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The man with a mission, who encouraged me to go to UNICA 2005 in Blankenburge, told me that - “I would come back a better movie maker”. If I can put into practice what I have observed and heard, I certainly have a head start.

I went with Christine, my French wife, for the eight day festival. We are familiar with travelling in Europe and meeting people through our local French twinning group but this event was a new experience. Having the opportunity to talk to, and share meal tables with diverse people from all over Europe and beyond was a refreshing element. As a UNICA newcomer, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of the event, and the organisation and scale of the Blankenburge’s huge casino complex, which was necessary to stage the festival.

Arriving at the Casino only half an hour after checking in to our hotel, we were greeted on the steps of the massive entrance hall by John and Jane Gibbs from our home club, Nuneaton.

The main conference room, which I called the ‘Great Hall of the People’ reminded me of television images of stony face comrades in the former communist bloc sitting in immense halls. There, the similarity ended, the ambience was superb, as it was so easy to communicate with people, many of whom spoke some English or French, making the encounter more than agreeable. We saw many colleagues from the IAC, and met up again with other overseas members from the Chesterfield BIAFF festival. Our address book is now fuller with new friends and contacts throughout Europe.

Not being there just for the Belgian beer, we sat through 89 of the films being screened - it was certainly a marathon, but it was worth every minute of it. It was stimulating to see the diversity of the approach to film making from other countries. Many topics, which we in the UK would not be comfortable dealing with, were faced head-on by numerous filmmakers. Race, religion and social issues were portrayed in an open and perceivable manner.

At home, we may feel it is secure to stay with the tried and tested format of 'club' movies, I admit, that I have thought this way, by working within our own comfortable environment. It may be the case that that many of the new and emerging countries had filmmaking freedoms denied to them. Do we take our liberty too much for granted?

UNICA has not influenced me to the point that I have become a rebel with a cause overnight. On the contrary, it has helped me to see filmmaking in a new dimension. In the notes I made about a film, I wrote: ‘Excellent images with an apparent powerful message, but I could not understand it.' I have concluded that this is my shortcoming and not the filmmakers. Some films did have an obscure meaning which truly tested our imagination and I would have liked to have asked some of the filmmakers “what motivates you to make films and why?” This is a question I can now put to myself.

The festival was complete with the bands, banquets and visits within the Flemish region of Belgium. A coach took us to Ypres, with a guided tour of the town. It was completely rebuilt to its original style, which was destroyed in The Great War. At 8.00 pm every evening the ‘Last Post’ is sounded at the Mennen Gate, and on this occasion was followed by a short ceremony, which was specially conducted for the UNICA visit.

A most memorable day was the visit by train to the picturesque city of Bruges in the pouring rain. The highlight was a trip on the canals in an open boat sitting on wet seats under umbrellas! We all said “we will laugh at this later!” But we decided to smile then, and make it all part of the visit. It was rather strange that John and Jane Gibbs ‘lost’ their guide and missed the canal trip! Was this extra sensory perception or just common sense?

At the closing event, we dined with some French colleagues and on reflection, it was difficult to believe all that we had fitted into one week. Mr Cheung from South Korea, a larger than life man, had visited each table trying to teach us a few words of Mandarin, ‘Cheers’ being ‘Kombe-ee’’ and placed our hands on our head in an amusing manner giving a message about ‘amour’.

It was a pity that the former Russian Republic of Georgia was refused visas to attend the festival and that they were not even able to submit their films. Reading the UNICA gazette, which was published every two days with up to date information, a short article which had not been translated from French stated that : ‘UNICA’s President was most concerned about this.’ He was worried that delegates would have nothing to do for an hour! Most would have been content to put their feet up and have a cup of tea.

There was much to see and comment on, and I will leave the critique of the films to wiser and more and experienced members. I am encouraged that I had formed the same opinion as members of the jury in some of instances. They were however, sparing with their awards and it was interesting to hear their comments which were only translated into head phones on the final day. They were repeated in four languages and made the jury session’s long and only for the seasoned devotee.

I must mention the impact of the 'minute' movies and the work of the Young Film Makers whose work was screened at the end of the week. It was most impressive. It was a great opportunity to see so many films from many nations. It is true that some are advantaged by their own countries cultural commitment and initiatives for filmmakers. In this sense we are not on a level playing field. But what is most important, it enables non-professional filmmakers from many nationalities to come together with one common cause, creating movies.

Making our final farewells, Reg Lancaster asked if we had enjoyed it. Our response prompted him to say: ‘you see if you get the bug, you’ll be back for more’. We certainly hope to be back at the first possible opportunity and in the meantime make a few new films.

- Patrick and Christine Woodcock – Nuneaton.

(Source: CEMRIAC Nov/Dec 2005)