Stating 'purpose' crucial to judging process

Each year, veteran documentary filmmaker Neil Curry puts together a judging committee in his homeplace of Africa. These judging groups use the information that

Neil Curry

entrants list under "purpose" to help them make judging decisions, and all too often, the details have not been provided.
 

"As usual, some producers lose marks because they ignore the question of ‘why was this film made,’ on the entry form," writes Curry. "But more importantly, if the makers themselves don’t know precisely why they made the film – and can spell it out in a couple of sentences - it explains why so many of their films end up as simply catalogues of stunning shots and sequences, but without any real direction or focus to hold them all together in the end."  

Good information to keep in mind as we look toward next year's competition. The final judging stages for 2015 are nearing completion so we should be able to announce the overall winners and the Best of Festival (Grand Prix) nominees in just a few days. 

You wanted more time! You got it!

Entry deadline for 2015 competition is extended until April 15. Hurry; get those entries ready. This is no April Fool's joke.

New Judge Works in Caribbean

Ellen Hoch-Kramer

Ellen Hoch-Kramer, owner of Caribbean Int'l Photo & Film Production Service Corp., has joined the judging panel as the FilmFest competition nears its final deadline of March 31. 

Producer Hoch-Kramer holds a degree from University of Arts in Berlin. Her website: www.thecaribbeanproduction.com  

 

Michaud Joins Judges Panel

Justin Michaud

We welcome Justin Michaud of  Telecine Multimedia, Montreal, Canada, to USInternational Film & Video Festival’s 2015 Judging Panel. 

Michaud writes that his interest in film and TV production dates to Saturday morning cartoon and that growing up in an Asian country he was introduced to different styles of animation. He especially liked the anime series, Gundam. 

The early experiences “influenced the types of content that I enjoy visually and has allowed me to be open to other style also,” he says.  

One World Award Supports Tolerance; March 1 Entry Deadline Coming Up

The International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ), a global peer network of production company owners, sponsors and selects the winner of the One World Award given each year as part of the FilmFest competition. The award honors a production demonstrating international cooperation and global understanding. Established in 1966, IQ is headquartered in New York City, but has a worldwide membership. Its current president is Donna Hampton, capitolproductions.com, Sydney & Montreal.

Previous winners have highlighted health, political, racial, environmental, preservation and child labor issues. They included “Tracking the Monster: Confronting AIDS in Africa,” by Boom Pictures, New York City; “The Battle of Chernobyl” from Discovery Networks International; “Beyond Beliefs,” CloserProductions, Adelaide for Issues Deliberation Australia/America; 2012; “Heritage Saved is History Preserved” about the salvation of the town of Deventer in The Netherlands and “Counterfeit Culture,” from Tell Tale Productions, Halifax, Nova Scotia, about fake products.

      Check out www.filmfestawards.com for details on the 2015 competition. Deadline is March 1. Also, see iqfilm.org to learn more about that organization.

2014 Best of Festival Award presented to Minister of Tourism, kwp!

Minister Leon Bignell (from left); Gluckman; James Rickard

Lee Gluckman reports that the Best of Festival Presentation to kwp! at the South Australia Press Club in Adelaide went very well.

The award was given to the Honourable Leon Bignell, South Australia Minister for Tourism, and James Rickard, Creative Director, kwp! Advertising for “Barossa. Be Consumed,” a film on the Barossa wine country of South Australia.

The film, entered in the 2014 competition by kwp!, reflects the luxurious accommodations, award-winning wines and applauded cuisine of Australia’s wine capital about two hours from Adelaide. The work was done for the South Australia Tourism Commission and produced by Moth Projects. A second presentation is taking place at kwp! offices. More on that later. In photo: Bignell (from left), Gluckman, Rickard. See more about Barossa at http://beconsumed.southaustralia.com 

A Wonderful Welcome by GMA!

Thanks to GMA Chairman and Chief Executive

GMA Chairman Gozon

Felipe L. Gozon for his greetings today when Chairman Lee Gluckman met with GMA News TV staff in Manila to honor their awards in  the 2014 US International Film & Video Festival.