The world festival of underwater image ... half fig, half grape!

The world festival of underwater image ... half fig, half grape!
The underwater image festival has just ended, my impressions vary between enthusiasm and deep anger, passing by many question marks and various feelings.

Enthusiasm:
· For the Edward Snijders film “Bonaire Bonanza” which largely deserves the Palme d'Or for short film. What I find regrettable is that this film was not programmed in the films screened in competition and that we had to wait until Sunday 18.00 p.m. to watch it! Maybe a question of language?
· For the film from the film by Yves Dewambrechies and Vincent Maran "The land of the sea (Zeeland)". 47 minutes of pure happiness, focused on flora and fauna, superbly filmed; they taught me things!
· For the reception on the stand of "doris.ffessm.fr"; for once we must congratulate the 2F which finances this project.
· For the panoramic photo of the Satil (Eilat) with 200 divers! superb technical prowess

Anger:
When I see the images of a diver being pulled by a shark's fin, for the sequences which are clearly "staged" and for the "Shark feeding". How do we explain to our students that we should not "touch anything" ... when they see these kinds of award-winning images made by "luminaries" of the underwater world? In addition, films containing this kind of image are awarded; the members of the jury posing as fervent defenders of the animal cause should, I think, question themselves.

Fun and laughter:
For the film "A source of life" by Johan De Smedt when I learn that in 1953 there was "a great drought in Holland" Drought which decided the construction of the delta plan in Zeeland !!! It would be necessary to explain to the Zealanders how the 2 February 1953, they were on the roofs with 1,5m of water on the first floor of their houses in full drought. Leaving such mistakes in a film shows total disrespect from the public.

Nervousness:
· For the lack of rigor in the organization in general, the evening "awards" was a real poem in the matter.
· For unreliable programming and lack of redundancy in the event of projector failure.
· Poor lighting of photos in competitions.

Question marks:
· It seems, that from year to year, there are fewer and fewer exhibitors and some have confessed to me that there have been bargain prices to fill the palate. What will happen to future funding during this lean period?
· Many guests from 2F, other CMAS federations as well as the President of this organization. Would there be a rapprochement in sight between the festival and CMAS? And if so, would there not be a stranglehold of this organization on the festival, which initially wanted to be independent from diving organizations?