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 | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (April 2024) |
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| Location | Paris, France |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Awards received | Best European Independent Film |
| Artistic director | Scott Hillier |
| Language | English and French |
| Website | www |
The European Independent Film Festival is an annual international film festival dedicated to independent cinema. Held in Paris, France, it was created in 2006 by Scott Hillier.
Quality, innovation, and creativity are judged in 14 categories, 7 of which are open to non-European filmmakers (from the Americas, Australia, Africa, and Asia), and compete for 25 awards. Jury members come from all around the globe and have a variety of backgrounds.
The founder and president of ÉCU, Scott Hillier, is a Paris-based Australian filmmaker. He gained international recognition[citation needed] from his cinematography, editing, writing producing and directing portfolio and served as Director of Photography on the documentary Twin Towers which won an Academy Award in 2003.
The 18th edition of ÉCU was held on April 14–16, 2023 in Paris, France.
As well as the film screenings, festival attendees can participate in a wide variety of workshops and events. Following each screening session, 'Meet-the-Directors' discussions are held in which audience members pose questions directly to the filmmakers. There is also a full program of live music[1] hosted by ÉCU's partner Access Film-Music at the festival after-parties.
Categories
The festival comprises both European and non-European films.
European Categories
- Dramatic Feature
- Dramatic Short
- Documentary
- Animated Film
- Music Video
- Experimental Film
- Comedy Film
Non-European Categories
- Dramatic Feature
- Dramatic Short
- Documentary
Worldwide Categories
- Student Film
- Much More than a Script Competition
- Arab Special Selection
Workshops
During the festival, workshops are available to all attendees and are conducted by professionals in the film making industry.
Music
ÉCU is a strong supporter of musicians. Along the usual film festival activities, live music can be heard throughout the entirety of the weekend.
Q&A session
After each screening, the audience has the opportunity to meet the directors and participate in a Question and Answer session. Where they will have the opportunity to directly ask questions to the filmmakers and to discuss in detail the difficulties and highlights of the process of film creation.
ÉCU-on-the-road
[2] Every year, the festival travels around the world making sure the "Official Selection" directors and films are made known. All this has been possible through the help of over 50 (and quickly growing) partner festivals, cultural centers and film commissions around the globe. During these events, some of the "Official Selection" films are screened, which furthers the size of the directors audience.
ÉCU-on-the-road events
| Place | date |
|---|---|
| Balinale, Indonesia | September 24–29, 2019 |
| Special Screening in Toulon, France | September 12&15, 2019 |
| Arkadia Shortfest, Romania | August 13–17, 2019 |
| Cabriolet Film Festival in Beirut, Lebanon | June 7–9, 2019 |
| Special Screening in Grand Café Bataclan | February 27, 2019 |
| ÉCU-in-Istanbul | December 24, 2018 |
| So Independent Film Festival, Bulgaria | October 26 - November 3, 2018 |
| ÉCU in Russian Indie Film Festival | October 6–7, 2018 |
| Screening in Mumbai with Alliance Française de Bombay, India | July 31, 2018 |
| ÉCU in Avanca Film Festival, Portugal | June 25–29, 2018 |
| Mt. Fuji - Atami Film & VR Festival, Japan | June 28 - July 1, 2018 |
| ÉCU-in-Viseu, Portugal | June 29–30, 2018 |
| ÉCU-in-Cannes, France | May 11–18, 2018 |
| ÉCU-in-Riga, Latvia | January 17–18, 2018 |
| Aesthetica Short Film Festival, UK | November 8–12, 2017 |
| Super8000 Film Festival, Denmark | October 27, 2017 |
| ÉCU-in-Prague, Czech Republic | October 12, 2017 |
| Naperville Independent Film Festival, US | September 23–30, 2017 |
| The Smalls Film Festival, UK | September 1–5, 2017 |
| ÉCU-in-Athens, Greece | August 30 - September 1, 2017 |
| Arkadia Shortfest, Romania | September 1–3, 2017 |
| Rural Film Festival, Spain | August 1–5, 2017 |
| Aegean Film Festival, Greece | July 25–30 |
| Craft Film Nights, Spain | July 27, 2017 |
