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UNICA Festivals: 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
UNICA 2002 - People
2002: Introduction | Movies | Organisation | Outings | Jury Comments | UK films | UK Success |
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There's a constant buzz of conversation in all sorts of languages. Most participants have a some English so for us it is relatively easy. Sometimes the English is a little fractured but gestures, goodwill and a smattering of school French and German usually make communication possible - and enjoyable. Ctirad Stipl (Czechia) left and "Loos" (Netherlands) right. |  |
| The people are a major part of the pleasure - for us at UNICA.
For Jan and me it starts with breakfast when we try to sit with people from other countries to find out about them. One morning we talk to Belgians, another to Dutch, another to German. Over muesli, tea and toast, conversation begins easily. |
 Christiane Surdiacourt & Martin Bracke (Belgium) with whom we often breakfasted |
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 Jean-Claude Lejosne (France) multi-lingual translator called Mr. Unica. This is an extremely rare shot of him in collar and tie - studied informality is his usual style. We shared a sauna with him and Jan Baca! |
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During the festival there are 20 minute intervals every hour or so and longer breaks for meals.
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  During a lunchtime stroll we
chanced upon the Austrian group having a picnic in the grounds. Erich Riess
(left) organiser of the Ebensee Festival of Nations poured slivovitz ...
sausages and potato chips were nibbled. Franz Schlager (right) explained
a theory of motion and movie cameras, to which one of the jury had made reference
earlier. |
I mentioned that Jan has never seen an Ebensee bear - the most cuddly festival prizes in the world. None was to hand but Erich gave her a lovely miniature bear ... "to encourage a visit to Austria for the festival." |
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 Eka Lomsaridze from Georgia
(former USSR) was one of many people attending their first ever UNICA festival.
She accompanied Svetlana Uturgauri whom we first met two years earlier at
UNICA in Roermond, Holland. |
 Jan Baca, modest, charming and urbane Spanish film
making master. He was behind one of the Gold Medal winners Un Toc
De Gris. After years of taking top awards he often disguises his entries
- this one was credited to "Thelma and Louise". |
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| The final jury discussion was a tense occasion for everyone .... | ||
Norman and Dorothy Speirs appear to be concentrating ... but is Norrie, perhaps, checking his camcorder playback? |
Annabelle and Reg Lancaster (GB) seen here looking unusually tense as they consider the jury comments. |
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Gerald Mee, Betty Jennings, Val Ellis and Alan Cartwright.
All seasoned UNICA visitors.
- Dave Watterson Sep 2003
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