Big Dave Watterson is bowled over… by a lily.

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It was great to meet the Ashbee family, currently living in France, who are all animators and were celebrating the success of 14 year-old Sonia’s ‘Around The World’ which works live action inserts into the animation. A group from the Czech republic were there to receive handfuls of awards for the strange and disturbing movie, ‘Mucholapka (Flypaper)’. The Czech team were four attractive women and a man who seemed vaguely familiar … it was Vit Ondracek, a prolific artist who played the part of a painter in last year’s surreal hit movie ‘The Mill’. Vit and friends make up the Foxymon production team – and claim the name is an ironic tribute to 20th Century Fox.

The Channel Island entries are fascinating. Tim Adkins and Sarah Thackeray are there all weekend and receive a sound award for ‘Red Shoes’. Chris Gomes from Jersey can’t make it but a colleague picks up his award for an A-level project “Goings on in Cubeland” which gets the best local entry award. Keith Tostevin and others from the Guernsey Camcorder Club are there and see his movie ‘Another Wreck?’ going down well. (Sorry, but it did!)

Movies at the Festival:
Red Shoes
The Mill (last year's entry)

The Guernsey Festival has masses of trophies and cash prizes, many due to generous sponsors. There is also a special display of the Guernsey Lilies which give their name to the event. Michael Slowe picks up the documentary prize for ‘Glass Art’. For once I’m not the tallest in the room since Ron Prosser is present to pick up another award for ‘Tiddlers’ his video transfer of an 8mm story film with a fresh soundtrack. Nick Kirk and Alison Dewar receive much applause and a couple of awards for ‘Blueprint’. IAC Vice-Chairman John Gibbs enjoyed seeing two films from his club at Nuneaton being screened: ‘All Risks’ and ‘Signed and Sealed’.

Movies at the Festival: Tiddlers
Tiddlers' maker: Ron Processer

The full list of awards is on another page but here you can see pictures of the moviemakers and some stills from the winning work. The screen shots are by Richard Rouillard who put A4 blow-ups of them on the wall – a great idea since they encouraged discussion of the movies.

People at the Festival:
Chris Gomez (Best Channel Islands Entry)
Sarah Thackeray & Tim Adkins
John & Jane Gibbs

Next year will the 13th festival … everyone is keeping their fingers crossed for a trouble-free event. Afifa and Mary Rouillard are playing a greater part than before in the organisation, allowing Joan Ozanne more time to enjoy meeting and greeting visitors.

In the airport heading home we bump into Stuart Pinnell, Guernsey’s newly appointed Tourism Supremo, who had toasted us at the opening reception (or “Vin d’Honneur” as they call it.) He was obviously impressed and loved to hear our enthusiasm for the island and the festival. Will we be back?

The Speirs say they intend to return – there can be no better recommendation. Book us in now, please!

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- Dave & Jan Watterson     Oct 2003

Page updated on 21 March 2008

Authors' views are not necessarily those of The Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

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