Laughter and applause made a happy background for the presentation of a UNICA Gold Medal to Dave Watterson.

Reg Lancaster, IAC Chairman, praised Dave's work for the Institute as a member of Council – including a spell as Treasurer, his many years of movie judging and above all for his work developing the IAC website. Reg explained that UNICA made a Gold Medal available each year for the IAC to award to someone whose work had enhanced or developed movie making in Britain. Joking about their common Scottish background Reg (Glasgow) noted that Dave had succeeded despite the handicap of his birthplace (Edinburgh).

Dave did not want to make a fuss about the event. He commented that he was glad it had given him a chance to wangle an invitation to Reg's club, Orpington Video & Film Makers about which he had heard so many positive comments. Thanking club members for "giving generous applause to someone you don't know for doing something you're not sure what," Dave added "It demonstrates what a warm-hearted, supportive. positive group you are."

After enjoying a pleasant meal with Reg & Annabelle Lancaster, Dave and his wife, Jan, attended the club meeting on Tuesday 17th June 2003 to hear a fascinating talk by David Longley, SERIAC Competition Officer, on the theme 'What Makes A SERIAC Winner'.

UNICA (Union Internationale du Cinema Non-Professionel) is the international organisation for movie making federations like the IAC. It represents amateur movie making interests to CICT, part of UNESCO, and holds an archive of movies, but is best known for the week-long World Amateur Movie Festival it stages in a different country each year. Reg & Annabelle Lancaster have been enthusiastic supporters of the festival for twenty years. Dave & Jan started going four years ago. Dave helps to proof-read the English language text of the UNICA News magazine and prepares the online version of it which appears on this website. He has also helped to subtitle movies from other nations into English and British movies into both German and French to encourage better exchanges between countries.

Both couples encourage anyone who will listen to attend UNICA Festivals - they are open to all, offer good value holidays in interesting places and provide a chance to see scores of first-class amateur movies in a civilised, relaxing atmosphere.

For details of UNICA Festivals - click here.

- Atta Chui    Jun 2003

Page updated on 21 March 2008

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

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