Expanding UNICA's Limits

Artashes Hovanessian offers seven proposals for UNICA aimed at broadening its appeal.

These are his personal ideas and not official policy.

Proposal

1. 
We should change the top age for youngsters from 25 years to 14 years. We could call the category “Children” or “Kids” and eliminate the current Jeunesse category. This also means not paying half the cost of the Congress Card and accommodation for Jeunesse delegates, which will free about 3000€ from the UNICA budget per festival.

Taking into account the price of Congress Cards for the kids’ parents, this will give 5000€ profit.

Reason


16-24 year old filmmakers can make better films than older ones.

They have more knowledge from the internet about video production, know more editing software and they know better video equipment … 

Effect


Teens don’t need and don’t want to be present at UNICA banquets, it is not attractive for them. 

It means less expenses for the organizers for youth travel to UNICA . 

More congress cards can be sold to parents accompanying kids to UNICA.
2. 
We should create a new Independent (professional, non-commercial) category.

Professionals suffer from the dictates of major film studios and cannot make their films as they would like. Many films by professionals are not accepted, because of their political, social and religious views – or simply because they would not be profitable for TV stations. 

This would bring a huge number of filmmakers from each country to UNICA umbrella organizations and federations. It would increase competitiveness in National festivals.

It would increase world mass media attention on UNICA festivals.
3. 
We should create an Amateur (non-professional, non-commercial) category.

This recognises the original reason that the UNICA was created: to promote the Amateur movement in filmmaking.

This would distance amateur films from professional ones. Amateurs would recognise it as fair competition in UNICA and they would not be discouraged from participating.
4. 
The student and 1 minute films categories should stay the same. There would be a total of 5 categories.

Each country could present any number of films in each category.

More amateurs will join UNICA festivals to be near the professionals.
5.
 Awards in each category could be:

  • small Gold medals (total 5)
  • Silver (total 5) and 
  • Bronze (total 5)
  • At the end a Big Gold Medal would be given for the Best film of UNICA.

There could also be prizes for Best Fiction, Animation, Documentary, Reportage, Art-house, Alternative, Best Director, Best Camera, Best Script, Best Actors.

If a filmmaker wins a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal and someone in his country asks, “How many Silvers were at UNICA?” The answer “14 Silver medals” or “40 bronze medals” can damage the image of UNICA.

Instead the “Best” prizes will give UNICA more the flavour of Oscar,    Cannes, Venice film festivals.

The UNICA festival would regain fairness in film competition.

1 Gold , 1 Silver, 1 bronze medals in each category is fair .

“Best” nominations will increase the number of reports by journalists on Art-house style young filmmakers, indie cameramen, freelance actors and will increase mass media attention on UNICA.
6.
We should give cash prizes with the 5 gold medals (between 100-500 euro each) and to the Best film of UNICA (1000-2000 euro. )

The money could come from eliminating the Youth category where 50% of the congress card is paid by UNICA and reducing the youth travel, hotel and meal expenses . 5000 euro per year.

For young film makers, the most important things to buy are video equipment: camera, lights, computers, editing software. That costs money.

Even many much smaller and unknown film festivals give cash money prizes to their winners.

The most attractive two things in each filmmaker’s mind are money and fame. This will give more reason for authors to join and participate in the UNICA film festivals, which take place in member countries.
7. 
The films and authors which get Gold should be invited to the 18 international UNICA patronage film festivals each year. 

Gold award winners should receive free accommodation and meals at UNICA patronage festivals from the host countries.

Winners of UNICA medals should get privileges for their future. Compare them with Oscar winners, who get a multiple increase of their salaries and respect after winning an Oscar.

By attending more festivals, meeting more people from the film industry and making more connections, the winners of UNICA gold medals will gain fame and popularity.  

As a result, more authors with their films will join our festivals.
Proposals made by president of Center of All-Armenian Non-commercial Cinema and Nofi international film festival of Non-commercial films.  NOFI Facebook page 
My contacts e-mail arthovanessian@yahoo.com  or in Facebook  - Artashes Hovanessian