GIFF 2015 - Hawkesbury Windsor, New South Wales, Australia
By Splitty Miller JJCC on 06-Nov-15. Waypoint GC63XEQ

Many thanks to all who attended this year's GIFF 2015 - Hawkesbury event. We are looking forward to the 2016 edition.

Cheers,
Splitty Miller JJCC

In summary: GIFF Weekend was a resounding success. Over 14,000 people from 46 different countries were able to watch these films made by geocachers, for geocachers.

Together, we smiled when Kato the dog escaped to go geocaching. We shared in the thrilling moment when the GCTransAlps team reached the mountain summit. We learned how to act around a muggle when you’re geocaching like a ballerina. Those moments, and so many others, happened because you decided to host your events. So, from Geocaching HQ and geocachers worldwide, thank you!

I will be there

Should be there, and thanks for the organisation!

Well what a great event shared with some fantastic individuals.



Although the event only lasted two hours, for Splitty Miller JJCC and teamMerlin it started about two months ago when the preliminary organisation for the event started and JJCC asked for help on the technical aspects of holding such an event. This was followed by the creation of the event, approval for GC HQ, then dramas with the global geocaching GIFF hosts accessing huge files for download at the same time. This all culminated in a seamless showing of the 2015 GIFF reel. A public thank you also needs to go out to Hawkesbury City Council and the Hawkesbury Library Service for the use of the Tebbutt Room and their facilities. All going well and if the GIFF is repeated in a similar format in future years, we will definitely be putting our hands up again.



Our film night started with that very catchy 2015 GIFF opener. This was followed by a mammoth effort shown in East of the Summit by Geocaching HQ - although the cache wasn't found what spectacular scenery. Next up were the collection of 16 films made by the geocaching community - showing diverse subject matters and highlighting the worldwide geocaching experience. Some of the highlight reels for us (in no particular order) were Saturday by HurricaneJuan, The Future of Geocaching by Chrishutchy and How to Geocache like a Ballerina by stingrayabbray.



Well done to JJCC and thankyou for putting on this event.

This entry was edited by teamMerlin on Friday, 06 November 2015 at 23:49:57 UTC.

We had a brief catch up with friends before our Friday Family Dinner. Thanks for the organisation. I hope you all have fun watching the movies.

TFTE.

Attended GIFF with Snoopy1976

Attended with dave8153. Some really well done films submitted. Thanks for hosting the event

I came
I saw
And got a souvenir as well.
Interesting set of videos
I liked the ballerina one and the dog one.

Thanks to the organisers for setting up the event.

Thanks Sm & TM for organising the event. Lovely to catch up with some caching friends again & meet some new ones.

I like the animated one, & the Japanese kids exploring the cave. & I want a pair of those invisibility sunglasses!

thanks again.

This entry was edited by celtical on Friday, 06 November 2015 at 13:20:07 UTC.

We had some fun watching this selection of videos and enjoyed meeting cachers that were new to us as well. Thanks to Splitty Miller JJCC and teamMerlin for hosting this event.

Thanks TeamMerlin and JJCC for hosting the event.
Great to catch up with now familiar faces and the odd newbie. Got a lot of laughs watching the short movies with many thinking like what I have done.
Almost went home singing the catchy caching song
Favorites: the dog, sci-fi one.

#3298- an event with a difference. It was really enjoyable to not only catch up with people but to see the finalists if the GIFF. I especially liked the dog one and the work that obviously went into the animated one. Nickoheap Heap, who is interested in film enjoyed it too. Thanks to Shplitty Miller JJCC and her right hand man, Team Merlin for the organisation and hosting of the event. The venue was great and the popcorn was a nice added touch too.
Who was the winner? Do we know yet?

When there's a souvineer to be had, Toriaz wants to be there. And there we were, along with the WaywardWoman and NickoHeap, our budding director. And what did we learn from this experience? I learned that there are dogs in this world who are better geocachers than me. I learned that you may climb every mountain but won't necessarily find every cache (did anyone else find that depressing?) I learned that doing point in a tutu is not what I thought it was.

There are many things I have yet to learn in this world.

Like how to exit a building after hours. That too. No one told me there was a green button to open the door. I was resigned to a slow death in a library. There are worse fates. Why wasn't there a film about the caches in libraries (I've done a couple) or the nutritional value of books? Should I stick with cook books, or doesn't it matter?

Maybe this will be the subject of a film for next year. Until then, thank you.

I had fun watching the selection of videos and enjoyed meeting new cachers. This was the first GIFF I have attend. A big
thank you to Splitty Miller JJCC and teamMerlin for hosting this event.

Thanks for hosting. We got there a little late but still got to see some great videos. Good to see some familiar faces. TFTC.

#3,8??

Great event guys, thanks for organising. It was fun to watch the films. My favourites were the dog one (I think everyone likes the dog), the animated one and the ballerina. I've got a ballerina who comes out caching with me sometimes, and even wore her ballet shoes caching once. It was a FTF opportunity after all!

