate has filmed this. The
members of my club should be inspired by that, but it's to no purpose saying
this to them. Ned says that my films look very professional. I feel flattered
by it, Ned, but please ... I'm not a money-maker ! Producing a film is a
very important and interesting part of the game. What do I mean by money-making
then ? Filmmakers who sell their films to TV-channels without paying for
copyright for instance. They also take part in festivals for amateurs with
these films. In my opinion this is a bit unfair. Some years ago one of them
was fined. He had to pay quite a lot. There are also other examples.

In most competition rules, also international ones, you read something like
"only films made for fun". I'm not sure about the AMPS-festival, Ned. I think
that many competition rules should be rewritten then. What do you think about
this ?
Ned C

Re: Urbain Appeltans European champion !

Post by Ned C »

Here is what the preamble to the AMPS Rules says:

"Productions made solely for fun and pleasure, for artistic expression or
to make a statement about society with no profit motive in mind, have not
been subject of any sales or rental agreement prior to entry in the Festival
nor expect to be after the Festival and have not been made as a part of a
college course. No person working on any aspect of the production may be
paid for their services nor may the production be sponsored by any commercial
organization. Entries may be made by individuals or more than one person,
such as a club or group, provided the financial conditions set out are met.
This Festival is for non-commercial productions only and we ask that the
makers respect this requirement."

There is a separate category for students. The rules do not define the MAKERS
of the film but the objective of the film i.e. it is non-commercial with
no expectation of financial return. The other important point is that no
one working on the production may be paid. We accept films sponsored by non-profit
or state arts organisations but not by commercial organisations.

A continuing objection to this rule is that it lets in anyone who works in
a paid role in the film industry, film education and supply who then makes
a non-commercial film. Most amateurs perceive this as an unfair advantage
but our view is that this is not the case. The defining characteristic of
the top non-commercial film makers is the technical skills they develop and
hone and the creativity and amount of time they devote to their projects
from planning all the way to completion. In my view it is relatively easy
to acquire the basic skills of film making, but the additional ingredients
of creativity and attention to detail are not so easily acquired but this
is where the best films are made.

Some festivals specify that the films be made by "bone fide amateurs" but
we no longer have a very clear separation between amateurs and professionals
in the low budget area, eg weddings and events. Are you a semi-professional
when selling the service and a semi-amateur when entering a film in a Festival?

Our view is very simple, it is about the intent of the film (ie not revenue
earning) rather than the credentials of who made it.

Ned C
Michael Slowe.

Film Making and Money Making.

Post by Michael Slowe. »

Willy, being a genuine amateur film maker and yet getting a film shown on
TV are quite compatable. Years ago (30!!) I had a number of films shown
on TV after they won awards in the old Ten Best international competition.
Of course I didn't get paid, nor expected to be. Similarly today, if one
of my films were to be shown, and today it's far more likely with all the
digital channels needing content, I would not want payment but might try
and get something for a charity, say the IAC for instance. On copyright
you are quite correct in your stance, I now only use music for which I pay
a small fee for worldwide clearance. I repeat what I posted earlier, making
films for fun should not mean lowering standards.




Willy wrote Filmmakers who sell their films to TV-channels without paying
for
copyright for instance. They also take part in festivals for amateurs with
these films. In my opinion this is a bit unfair. Some years ago one of them
was fined. He had to pay quite a lot. There are also other examples.

In most competition rules, also international ones, you read something like
"only films made for fun". I'm not sure about the AMPS-festival, Ned. I
think
that many competition rules should be rewritten then. What do you think
about
this ?
Willy Van der Linden

Re: Film Making and Money Making.

Post by Willy Van der Linden »

Ned and Michael,
I have the impression that we agree.
Ned wrote : AMPS-Rules ... "Productions made solely for fun and pleasure,
for artistic expression or to make a statement about society with no profit
motive in mind"... Our professional filmmaker Douglas does never have profit
in mind. I am sure about it. However, he feels better at festivals in Montreal,
Cannes, Rome, Berlin, etc... where he has already been very succesful. It
is lost labour trying him to enter our festivals and I understand.

