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A Fabulous Family-Feeling Festival

"It feels like being at a great family party ..." said one delegate summing up how we all felt. This year's festival, held in La Villette Hotel from 13th-15th October was specially good. Mary had exchanged detailed emails with many delegates beforehand, encouraging them to attend and helping them book accomodation. Afifa hugged, smiled and made everyone feel welcome. Richard organised the screenings, complete with inter-titles announcing the awards each winner had been given. Peter acted as master of ceremonies tying it all together. From the opening Vin d'Honneur (wine and cheese) in Sausmaurez Manor to the final unofficial group dinner at Moore's Hotel in St. Peterport it was a total joy.

[We look forward to 2007 when the festival will probably be on the weekend 12-14th October with a closing date for entries of 31st May - these dates subject to confirmation.]

For many British delegates the event began a few days earlier. Lots of people make this festival a chance for an end of season holiday break in Guernsey. The weather was kind, the shops had bargains, there were lots of great walks ... in the main venue, La Villette Hotel, there was great food, a full-sized swimming pool with jacuzzis and saunas ... and there was excellent company. Groups of travellers arrived from Scotland and the North-West. It was good to see Ron Challen, Sheila Sutcliffe, Brian and Alice Dunckley - despite various health problems which had restricted their excursions earlier in the year. People came from most counties of England.

From France came Jean-Pierre Hué and Emmanuelle Dubois (right) with their new work For The Sheik's Spirits (Last year they won top BIAFF awards separately with The Better the Harvest and The Middle Way.) From Austria came Wolfgang (left) and Margrit Herzel, director and star of Silent Night and Otto Schöedl maker of Raumvermessung. From Belgium came Paul Amand and Yvo Vanderlinden whose film Who is Vincent? took top prize and best actress award; plus Martin Bracke and Christiane Surdiacourt regular visitors to BIAFF on their first visit to Guernsey.

Winners To Talk To

As well as those from Europe there were a great many winners there and it was fun to discuss their work with Phil Martin and Geoff Addis (The Sleeper and Wormhole At Britwell Salome), Matt Thomas (The Zombie Enigma), Michael Slowe (right) with his first HD-shot documentary (It's An Alpaca!) which won the overall audience prize. Ron Prosser was being modest about Going Loco, Colin Jones was happy to explain more about animation as shown in The Birth Of A Notion - Simple Sisyphus, Trevor Bawn paid tribute to the aircrew lost on the Peak District as shown in his Many Of Our Aircraft Are Missing, Rod Willerton grinned at talk of his work Pot Luck. Frits Cohen (on left and masquerading as Cohensky on the credits) in his dazzling, colourful shirts talked happily about Aspects Of Turkey.

Winners To Listen To
For many different reasons some winning film makers could not attend. Peter Rouillard started the festival with a short, moving tribute to Malcolm Whiteley who died the Monday before the event. Urbain Appeltans sent a video message which began with his co-director Magda Verbist holding up a flattened cardboard box on which had been written his script in English! He apologised because his health did not permit him to attend. Ken Wilson sent a spoof "live satellite feed" of his apology - he was shooting a wedding video - with added caption jokes. John Grey sent a tape of snow in Tasmania, then revealed that his ancestors came from Guernsey so he hoped to attend in a future year. Lewi Firth Bolton took us on a tour of the set for his next claymation piece, adding clips of some completed scenes from it - he is just 14, so we hope for many more fine pieces from him. The best surprise came from Nancy Shea winner of best actress: she spoke from a seat near the back of an empty darkened theatre. She usually performs on stage and gracefully thanked the film makers for giving her a chance to perform on screen. Then in close-up she spoke of the excellent relationship with her co-star , who sat down next to her as she revealed that they are now married!

THE RESULTS - many of which were shown since for the first time the festival added Saturday morning screenings this year ...

Best Film in Festival	Who Is Vincent? by Paul Lacroix, Paul Amand, Yvo Vanderlinden (Belgium)
Guernsey Lily Trophies	Little Wonders Of Nature by Florent Van Opstal (Belgium) [Making of] Silent Night, Holy Night by Dr Wolfgang Herzel (Austria) Hannah by Urbain Appeltans & Magda Verbist (Belgium) [Making of] Cinemascope by Urbain Appeltans (Belgium) [Making of] The Grand Sale by Tana Fletcher (UK) [Making of]
Special Awards
Best Photography	Little Wonders Of Nature by Florent Van Opstal (Belgium)
Best Animation	The Grand Sale by Tana Fletcher (UK)
Best Use of Sound	Silent Night, Holy Night by Dr Wolfgang Herzel (Austria)
Best Documentary	For The Sheik's Spirits by Jean-Pierre Hue (France)
Best Fiction	Who Is Vincent? by Paul Lacroix, Paul Amand, Yvo Vanderlinden (Belgium)
Best Editing	The Sleeper by Phil Martin (UK)
Best Comedy	Deadly Quest by Ken Wilson (UK)
Best Script	Madeleine by Heron Productions (UK)
Best Travelogue	Egypt Viewpoint by John Grey (Tasmania)
Best Acting Performance	Nancy Shea in Who Is Vincent?
Best Youth Award ( Very Highly Commended)	The Wardrobe by Lewi Firth Bolton (UK)
Best Channel Islands Entry (Very Highly Commended)	The Zombie Enigma by Matt Thomas (Guernsey)
Best Nature Film	Little Wonders Of Nature by Florent Van Opstal (Belgium)
Most Promising Newcomer (Very Highly Commended)	The Zombie Enigma by Matt Thomas (Guernsey)

Page updated on 18 May 2009

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

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