UNICA depuis 1937
ENGLISH

 

OUR MISSION

In a spirit of peaceful co-operation and friendship between peoples, UNiCA promotes international understanding and cooperation, in particular in the field of art, culture, education and science, in accordance with the principles of UNESCO.



WHAT IS UNiCA


UNiCA is an independent international organisation. She is a member of the CICT - International Council for Film, Television and Audiovisual Communication at UNESCO, which is an authoritative body. The supreme body of UNiCA is the General Assembly where all member organisations have the right to participate and to vote. Executive power is held by a Committee composed of eleven members and selected for a three-year term by the General Assembly.

WE CARE TO SUPPORT NON-COMMERCIAL FILMMAKERS


  • by promoting video and film making as a means of international communication
  • by supporting international cultural co-operation
  • by representing its member organisations at UNESCO
  • by recognising the independence and freedom of expression of its member organisations.


Kate's Filmclub short film QR project

FEATURES

This is the highlight of UNiCA's annual meeting when each member presents a selection of films.

Prizes are awarded by an international jury.

The most interesting productions are awarded gold, silver or bronze medals.

Every year ICFT / CICT offers the UNESCO Fellini Medal (Delmiro de Caralt Prize) to be awarded to a work witnessing to the values of tolerance and peace fostered by UNESCO.

The Young UNiCA competition is intended for young filmmakers up to the age of 25. It is included in the competition of the national programmes.

Any country may send 1 film of no more than 60 seconds long, including all titles and credits.

A country whose film was selected for the final 16 in the previous year, may send 2 films.

The committee selects the best 16 films.

The sequence of films will be determined by drawing lots.

Finally the 16 films are judged by audience vote.



The purpose of the "Friends of UNiCA“ is to support UNiCA, to promote its work and contribute to a cheerful and positive development of the group.

When requested, UNiCA supports national and international film festivals which commit themselves to the regulations of UNiCA.

For these events a special UNiCA prize is offered to be awarded by the organisers.

YOUTH

Are you an ambitious young filmmaker (age 18 - 25) who does not produce films professionally, nor studies full time at a film school?

Make sure you send in your film(s) to compete in a festival organised by your own country's National Organisation for non-commercial (amateur) film! They are the ones that give out the invitations!

UNiCA's Film Library, established in 1938, currently has over 1200 works in the form of film and video. The oldest item dates from 1935. 

The film and video copies in the library have been donated by their makers and the corresponding national organisations.


There is a digital catalogue on the Internet with detailed information on the titles of the films in the library.

WE OFFER

In 1931,  five countries
organised  the  first  international amateur film competition in Brussels.

NATIONS

WITHOUT

BORDERS

UNiCA was founded at the

World's Fair in Paris in 1937

and it goes on:

"The role of festivals has changed.


You used to go and see films you would never get back, now you can catch up on platforms.
Exchanges between spectators, filmmakers and institutions
have become important."



Niccolò Castelli, film director
Director Ticino Film Commission and Director Solothurn Film Festival, Switzerland (Azione 16.1.2023)

FILM FESTIVALS REVIEW


We'd like to remind you that launching the videos will send some data to YouTube, Vimeo or other video servers.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY


The General Assembly (GA) is held once a year in the course of the UNiCA Congress.
The GA is composed of the delegates, their deputies, the members of the Committee and the members of the existing special commissions. The GA is open to the public, except by a contrary decision of the GA.


STATUTES & DIRECTIVES (pdf)


  

    ARCHIVE - FILM & VIDEO - FILMLIBRARY since 1935


    • For many years member National Organisations have received DVDs of UNiCA programmes, including films, which are not available online. That means, that most films can be borrowed from these Organisations.
    • Older films are stored in the Lichtspiel Archive in Bern. These films may be borrowed by National Organisations. Request them via Filmlibrary.
    • If acetate films are requested, a flat fee of CHF 25.- has to be paid for the digitalized copy. If the original film is requested the postal charges have to be met.
    • Friends of UNiCA may also request films.
    • The films are described in the catalogues.

    ARCHIVE - DOCUMENTS


    ARCHIVE - FILM EQUIPMENT


    Cine Museo 65 (1922-1987), CH-6997 Sessa TI.

    This exhibition introduces you to the history of do-it-yourself films and shows you many contemporary documents such as amateur films, movie cameras, projectors and other devices. The formats range from 8, Super8, 9.5 up to 16 mm.

    The golden age of Agfa, Bauer, Braun, Beaulieu, Bell & Howell, BOLEX Paillard, Kodak, Nizo, Pathé Baby, Zeiss Ikon, ...

    THE COMMITTEE,

    elected on 31 OCTOBER 2021


    Rolf Leuenberger, former jury co-ordinator,
    takes over the presidency of UNiCA, which had been
    held ad interim by VP Bernhard Lindner.


    Four members were re-elected, the president was previously advisor from 2009 to 2015 and five members are new.


    COMMITTEE 2024 - 2027

    Executive Committee

    Advisers

    Our team

    INTERPRETERS

    Bold = working for UNiCA2024

    Jean-Claude Lejosne's (founder)


    • AUDA Claire
    • DUBOST Odilon
    • DURIS Christelle
    • EICH Stefan
    • MYRE Josianne
    • MATERNA Sarah
    • STEIJVERS Marieke
    • VAGNER Delia
    • VAN KRIEKEN Romy
    • and some more

    WEB HISTORY - with past information

    from 1979
    until 2013

    by
    Arie
    de Jong


    Arie de Jong develops the first website for UNiCA.


    This is now an archive and no longer updated.


    from 2013
    until 2019

    by
    Dave
    Watterson

    Dave Watterson created this site.


    This is now an archive and no longer updated.


    Dave's
    INFO


    Dave Watterson is also the author of this independent, unofficial news site.


    This is now an archive and no longer updated.


    IN MEMORY


    Photos Rolf Leuenberger & SRF

    UNICA mourn the loss
    of its former Honorary President,
    MAX HÄNSLI CHE


    On Tuesday 9 January 2024, Max HÄNSLI passed away in Zürich, in the Switzerland he loved so dearly and where he was born ninety-one years ago.


    Max was a great supporter of UNiCA, which he chaired for fifteen years, from 1994 to 2009.


    UNiCA has lost a great friend


    Serge Michel remembers ... read more, click here (pdf)

    Foto Rolf Leuenberger

      


    UNICA mourn the loss

    of a long-standing member of the committee, ALOIS URBANEK AUT


    On the night of 16 to 17 April 2024, Alois Urbanek passed away peacefully in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 91.


    Alois was not only president of the VÖFA, the Association of Austrian Film Authors, for 18 years, he was also a founding member of the AFC, the Amateur Film and Video Club Vienna, and its long-standing club leader.


    He became a member of the UNICA committee, in which he tried to expand the organisation, involve new young film authors and win friends all over the world for UNICA.


    Wolfgang Allin remembers ... read more, click here (pdf)



    Foto Rolf Leuenberger

    UNICA mourn the loss
    of its former Vice President,
    BERNHARD LINDNER DEU


    Bernhard passed away on Sunday, 21 April 2024 in Plochingen at the age of 78.


    I had often seen Bernhard Lindner, before I met him. When he was coopted to the UNICA Committee in 2014 to prepare a report on the choosing and workings of UNICA juries, I noted his quiet, calm demeanor.


    In 2015 he and I were both elected to the Committee. He remained Vice-President until the end of the COVID years in 2021.


    Dave Watterson remembers ... read more, click here (pdf)