everyone always says it's hard judging stuff, but 834 films?! it's safe to say this has been a difficult and at times divisive exercise. so much artistic endeavour! it's impressive and not a little bewildering. but, watching in shifts, each and every film was eventually adjudged and a shortlist drawn up. ultimately, when the shortlist of that shortlist could be winnowed down no more, instead of the promised three runners up we had five, since it would have been unfair to exclude any, exhibiting as they did absolutely different creative imperatives.