BIAFF 2024 - yes or no?

[Martin Evans]

*** PHOTOS FROM BIAFF ***

This is a call for your photos from BIAFF for FVM. I do already have the official ones from John Smith, but looking for variety and added interest also. Please can you email them to me at editorFVM@arenig.co.uk

Can't guarantee to use them - not a lot of space left - but if I do you'll be credited.

Thanks in anticipation.

Martin

[Dave Watterson]

There are now over a hundred of the films entered in the competition for 2024 - to be seen at https://www.biaff.org.uk/2024-watch-on-line.html

Rewatch your favourites or check out ones not selected for screening ...

[Dave Watterson]

Does anyone know any other entries for BIAFF 2024, which are online at YouTube, Vimeo or DailyMotion - but which we do not have on the https://www.biaff.org.uk/2024-watch-on-line.html page?

[Willy]

Strange, but I could not enter the forum for some time anymore. Are there any other friends who had this problem?
But, I am back! The English version of my film "HUBERTUS" is on YouTube
The link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2VZr3UdHQs

I would be grateful if you could critise it.
My wife Vera and I will also be in Tonbridge from Friday 24th May to Monday 26th May to attend SERIAC on SATURDAY 25th MAY.

[Dave Watterson]

Thank you, Willy. HUBERTUS is now among the films on our "Watch" page https://www.biaff.org.uk/2024-watch-on-line.html

We have far too few films from the area of Europe where GEMMA handles music copyright issues. People seem timid about making their films available for a worldwide audience.

[TimStannard]

Willy, I've sent you a PM.

[Willy]

Many thanks, Tim. I am happy you enjoyed "Hubertus".
Hopefully I will meet you again at SERIAC.

[Albert Noble]

Have just watched, "Hubertus".
Although the subject matter is not for me, I admire the professional
making of this film. The English commentary had an engaging
delivery which added to the impact.
The zoom shot at 11 minutes in seemed unnecessary.
Static would have been more telling I think.

But a very well made film, which I would have enjoyed more if the
subject matter had been to my taste.....
.....now we are back to the personal taste of judges !

[Willy]

Many thanks, Albert. You have watched "Hubertus" with a sharp eye. I agree with your remark about the zoom. That's only 2 or 3 seconds. Length of the film is 19min30. But I appreciate that you have told me this. If I would edit "Hubertus" again I would delete that zoom. I am also happy that you enjoyed the narration. Dutch is my mother-tongue. I always write the texts myself, but my neighbour Chris Allen corrects my mistakes and William Higbee, professor Film Studies/French films at Exeter University has read the narration this time. However, I am also extremely thankful to the three English IAC-friends who tried to help me.

About the taste of the judges and audience. You don't like the theme/subject, Albert. I understand. Me, too, I am against hunting, but I think it is interesting to illustrate the mentality of the hunters. Of course, I remember Michael Slowe's movie about the hunting dogs. I doesn't mean that Michael is against fox-hunting. But if all depends on the taste of the judges then it is better not to take part in a competition. I was lucky in 2001 and 2002, almost 25 years ago...

"Hubertus" is really my last BIAFF-film, but it does not mean that I will never make films again. Every Thursday afternoon I am the moderator of a group "English Conversation". I have 10 students. We all speak English with a Dutch accent. We tell jokes, have a chat about all kinds of everything and sing songs. I have started to make a movie about the cosy atmopshere in my class. I am sure the students will enjoy the film, but it will not shown at BIAFF.

[TimStannard]

But if all depends on the taste of the judges then it is better not to take part in a competition.

I have to disagree here, Willy. If it all depends on the taste of the judges, then it is the judges who are at fault, not the entrant.

Albert's appraisal of yoru film was a perfect example of how a film CAN be judged without taste coming into it. His comments were factual and based on how the film was put together. Other than saying the subject was not to his tatse, Albert's taste didn't come into it. And I'm sure he wouldn't mark it down because of his taste.

At the risk of stating the obvious, even if judged impeccably, a judge should never state a film was not to their taste (at least not in the formal comments).

[Willy]

I agree with you, Tim. I am very happy about the things Albert has written. I was totally wrong. My apologies, Albert.!!!!
Albert wrote: "Although the subject matter is not for me"... I "translated" it by: "although it's not my taste"... , but that was not the end of his sentence. Indeed, Albert has shown that a film CAN be judged without taste coming into it. I understand I misjudged it. I should think twice before writing something. Perhaps it's all because I've been feeling a bit irritated lately. I also know that Albert is also one of the monuments in the IAC. He has a lot of experience. Sorry, again, Albert!

[Albert Noble]

I also know that Albert is also one of the monuments in the IAC.

That's way over the top, Willy. Many, many years ago I won a few IAC awards but It's old history.
My long experience was/is in a very, very small area of animation.
No cartoons, no arms and no legs ! But attempting to bring inanimate objects to life. Such as pins, paper clips, letters, clothes pegs, buttons and recently, fonts and skulls !

I cut my teeth on the 'real' film at the BFI cinema when it was under Hungerford bridge in London. back in the 1950's when the great classics were shown.
Travelling there on a Lambretta scooter