Thanks again .

Huge thank you SM and TM for such an enjoyable evening.
Hope my hungry lads didn't clean you out of cookies or popcorn.
How noisy they can be, in removing popcorn out of a paper bag. Dead quiet and all you hear is geoRyan with his hand in the bag.
Anyway, need to get my hands on a pair of sunglasses like in the flick for "muggle alert".
Great to catch up with a few of the cachers you meet along the trails and hope to see you guys next event.

Thank you for all 29 people attending the first GIFF 2015 - Hawkesbury event held at Hawkesbury Library a very successful event.
The water was boiled for tea and coffee biscuits and popcorn were ready for all in attendance.
After a quick welcome and a bit of house keeping the log was signed by all we were set to watch this years 16 finalist films from the 2015 GIFF.

It was a very diverse range of short films to watch a few favourites standing out.
Saturday [HurricaneJuan] Florida, United States (With a very active geodog)
Geo-Caching Freak [Team Motherfarmer] British Columbia, Canada
Geolove [Hoochie Coochie Man] Maltepe, Turkey

With a traceable also released during their film Team Motherfarmer and with a catch geocaching song.
Big thanks need to go to Team Merlin my right hand for all the technical support and the Library staff for allowing us the space and providing all the refreshments.
Hope to see you all again next year.

There were some impressive productions, and some less so, but all were fun and entertaining. It was a most enjoyable evening.

I liked the animated film, not just for its amazing graphics, but for the message it conveyed. It reminded me that I presently have a cache in need of some TLC. I am hoping for sweet dreams and no nightmares tonight. My favourite, however, was the futuristic piece which displayed much imagination, though I'm sure we will see such developments sooner than we think .

Thank you Splitty Miller JJCC for organising this great event. It was an excellent venue and the catering was a nice touch. It was a pity we had to rush off, though we thought our escape had been foiled until we finally worked out how to exit the building.

To the uninitiated, the content of a number of the films might have suggested that geocaching was all about mountaineering . My favourites were the Japanese adventure, the ballerina and, best of all, Geolove from Turkey which showed that true love and caching go hand-in-hand.

Thanks for hosting this fun festival Splitty Miller JJCC.

What a fantastic evening ... great company, great venue and great Geo pics. My fav would have to be the Geo Doggy as he ran around helping cachers sniff out caches. Been trying to train mine for that but so far, no luck!
Thanks to Splitty Miller JJCC (and Team Merlin) for the event.

Hoping to get there (2 of us)

The film is down loaded and ready for screening.
Tea and coffee will be available.
Will start the screening session at 6:30 pm approximately an hour duration.
See you all tonight.

Hopefully we can get away early enough to make this event.

At this stage it looks like we will be able to make it.

Will attend

We intend to be there. Please count 2 more in.

To Blacktown man, train is an option if you can't get a lift.

I plan to see there, but seeing the waifs on Thursday night and acdc on saturday night, might not stay for long.

This weekend is sketchy for me. Will do my best to make it.

We are hoping to be there (2 x adults)

me and daughter still want to attend but still no ride from kingswood to get there if anyone is available and willing to give us a lift over there from kingswood it would be greatly appreciated

i hope to be there.

Will do my best to get there

We will attend

Might attend depending on how the day goes for us seeing it's very close to us.

intend to be there

This is local, so shouldn't be a problem unless work has a different view. Reserve a seat thanks.

I should be able to make it.

I intend to be there- it will be my first GIFF event.

News from Geocaching Announcing the GIFF Weekend Souvenir!

Geocaching announced on October 6th that a new souvenir will be released for GIFF Weekend.
Attendees of registered GIFF Weekend Events will earn the souvenir.

GIFF Weekend is one month away
GIFF Weekend event on November 5–8 and you’ll earn a new souvenir.

I hope to be able to attend

me and geomonster10 are interested in going however i pick her up in kingswood at 5 and won't be able to make it by public transport, unless we are able to get a ride from someone going from out that way

Book in 2 spots for our first event, should be fun

Hi this us taxi on the run my family love to come 6 People

Hi this us taxi on the run my family love to

Desiree and I with three kids will be there. As GeoEldest starts work at 6pm on Fridays, we will aim 6:30 turn up

Just advising that we are now an official host for the GIFF Weekend 2015.

Published

Will be attending - 2 pax

This entry was edited by teamMerlin on Monday, 28 September 2015 at 08:22:14 UTC.

Liz and I will be there.

Yes we are attending

Just completed and filled out the GIFF Weekend Sign Up form.
Waiting approval fingers crossed.

If Geocaching HQ determines your event meets the requirements for GIFF Weekend, you will be provided with the file containing the GIFF 2015 film reel and your event will be added to HQ’s bookmark list of GIFF Weekend Events. If your event is not approved by Geocaching HQ, you will be notified. We recommend you then notify your guests that you will not be showing the GIFF 2015 films.