| Cabriolet Film Festival, Lebanon | June 9–11, 2017 |
| ÉCU-in-Viseu, Portugal | June 7–9, 2017 |
| ÉCU-in-Cannes, France | May 21–27, 2017 |
| Cabriolet Film Festival, Lebanon | June 9–11, 2017 |
| Naperville Independent Film Festival, United States | September 23–30, 2017 |
| ÉCU-in-Viseu | June 7–9, 2017 |
| Vault Film Festival, UK | January 28–29, March 4–5, 2017 |
| Cinema Jam November Session, UK | November 21, 2016 |
| Aesthetica Short Film Festival, UK | November 3–6, 2016 |
| American Film Market, US | November 2– 9, 2016 |
| Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival, Spain | November 3–12, 2016 |
| NDU International Film Festival, Lebanon | November 6–11, 2016 |
| International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, Cyprus | October 15–21, 2016 |
| Zurich Film Festival, Switzerland | September 22–October 2, 2016 |
| Arkadia ShortFest, Romania | September 2–4, 2016 |
| Naperville Independent Film Festival, US | September 10–17, 2016 |
| International Film Festival of Patmos, Greece | July 21–27, 2016 |
| Cabriolet Film Festival, Beirut, Lebanon | June 3–5 13–15, 2016 |
| NDU International Film Festival, Beirut | November 15–22, 2015 |
| Clare Valley Film Festival, Australia | November 13–15, 2015 |
| Qabila film festival, Egypt | October 8–10, 2015 |
| Tyrolean Independent Filmfestival/TyIFF, Austria | September 18, 2015 |
| Naperville Independent Film Festival, US | September 12–19, 2015 |
| ÉCU-in-Viseu, Portugal | August 13–15, 2015 |
| Arkadia Short Film Festival, Romania | July 3–5, 2015 |
| MashRome Film Festival, Italy | July 1–3, 2015 |
| ÉCU-in-Viseu, Portugal | June, 2015 |
| Clare Valley Film Festival, Australia | May 30, 2015 |
| Cabriolet Film Festival, Lebanon | May 29–31, 2015 |
| ÉCU-in-Cannes, France | May 17–24, 2015 |
| Vault Film Festival, London | February 7;14;21;28, 2015 |
| ÉCU-in-São Paulo, Brazil | January 29 – February 4, 2015 |
| ÉCU-in-Berlin, Germany | January 14–15, 2015 |
Past Editions
ÉCU 2024
The 19th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 19 to 21 April 2024.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best European Independent Film 2024 | Wild Summon, Karni Arieli & Saul Freed |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2024 | Bus From Adana, Jochem de Vries |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2024 | Alias Wolf, Oscar Spierenburg & Tobias Spierenburg |
| Best European Independent Documentary 2024 | AYITI, a Haitian Story Clément Beauvois, Kevin Duval, Valentin Gaffie, Alexis Pautler |
| Best European Independent Animated Film 2024 | Purga, Gintarė Valevičiūtė Brazauskienė. & Antanas Skučas |
| Best European Independent Comedy 2024 | KOEKOEK! - Jörgen Scholtens (Netherlands) |
| Best European Experimental Film 2024 | Soma, Arturo Bandinelli |
| Best European Independent Music Video 2024 | Ren – Money Game Part 3, Ren Gill & Samuel Perry-Falvey |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2024 | It Turns Blue, Shadi Karamroudi |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2024 | X Kills Me, Ding ZiJun |
| Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2024 | Grasshopper Republic, Daniel McCabe |
| Best Student Film 2024 | Push, Anastasia Seregina |
| Best Feature Script 2024 | The Prodigal, Written by Thomas O’Malley |
| Best Short Script 2024 | Comment J’ai Perdu Mon Ongle De Pouce, Written by Siham Medjahed |
| Best Actor 2024 | They Call Me Chino, Actor: Manel Llunell |
| Best Actress 2024 | Breakfast Of Champions, Actress: Sabrina Robinson |
| Best Editing 2024 | Exit, Editor: Reza Abiyat |
| Best Cinematography 2024 | Through Gloom, Cinematographer: Milda Juodvalkytė |
| Best Director 2024 | The Moon Rises, Gaspard Vignon |
| Special Jury Mention 2024 | Dead Man Walking (DMW), Jacob Polat |
| Special Jury Mention 2024 | I C U, Vincent Zhou |
| Audience Award 2024 | John Adams. Get Up The Yard, Jose Ángel Catalán Ruiz |
| The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2024 | Saleh, Zaki Alabdullah |
| Excellence in Women's Filmmaking | Seize the Summit, Arwa Damon & Binnur Karaevli |
ÉCU 2019
The 15th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 23 to 26 April 2020. Due to COVID-19 pandemic the festival took place online, with the films being screened on the festival's website, followed by the recorded Q&A sessions with the directors.
