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ORGANE OFFICIEL DE L'UNION INTERNATIONALE DU CINÉMA
NON PROFESSIONEL
UNICA NEWS August 2001 |
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Dear Film Friends
Again and again we hear that we live in an "uncaring age". So, if I now take the liberty of telling you about some "cares", please accept my apologies. It can be taken as an incentive to give some thought to the matter and start examining how this particular "care" - could be solved.
I refer here to something very simple. If you have taken part in several UNICA congresses, you have surely observed it as a plain fact: I am talking of the fact that UNICA-participants are mostly senior citizens. Sure it is very nice to see good old friends every year on the occasion of UNICA. But still ...
As I am myself a member of the old fogies, I can take the liberty of raising the matter yet again. If we think of how it was 20 years back, we must admit that, in those days, not just elderly people came to UNICA, we also had many young people coming. So we must try to identify the reason why this is no longer the case. Of course we could pinpoint many reasons but let us be content with some observations:
- As we are very often told, young people are no longer prepared to be tied down in some sort of association. There are indeed few young movie makers in our clubs or in the regional organisations, and consequently at UNICA. Though many new medicines have appeared on the market, unfortunately the pharmaceutical industry has not found any remedy against that ailment.
- We do our best to make an accurate evaluation of the young filmmakers achievements and yet this fact gets little credit. We are sometimes amazed to see young movie makers driving for hours to come to a film competition - but often just to make sure that their own work is duly screened and to see how the public likes it. Then they go again, without showing much interest in other people's achievements or comparing them with their own.
- It is not easy to understand this kind of attitude and even less to accept it. But all the same: the question remains: what can we do to attract more young people to UNICA congresses?
I can imagine what most people will answer, but I claim that money is not the only key to the problem. There are some national federations that bear nearly all the expenses to make it possible for a young person to attend a UNICA Competition. But he or she will typically come once, show their film and turn away; we will not see them the following year. Here is the point where it falls to national federations to step in and find ways to fight against this lack of interest so that we can hope that - possibly after some years - positive results can be registered.
UNICA is prepared to provide support to enhance such efforts - so far as our resources allow. So, what about having a try?
Looking back over the year 2000, the Roermond UNICA event definitely has pride of place. We enjoyed the quality of projection, the comfort of the hotel, the professionalism of the organisation and - above all - very fine weather. We offer warm thanks to all members of the Organising committee. At that competition, we experimented with a new way of having jury discussions. This is because we are trying out new procedures, bearing in mind that what is new is not always better just because of its novelty. We should accept the idea that we might have to change again- which is probably what we will do in 2001. But obviously we cannot just sit back and wait, with the risk of somebody pulling the chair away from us... We must take initiatives and try to explore new routes, even if the way is strewn with sharp stones.
The UNICA Committee examined such issues during its various meetings and suggested changes, bearing in mind that they were no than attempts to introduce improvements, conscious that we are not going to reinvent the wheel, but at least we can try to oil it so that it runs more smoothly ...
Over the coming years the UNICA Congress will be held in Luxembourg (2002) and after the cancellation of the South African event, most probably in Meran, Italy (2003).
We should also consider the following issue: should we at UNICA competitions, show only videos, i.e. films copied as videos?
This will be the situation this year in Tallinn as it is not possible to find sufficient equipment in Estonia for traditional film projection. We were made aware of this difficulty when the committee met in Tallinn. It is a plain fact that cannot be circumvented: there are now countries where film projection is no longer possible. Estonia is probably not a unique case. We will examine this problem thoroughly but we also understand that we will at some stage have to make a decision against which there will probably be a great resistance.
As you can see, we have many things to care about and we should be prepared for them. However, I am pleased to observe active co-operation within the UNICA Committee. All members contribute unstintingly of their energy and experience, working to solve pending problems. For me, this is an opportunity to thank all the Committee members for their hard work.
Now I feel (nearly) free of some of my cares since I hope that, with your unfailing support, we will manage to overcome them.
Yours Max Hänsli
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Franz Rienesl (AUS) |
Hans Schober (CHE) |
Jaak Järvine (EST) |
Piet Van Eerden (NLD) |
Holger Becker (DEU) |
Leon Daniel (POL) |
REPORT OF THE UNICA FILM LIBRARIAN
In the year 1999/2000 over 100 videos were ordered from the Czech republic, Macedonia, Austria, Germany, Spain, Finland, Slovakia, Belgium, Croatia, France, Holland, Argentina, Switzerland and Poland. I would like to thank to all of them for the prompt return of tapes.
