Travel broadens the mind ... and slims the wallet.

In these tough times it is tempting to stay at home. But for most of us a vacation is something special to anticipate, enjoy as it happens and remember with pleasure. For moviemakers it also provides fodder for the editing bench in the months afterwards. Many people travel to Europe most years to visit family and friends. If you are doing so this year, why not plan your visit to coincide with a local non-commercial film festival? (See our detailed list of festivals which welcome non-commercial movies.)

It makes a change from coach trips through countryside or hiking round city sights. Spend a day or two with fellow enthusiasts, see some different movies - and maybe pick up some ideas.  If you have a suitable film to enter ... send it over in advance (before the festival deadline) and mention that you plan to attend. Many festivals will make a special effort to include your movie if they can.

Among them are three festivals that Jan and I try to attend every year:

British International Film & Video Festival

The British amateur film organization holds its major event in different parts of Britain each year. Usually around 250 entries from all over the world are received. All are scrutinized by panels of judges and each gets a written critique. The main festival days are Saturday when four or five separate programs of films play in different rooms all day, and Sunday when all the major winners are shown and prizes presented. Saturday night also has a gala dinner. Full details on the IAC website: www.theiac.org.uk Attending just the films costs about £11 each day (around US$16.50).

Comp Manager and best actress drink tea - it must be Britain!	Still from award-winner by junior animator 'Fantabulous'.	UK, Austrian and Dutch delegates in a historic building at BIAFF 2007	'Lifes Little Gaps' did well at BIAFF as it did at AIFVF.

Festival of Nations in Ebensee, Austria

The lovely sixteen-year-old at the top of this page is Yuliya Stankevich. She is part of a children's animation group in the Ukraine. A handful of them travel most years to this festival. The trip from their home takes four days by rail. That's an indication of how highly the festival is regarded. Its base is the small town of Ebensee at the end of the Traunsee lake. It is refreshingly free of tourist traps and souvenirs but is a popular base for all sorts of sporty pursuits like mountain walking, cycling, sailing ... and skiing in winter. It is about an hour by Austria's efficient rail service from Salzburg and Linz airports and is set among the beautiful Salzkammergut mountains.

The town of Ebensee by the Traunsee lake.

Bathing in the chilly (!) Traunsee.	Erich & Eva Riess festival organizers	Your webmaster on the jury panel.	The town of Ebensee in the Salzkammergut.

For a week in mid-June the town's historic kino becomes home to the festival. About a thousand entries are received each year. Around 300 are "selected" as meeting the festival's standard. About 120 are shown and discussed by both jury and audience. Priority is given to films whose "author" (film maker) is present and he or she is invited to join in the discussions. There is no entry fee for films. Attending by the day costs about 20 euros (US$27) or for the week 150 euros (just over US$200.) The weekly ticket includes opening and closing meals and an excursion mid week. Full details of how to enter, how to get there and the costs are on their website in English: http://8ung.at/filmfestival - click on the "Festival der Nationen" label and then on the British flag. If you are keen to visit drop me a line (webmaster@ampsvideo.com) and I will happily tell you practical details of travel, hotels and so on.

UNICA - the festival where nations compete

The amateur film making federation of each member nation chooses a program of about an hour to represent them. USA has been in and out of the UNICA organization over the years. It's out just now but that's no problem for anyone going. What's more there is usually no charge just for seeing the films! If you want to take part in both the opening and closing ceremonies (with banquets) and to go on the excursions there is a charge of about 200 euros (about US$270.)

Most days there are screenings (known as "projections") from several countries. It is always fascinating to see the different standards, themes and interests from all round the world. Details via the UNICA website or via the IAC British website.

The UNICA Festival takes place in a different country each year: 2009 was Gdansk in Poland, 2010 will be Einsiedeln in Switzerland, 2011 Luxemburg, 2012 possibly Rousse in Bulgaria, 2013 perhaps South Korea.

Slovak cowgirls entertain 2007 delegates	Various forms of national costume at 2006 festival	Gdansk, home of the 2009 UNICA festival	USA's Nora Serra at a Korean lunch during 2006's UNICA.

Australia / South Korea / Japan / South America / Most of Europe

There are festivals in almost every country. If you have the language of the land you can get a lot out of them. Without the language you will almost always find someone who can interpret into American. Usually they are keen to help and to practice their English. Enjoy your hobby and a holiday at one and the same time!

- Dave Watterson

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