In Belgium some filmmakers have profit in mind. Imagine : In the cinema a
short film of about 20-30 minutes is shown first. Let's say "a warming up
film". It's always like that in our Belgian cinema, perhaps also in Britain.
Afterwards you can watch a Spielberg film or any other fantastic major film.
The one who's made that short film is well-paid. The one who's made "Schindler's
List" for instance is perhaps a wealthy man. The one who's made that short
film also takes part in our festivals even maybe with profit in mind ...
THE BEHAVIOUR OF THESE FILMAKERS MAY DISCOURAGE MANY OF OUR HOBBYISTS. What
do you think about this ? How do you fight against those feelings in our
hobby clubs ? That's my big question. That's also one of the reasons that
I am against money prizes, unless the filmmakers are encouraged by it to
attend the festivals that they have entered. Imagine that all the winners
of a festival stay at home and only hope to receive a check a few days after
the festival. That must be frustrating for the organizers of the festival.
Don't you think so ? Working so hard to organize an international festival
and all the winners stay at home ! Hopefully I have expressed my opinion
in a clear way.

I agree, Michael,perhaps films made by amateurs like yours are much better
than the ones made by real professional TV-filmmakers. I would love to see
your films on TV as well. I'm not against it. You say : "I didn't get paid,
nor expected to be... I would not want payment but might try and get something
for a charity ..." Well, that's it, Michael ! I am your friend !

One more word for Peter : I thought is was rather expensive to enter the
Oslo Festival some years ago. Perhaps I have forgotten the exact amount of
money I had to give. My apologies then, but I was also surprised by the 30
euros entry fee now !



Peter Rouillard

Re: Film Making and Money Making.

Post by Peter Rouillard »

"Willy Van der Linden" <vanderlindenhig@telenet.be> wrote:
Ned and Michael,
I have the impression that we agree.
Ned wrote : AMPS-Rules ... "Productions made solely for fun and pleasure,
for artistic expression or to make a statement about society with no profit
motive in mind"...
Yes Willy, but it is sometimes difficult to categorise a film as " non commercial
". We have on one or two occasions had to disqualify a film in the Guernsey
Lily because it has been too obvious that they have been made commercially.
Usually the list of end credits bears this out, and many times I have seen
the many sponsors logo's included near the end of the list, such as Kodak,
Fuji, Canon, Coca Cola etc, and even BMW and other car manufacturers!! I
saw quite a number of films like this at this years Festival of Nations in
Austria, which is billed as a 'non commercial' festival but somehow they
seem to get away with it. Although many of these 'non commercial' films were
quite stunning, at the end of it all it was nice to see a completely amateur
film chosen as the outright winner. Made by Karin and Bernhard Hausberger,
the film was superb and will no doubt turn up in next years BIAFF. So, as
Michael has said before, the amateur can still compete very successfully.


Willy wrote;
THE BEHAVIOUR OF THESE FILMAKERS MAY DISCOURAGE MANY OF OUR HOBBYISTS.
What
do you think about this ? How do you fight against those feelings in our
hobby clubs ? That's my big question. That's also one of the reasons that
I am against money prizes, unless the filmmakers are encouraged by it to
attend the festivals that they have entered. Imagine that all the winners
of a festival stay at home and only hope to receive a check a few days after
the festival. That must be frustrating for the organizers of the festival.
Don't you think so ? Working so hard to organize an international festival
and all the winners stay at home ! Hopefully I have expressed my opinion
in a clear way.
You have indeed Willy, we do have problems getting the winners to come over
to collect their awards. Our cash prizes were originally for that reason
- helping in the expenses of getting to Guernsey as we do know that we do
have a disadvantage in being an island separated from the UK and Europe -
the fares are not cheap, considering the distance involved with many other
resorts much further afield. We are still having problems getting this years
winners over, although one or two do have good reasons of course.


One more word for Peter : I thought it was rather expensive to enter the
Oslo Festival some years ago. Perhaps I have forgotten the exact amount
of
money I had to give. My apologies then, but I was also surprised by the
30
euros entry fee now !
Yes, me too. It is such a pity that film makers are discouraged to enter
a festival because of their steep entry fee. 30 euros (£21.00) is far too
much - what if you had 2 or more entries!!

Peter R




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