I request all the presidents to observe the following:
- All videos should be rewound after presentation.
- I would like to ask you when returning the films (videos) to the film library in Switzerland, to enclose any Customs - or other accompanying official documents. We must pay Custom duties for all films (videos) which are returned without these papers and this is considerable. I hope for your support in the future.
- I will continue to do my utmost to execute all orders for Film & Videos very quickly. It is desirable to specify the number, title, country and, if possible, the year. This simplifies the work of the film librarian and also guarantees a reliable shipping.
Sincerely yours
Hans Schober
UNICA Library, Rosenbergstr. 56, CH - 9000 St. Gallen, Suisse
tel.: + 41 711 223 6002
fax: + 41 711 222 9236
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UNICA to be represented on the panel of judges of the "Europe Youth Prize for photo and film 1965-66"
On 25th October 1963, the European Committee unanimously decided to invite the President of UNICA, Mr. Wilhelm Herrmann, to act as a member of the judging panel for the European Youth Prize. This competition will take place on 31st March 1966 in Brussels. The object of the competition is to award prizes to the best work in black-and-white and colour photography submitted from countries of the European Economic Community. During this event a Youth Film Competition will also be held, during which the best and most typical amateur films among the forty-eight to be submitted by young people will be chosen.
- The World of the Amateur Film Maker Official review of UNICA, March 1966
GRANTS FOR MOVIE MAKERS - Letter from the Minor Foundation
Dear UNICA News, The "Minor Foundation" may help realise new film projects. We would be grateful if you inform film makers within your network about the foundation. We grant funds for innovative and untraditional environmental projects. The "Minor Foundation for Major Challenges" is a non-profit foundation that gives financial support to projects aimed at limiting human-created, global climate problems. Any project whose objective is to influence public opinion and change attitudes to these problems is eligible for support. In 2001 approximately NOK 1.5 million is available for distribution. More information about the Minor Foundation and the application can be found on our internet site www.minor-foundation.no.
Rune Andreassen, The Minor-Foundation |
UNICA may grant patronage to an international film and video festival that conforms with the following rules:
- The application for patronage is addressed to the Secretariat of UNICA, accompanied by the festival rules and a copy of the entry form. The organiser informs his national federation by means of a copy of the letter of application. (Organisers not being a member of a national federation or in a country not being affiliated to UNICA, address the application to the Secretariat of UNICA only.)
- All documents of the festival must include the formulation "under the patronage of UNICA" and the logo of UNICA. Copies should be sent to the Secretariat of UNICA.
- A list of jury members, a film catalogue and a list of the prize-winners have to be sent to the Secretariat of UNICA.
- The festival must be open to all non-commercial films.
- A classification per nation is not allowed.
- No copies - partial or total - of a film or video work, nor the transmission of a production on TV, may be made without written authorisation of the author.
- The organiser should invite, if possible, a delegate of UNICA to the jury. In any case UNICA is entitled to send a representative.
- UNICA bestows a special prize for each festival under the patronage of UNICA to the film or video production promoting solidarity between the nations, or using new forms of expression.
- For each festival a patronage fee of CHF 100 is imposed. The amount has to be transferred to the account of UNICA (n° 853606 MlW) Union de Banques Suisses at Frauenfeld, Switzerland.
- The patronage may be renewed upon written request.
Patronage: Miette Verlinden, Wouter Haecklaan 14, bus 9B-2100 DEURNE
- Belgique
tel: ++32 3 3218528
Henryk Lehnert wins prize in the European Film Festival
Henryk Lehnert (POL) with a Crystal Ball - A Prize in the Category
of Amateur Films at EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL in Torun (Poland) on 8th April
2001.
In a letter to Mr. Lehnert the UNICA President, Max Hänsli wrote:
"It makes me extraordinarily happy to congratulate you. Forty years in the service of amateur film is a performance, which one can only be evaluated, if you appreciate how much has been achieved in this time.
Forty years in amateur film is a long time, especially when you look back at everything that has occurred during this time. You coped with it all and are still an active film maker. You are a role model from whom we can all learn. I personally wish you every happiness for the next forty years, trusting that you would like to experience those years in the best of health.
I wish you, your club and your activity all the best. With fond memories of the happy hours spent in your film studio."
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