Amateur Cine World "Ten Best" Competitions

[Graham Ritchie]

Talking about serious Super 8 film making one regular feature in the magazines at the time was the "Ten Best" competition, I wonder where all those film are now? a lot of history there, this one was of the very popular Jimmy Carter visit to the UK.

Plus some advertising stuff and of course some excellent books on the subject which I still have





When we ran Super8 the movie I brought in a Canon camera to show the youngsters working there what Super 8 was about I do hope you lot went to see the film? as it was called Super 8

[Ken Finch]

Graham. You may be interested to know that all The Amateur Cine World “Ten Best” films are archived together with many of the winners in the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers competition at East Anglian Film Archive. Digital versions are available for hire by clubs who are members. The I.A.C. still sponsors area and international competitions for clubs and individuals who still make movies, albeit on digital formats these days. Although cine film may still be available, the cost for most people is prohibitive, not to mention the increasing unavailability of the editing gear required.

[Graham Ritchie]

Thanks Ken

I am trying to think how many years the "Ten Best" were going?, I still look through some my old Film Making and Movie Maker magazines every so often, Mike Kent was brilliant with his ideas and of coarse Uncle Ivan and Bill Davidson. Always looked forward to those monthly issues, glad I kept them all those years.

[Ken Finch]

Sorry Graham, I cannot help you on that one. I subscribed to the A.C.W. in 1949 and continued with its successor’s until they ceased publication. I think the competition ended when film started to become scarce and video cameras became more affordable.

[Graham Ritchie]

Thanks Ken

The history and the subject of the "Ten Best" would make good book if someone was to take it on, I would buy it . If I remember right those films came from around the world, I will have to go through some of my old Movie Maker magazines and have a closer read

[Paul Adsett]

The ACW 10 Best Films of The Year was certainly a big deal back then. Didn't film historian Kevin Brownlow win a 10 best award? The films were all so unique. I remember some guy, I believe from Canada, won an award for a short animated film that he made by scratching with a pin, frame by frame, on black 35mm film! It would be nice if the IAC released all the 10 Best Films for purchase on Blu Ray or DVD.
Efforts such as these inspired many amateurs to "have a go" at making some sort of structured film. Here is my own modest effort inspired by Best Animated Film awards:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3KkXBR9aNk

[Douglas Meltzer]

Paul,

What fun! Very nice work. Projects like these require a ton of patience, which is probably why I've only tried to do Super 8mm stop motion animation twice, once in high school and also in my first year of college.

[Ed Gordon]

The ACW 10 Best Films of The Year was certainly a big deal back then. Didn't film historian Kevin Brownlow win a 10 best award? The films were all so unique. I remember some guy, I believe from Canada, won an award for a short animated film that he made by scratching with a pin, frame by frame, on black 35mm film! It would be nice if the IAC released all the 10 Best Films for purchase on Blu Ray or DVD.
Efforts such as these inspired many amateurs to "have a go" at making some sort of structured film...

Brilliant idea, and well executed!

It would be nice if more members here posted films they have done.

[Brian Fretwell]

I'm pretty sure the 10 best outlived Movie Maker and Making Better Movies which too it over later. I went to see the prize giving showings at the NFT every year until the BFI lost interest.

[Ken Finch]

It was the magazines that sponsored the competition so I have always believed the ten best competition ended when they ceased publication. There must have been a few copies made of them because after the premiere screenings by the bfi, quite a few screenings were made by cine clubs. It was at one of these screenings that I was able to see them. Some of the larger clubs had installed cinemas in their venues. Others would hire a hall. Unfortunately, I was never able to get to see very many. As mentioned earlier, they still exist in the East Anglia Film Archive for the I A C. I do not know if digital copies are still available for hire to clubs or individuals who are members because my local one, like so many these days has had to close.

[Brian Fretwell]

Yes I think ACE magazine sonsored them for a couple (at least) of years after Making Better Movies went all video.

[John Burgess]

I recently bought a bundle of film on St 8 and whilst sorting through them I came across an animated short called The Battle of Wangapore, I remember that this was a Ten Best winner from years ago. I believe it was originally 16mm optical sound, mine is St 8 silent . Another in the bundle was a BBC film 600ft St8 mag sound Dads Army ‘The man and the Hour’, an excellent print with good mag sound. This is the beauty of film collecting, you never know what to expect !!
John