France Trip Day 14

I got up early to prepare for my question and answer session that was to be held at midday. I wanted to get there early to hear some of the other filmmakers in my category talk about their films. Although I have met a lot of people while I’ve been here, I only met the filmmakers in my category last night at our screening. They had been people that I had seen around.

At the question and answer session, it was the same old story with a lot of the dialogue happening in languages I couldn’t understand. Nevertheless I sat through the session and could make out a few of the things that were said. When my turn came around, I was surprised with the lack of enthusiasm that was shown by the interviewers when asking me about Burley. Up until now, I had been impressed with their enthusiasm and interest in the other films, but for me for me it was a little different. Maybe it was because I was one of the last interviewed or that Burley was just an animation, either way I felt a little depressed about the reception that our film was getting.

6 PM came around and it was time for the awards. In order for the event to run on time, I was quite certain that anyone who was getting a prize would know by now and would be sitting in the front of the cinema. I hadn’t heard anything so I wrote myself off and lined up to head into the theatre. My suspicions were confirmed when I spotted some of the filmmakers of films I enjoyed sitting in the front row. Erin and I sat down to enjoy the final ceremony.

The big winner of the night was “Auf der Strecke” winning the Grand Prix award of the festival. It was both Erin and my own favourite film of the festival so we were quite happy. We had met the filmmaker during the week who is also a top bloke and a deserved winner. Another notable win went to “I love Sarah Jane,” a hilarious Aussie film that we met the producer of. The top animation gong went to “The Pearce Sisters” by Luis Cook. Again, I was quite content at the selection because I thought it was the strongest animation at the festival. There were heaps of other prizes but you’ll have to check the Clermont-Ferrand website to get a full list.

After the ceremony, we headed out for dinner and the after party (starting at 11PM!). It was a wild crazy night where I met so many new faces that I again wish I had met earlier in the week. Despite a few negative thoughts over the last couple of days, the party brought home the best part of the festival for me, that being the mixing of the filmmakers, and the opportunity to meet similar minds from all over the world. The party finished up at 6AM and it was bit of a mission to get back to the hotel at that time. It was hard to believe the festival was over.

Posted on 14 February 2008 in Directors Blog