Fieberbrunn (AUT) 30th August 2013
Committee Members Attending
Advisers:
Also Present
Not Present
Federations Represented
Fred Graber (Amis): We had a wonderful meeting with 50 friends of
UNICA. (Read the report
here.)
Georg Schörner (AUT): The balance sheet of Friends shows a good
reserve. This, to my knowledge, is used for two purposes: informing
people who donated and to support UNICA. Can the assembly be
informed what form the support is taking? The reserve now is about
15 times the annual contribution.
Thomas Kräuchi (treasurer) replies that the money is used for
supporting countries that occasionally fail to pay their
contributions. We could suggest that the Friends support UNICA 2013
in case of a deficit, or donate money for digitising the celluloid
films. But let’s not forget that historically many people donated
€1,000 for lifetime membership. UNICA Friends’ balance sheet is
somewhat distorted by that.
The report is accepted with unanimous approval, with thanks and
applause to Fred and Ursula Graber.
The report had been prepared by Wolfgang Freier
and dispatched to the federations. (Read
it here.)
Alois Urbanek (AUT) reports that it is due to the efforts of
Wolfgang Freier (patronages) that so many festivals request
patronage.
Wolfgang Freier (patronages): The number of patronages is shrinking
though. He calls upon the assembly to support any request for UNICA
Patronage like Austria does. The result is obvious. In Austria the
amount of Patronage Festivals is larger than anywhere else.
The report is approved unanimously, with thanks and applause to
Wolfgang Freier.
The author of this report is Serge Michel. The
report had been sent in three languages to the federations. (Read
the report here.)
Serge Michel (IFTC Liaison) wishes to add something. Last year the
Director-General of UNESCO attended the UNICA Congress by means of a
video message. In all publications since then IFTC stressed that
participation. It’s obvious that IFTC esteems UNICA and its position
within IFTC strongly. UNICA has the opportunity to return that
respect in compiling a DVD containing all films that have won the
UNESCO award during UNICA contests. Just one or two films are still
missing. With the UNESCO Prize winner of UNICA 2013 there will be 15
films compiled in the DVD. Furthermore Serge Michel underlines
that UNICA is an organization based on the work of not-for-profit
staff, organizing a Festival for not-for-profit film makers. UNICA
is the only organization with that unique basis within IFTC and it’s
being appreciated highly. And the work and films show experience far
from amateurism. Organizations have to change and renew. That’s
obvious. But Serge Michel stresses the need to maintain the old and
unique values in UNICA.
Georges Fondeur (president) thanks Serge Michel for his work as
vice-president of IFTC and keeping UNICA connected as former
vice-president of UNICA. It opens doors in the world and we should
cherish it.
The report is approved unanimously, with thanks and applause to
Serge Michel.
Georges Fondeur (president) reports that Arie de Jong (Webmaster) is absent because of his health. (Read the report here.)
A lot of information about UNICA may be found in the website of UNICA. Adjoining the UNICA website the report discusses the special website for the film library. We archive over 1.500 films and this site offers information about the content of these films in various sortings.
Jan Essing (s-g.) adds that there is another website http://unica-news.com but the information is not authorised by the committee. We’re happy though that there is a website publishing unofficial news about UNICA.
André Lion (BEL) requests incorporating a link in the UNICA Website to the French speaking Film authors’ organization in Belgium next to the Dutch speaking.
The report is approved unanimously, with thanks and applause to Arie de Jong.
The auditors already proposed to discharge the Committee in the report, read by Louis Schmitz (LUX). This proposal is accepted unanimously. Georges Fondeur (president) thanks his fellow members of the committee.
Georges Fondeur (President) and Thomas Kräuchi (Treasurer explain that Ralf Klossner (LIE) is supposed to withdraw as auditor according to rules. Louis Schmitz (LUX) becomes the first auditor and Wolfgang Allin (AUT) is second. A new auditor as substitute has to be found and Bernhard Lindner (DEU) is nominated. As a rule we nominate someone living not too far from Zürich due to travel costs.
His nomination is welcomed with unanimous applause.
Georges Fondeur (President) reports the membership application from the Norsk Selskap for Fotografi (NSFF) in Oslo, Norway. We’re glad that another Nordic country joins the UNICA family. The application for membership from January 1st 2014 for NSFF is approved unanimously.
Georges Fondeur (pres.) reports a proposal for a minor change in UNICA Statutes in order to be able to pass on future costs of postage for lending films from the UNICA Film Library. The Committee is negotiating with an Institution in Switzerland to host the films from the Library. They don’t dispatch films for free.
Georg Schörner (AUT): If other costs than postage are necessary, then UNICA Cashier should cover that. Members have no influence on the cost of digitisation.
Thomas Kräuchi (Treasurer): negotiations have just started. So we don’t really know what amounts we’re talking about. We should waive from not passing on expenditures.
Max Hänsli (Honorary president): thinks that the problem is in the UNICA films (about 1,365 of them) that aren’t in too good condition.
Rolf Leuenberger (committee): is confident that UNICA Library only contains copies and no originals.
Max Hänsli (Honorary president): proposes to further start negations and report on the results to the Assembly. But the committee needs a certain mandate to be able to negotiate.
Georges Fondeur (president) brings into voting the advice given by Max. Everyone is in favour.
Georges Fondeur (president): the reform plans have been distributed to the Federations. Before end of November the General Secretary expects to receive the members’ answers and proposals. Kees Tervoort (NLD) will assist the committee in processing them. There are no further questions.