AV News 180 - May 2010
With reference to the Star award system, I think it has great merit. For the
majority of the BIAFF entrants the event is not so much a competition for the top
prizes, most know that in their heart of hearts they have no chance of winning,
but is a bench-marking exercise to see how their work compares objectively with
a standard they can check by viewing other films with the same rating.
The Great Northern is the only AV competition I know where each entrant gets
some sort of feedback, even if it is only given as a simple grade such as A-, B+,
C+, to reflect the three judges' overall rating. I thought it was a good idea back
then when a few of us initiated the annual National event in the north and I still
think it's a good idea. A written critique, really would be the icing on the cake.
How about introducing this into the RPS International and the Nationals?
I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience, despite the hard work involved,
and would gladly serve on any other film jury.
BIAFF 2010 was held in Bedford on the 16th - 18th April. The weekend started
on the Friday night with the showing of the IAC Geoffrey Round Trophy AV
Competition. As chairman of the jury for that event I was interested to compare
that experience with the BIAFF judging.
The Saturday was devoted to a selection of the BIAFF entries and Sunday
was given over to the showing of the Award Winners. An extremely enjoyable
experience for everyone attending.
The Geoffrey Round Trophy
G e ra ld M e e FACI ARPS
Geoffrey Round FACI was IAC Chairman from 1963 to 1965.
He died on April 18th 1966. Geoffrey lived with his wife,
Mary, in Weston-super-Mare and it was he who arranged
the first IAC AGM to be held outside London. In October
1963 the AGM took place in Weston-super-Mare.
At the London Amateur Film Festivals in February 1970,
the first IAC Tape/Slide Competition took place at the St.
Ermins Hotel, Caxton Street, Westminster and the then
President, George H Sewell FRPS FBKS FACI presented the new Trophy, which
he had asked the IAC Council to provide in memory of the late Geoffrey Round.
This was called 'The Geoffrey Round Memorial Cup'. The entries were preselected by George Sewell and the final three judges were George Sewell,
Michael Tickner FRPS (one of the pioneers of the technique in this country) and
Gordon Malthouse FRPS FACI.
It was intended to hold this Competition annually to satisfy the growing
amount of Tape/Slide work that our IAC members were producing. This first
Competition was won by a member from the USA. Sadly there were very few
entries and probably the idea was a little premature. The art of Slide /Tape was
in its infancy.
In February 1971, at the Festival, again at the same venue, the Sunday
morning programme was devoted to Slide/Tape - a discussion on 'The
relationship between Slide/Tape and the Amateur Film Maker.' Again, little
interest was shown and the annual Competition was dropped.
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