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best European Independent Film 2020 | THE MANCHADOR - Kaveh Tehrani (Norway) |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2020 | GEORGE THE DOG, REFUGEE - Tomasz Wiński (Czech Republic) |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020 | SHIBIL - Nikola Bozadzhiev (Bulgaria) |
| Best European Independent Documentary 2020 | SHADOWS OF LIGHT - Walter Fanninger (Austria) |
| Best European Independent Animated Film 2020 | MIND MY MIND - Floor Adams (Netherlands) |
| Best European Independent Comedy 2020 | KOEKOEK! - Jörgen Scholtens (Netherlands) |
| Best European Experimental Film 2020 | THEM - Robin Lochmann (Germany) |
| Best European Independent Music Video 2020 | ADAGIO FOR STRINGS AND STORM - Ivan Yudin (Russian Federation) |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2020 | FUNFAIR - Kaveh Mazaheri (Iran) |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020 | The Journey of a Murder - Jun Wang (China) |
| Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2020 | AMAZING GRACE - Lynn Montgomery (US) |
| Best Student Film 2020 | MY CAT AS SOCRATES - Villő Krisztics (Hungary) |
| Best Feature Script 2020 | BRIDGE BY THE EARTHEN HOUSE - Paul Hunt (UK) |
| Best Short Script 2020 | TIME MUSEUM - Gahee Lee (US) |
| Best Actor 2020 | Chis Schultz in DORRIS 85 by Grace Philips (US) |
| Best Actress 2020 | Fatou Mbemgue in LA GITA by Salvatore Allocca (Italy) |
| Best Editing 2020 | Liu Kai Qi - BATHHOUSE DRUMMER; directed by Treey Liu (China) |
| Best Cinematography 2020 | Daniel Lindholm - ELECTRIC LITANY - SEALIGHT; directed by Sakari Lerkkanen (UK) |
| Best Director 2020 | Raúl Koler and Emiliano Sette - ANACRONTE (Argentina) |
| Special Jury Mention 2020 | CALIFORNIA ON FIRE - Jeff Frost (US) |
| Special Jury Mention 2020 | NO, I DON'T WANT TO DANCE - Andrea Vinciguerra (UK) |
| Audience Award 2020 | THE CALL CENTRE - Louisa Connolly-Burnham (UK) |
| The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2020 | MANARA - Zayn Alexander (Lebanon) |
| Excellence in Women's Filmmaking | THE WALKING FISH - Thessa Meijer (Netherlands) |
ÉCU 2019
The 14th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 5–7 April 2019 at Cinema Les 7 Parnassiens in Paris. The participants of the festival enjoyed the screening of 79 independent films, workshops dedicated to the filmmaking industry together with #sheshoots, a discussion panel focused on women filmmakers and actresses. In addition, there was the possibility to meet the directors and asked them everything about their film. Afterparties and live music performances were organised to close every day of the festival.
The winners of ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival 2019:
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Best European Independent Film 2019 | PIGGY - Carlota Martínez Pereda (Spain) |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2019 | SYDNEY - Paul Wyett (UK) |
| Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019 | RWANDA - Riccardo Salvetti (Italy) |
| Best European Independent Documentary 2019 | THE QUIET REBEL - Carole Cassier (France) |
| Best European Independent Animated Film 2019 | AUGENBLICKE - A BLINK OF AN EYE - Kiana Naghshineh (Germany) |
| Best European Independent Comedy 2019 | PATER FAMILIAS - Giacomo Boeri (Italy) |
| Best European Experimental Film 2019 | EL HOR - Diane Lucille Campbell (UK) |
| Best European Independent Music Video 2019 | BIRTHPLACE - Jorik Dozy, Sil van der Woerd (Netherlands, Indonesia) |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2019 | THE MOUSE - Liat Akta (Israel) |
| Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019 | IN GOD I TRUST - Maja Zdanowski (Canada) |
| Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2019 | WOMEN OF THE GULAG - Marianna Yarovskaya (US) |
| Best Student Film 2019 | REVERIE - Philip Louis Piaget Rodriguez (Denmark) |
| Best Feature Script 2019 | COURTESY OF THE KAISER - Mark Larson (US) |
| Best Short Script 2019 | CLEMENT - German Perugorria Pans (Uruguay) |
| Best Actor 2019 | Mark Weinman in SEX ED by Alice Seabright (UK) |