BRITISH INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR
FILM COMPETITION 2013

New Judging Criteria! New Young People’s Competition!

Each year the IAC stages the British International Amateur Film Festival (BIAFF), the most prestigious event for film-makers like yourselves in the UK. As most of you are aware, BIAFF draws its material from the IAC’s Annual International Film Competition, which is unique in a number of ways. We accept entries of unlimited length. We rate all films on a scale of One to Five Stars (plus top awards) so that you know exactly where you stand relative to your peers. We offer constructive written feedback on every entry. This is a Competition designed to benefit everyone in the amateur film movement, from novices to those who are world class. I want everyone who has entered to feel that they have been enriched by the experience!

During the course of the 2011-12 IAC Competition there has been a lot of healthy discussion about the way we judge the films and award the Star ratings. Whilst there has been some positive feedback, it is clear that there are some issues that need to be addressed.

Back in July I assembled a team of experienced judges and well-known amateur film-makers for a day long workshop to review the IAC Judging Criteria that we apply in deciding those ‘Star’ ratings. We also took the opportunity to look at how to enhance the training we already give to our judges and how to build on the encouragement we offer young film-makers. I think this is all about being, as an Institute, as open and transparent as possible. The outcome is as follows:

Let’s start by stating the criteria to be applied by judges in the 2013 Competition:

1 Star - Work at this level shows little understanding of the basics of film-making. It may for example have unsteady photography or problems with exposure, obvious distortions of sound or unattractive abrupt changes. It may lack understanding of the conventions of editing. The film may typically lack effective story or structure and fail to engage the viewer.
2 Star - The work demonstrates a developing understanding of film-making techniques but there are still some significant weaknesses. Cinematography may be inadequate with little sign of attractive or well composed pictures. Sound may be uneven. Story may feel too long. The film may fail to show an adequate sense of purpose/structure/timing. Voiceover may state the obvious. Editing may not flow.
3 Star - Basically good cinematography, and with signs of using pleasing compositions. Sound appropriate and well balanced. Clear structure and planning. Appropriate pace. Acting good enough not to spoil the story. Flows reasonably well with few distractions. Overall the film lacks sparkle, but largely holds the viewer’s attention.
4 Star - It is expected that the story will hang together well as an artistic whole. This standard of film would have something special about it: perhaps something original in the treatment of the subject, or something out of the ordinary about the content, or be technically creative. It may, however, have minor flaws which detrimentally affect the audience appeal.
5 Star - An excellent film, creative and well structured, possibly stylish or innovative. It has a clear and satisfying structure, appealing to the audience. Films at this level would generally be technically excellent, demonstrating a comprehensive grasp of film-making. Any acting/narration will be of a high standard, and the subject matter will be well researched etc.

Clearly each Star rating will inevitably cover a range of attainment levels, and will be subjective to some degree; film is a work of art not science. However, all my judges have been through training for standardisation of the award categories, and will be instructed to consider both the technical and artistic merits of each film. Please also be aware that the general standard of films drifts over time, and my judges will try to assess films as they would be perceived by a ‘non specialist’ audience. For the first round of the Competition the judges will work in teams of three, to ensure that each film is seen by people from a variety of backgrounds and given the best chance possible.

A panel of final adjudicators will select a fixed number of eight IAC Diamond Award Winners from the 5 Star films. They will also select winners of ‘craft awards’ for acting, photography etc., and of course The Daily Mail Trophy for the Best Amateur Film of the Year.

Now how can we improve the quality of the feedback we give to you?

As a trial next year I will implement the following:
Competitors will be invited to supply a second copy of their film on a standard definition DVD, which may be borrowed by the judge producing the written appraisal if the judge feels this will be useful to do a more thorough job. Make no mistake, the initial viewing of the film by the judging panel must still be thorough and will determine the award granted. However, submitting the second copy is in your best interests in ensuring that the judge can do a better job in giving you good, accurate feedback on your work. It will be stressed to judges that they will be absolutely forbidden from changing the Star rating as a result of a subsequent viewing, because this would be unfair to other competitors.

So lastly what can we do to give more encouragement to younger film-makers?

Young film-makers will be given a choice of two competition options. They may select only one:
1. Enter the main Competition. The judges will not be told the age of the competitors. This is the option for ambitious film-makers who want to quote ‘Star’ ratings on their CVs, win top awards etc.
2. Enter exclusive competitions for Under 16 and 16-21 competitors. In each category there will be a single judging panel who will review all the films, write educational critiques about each, and decide which film is best. There will be no ‘Star’ ratings. This is for schools and other organisations who want upbeat and constructive feedback on their work, without being intimidated by a Star rating system normally applied to adult work. The best film from each age category will be presented to the final round judges, along with those receiving the highest ‘Star’ ratings in the adult competition. From these the Best Under 16, Best 16-21 and Best British Young Film-maker trophy winners will be selected.

The Competition Manager will make a selection from both competitions of which films are to be screened at the ‘Young Faces at BIAFF’ Show on the Saturday afternoon of the festival. Films from both competitions may be considered for inclusion in the UK’s UNICA Programme.

I hope you approve of the changes I am making. As usual, full entry forms for the 2013 Competition are already available on this web site in four languages. It is anticipated that the on-line registration system for entries will be available by mid September, which will offer a £2 saving on entry fees.

My sincere thanks are due to the following who participated in the workshop:
Alan Atkinson, John Gibbs, Linda & Michael Gough, Jill Lampert, Rob Day, Ron Prosser and Reg Lancaster.

David Newman FACI, Competition Manager  E-mail: competition@theiac.org.uk

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