ÉCU The European Independent Film Festival

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ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ECU official square logo.png
LocationParis, France
Founded2006
Awards receivedBest European Independent Film
Artistic directorScott Hillier
LanguageEnglish and French
Website www.ecufilmfestival.com

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.

Contents

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.

Poster for ECU 2020, the confinement edition ECU2020 online poster low rez.png
Poster for ÉCU 2020, the confinement edition

Categories

The festival comprises both European and non-European films.

European Categories

Non-European Categories

Worldwide Categories

Workshops

Workshops are held at every festival edition. Workshop2.jpg
Workshops are held at every festival edition.

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 will have the opportunity to meet the directors and participate in a Question and Answer session. Here they will be able to directly ask questions to the filmmakers and to discuss in detail the ups and downs faced when creating a film.

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

Placedate
Balinale, IndonesiaSeptember 24–29, 2019
Special Screening in Toulon, FranceSeptember 12&15, 2019
Arkadia Shortfest, RomaniaAugust 13–17, 2019
Cabriolet Film Festival in Beirut, LebanonJune 7–9, 2019
Special Screening in Grand Café BataclanFebruary 27, 2019
ÉCU-in-IstanbulDecember 24, 2018
So Independent Film Festival, BulgariaOctober 26 - November 3, 2018
ÉCU in Russian Indie Film FestivalOctober 6–7, 2018
Screening in Mumbai with Alliance Française de Bombay, IndiaJuly 31, 2018
ÉCU in Avanca Film Festival, PortugalJune 25–29, 2018
Mt. Fuji - Atami Film & VR Festival, JapanJune 28 - July 1, 2018
ÉCU-in-Viseu, PortugalJune 29–30, 2018
ÉCU-in-Cannes, FranceMay 11–18, 2018
ÉCU-in-Riga, LatviaJanuary 17–18, 2018
Aesthetica Short Film Festival, UKNovember 8–12, 2017
Super8000 Film Festival, DenmarkOctober 27, 2017
ÉCU-in-Prague, Czech RepublicOctober 12, 2017
Naperville Independent Film Festival, USSeptember 23–30, 2017
The Smalls Film Festival, UKSeptember 1–5, 2017
ÉCU-in-Athens, GreeceAugust 30 - September 1, 2017
Arkadia Shortfest, RomaniaSeptember 1–3, 2017
Rural Film Festival, SpainAugust 1–5, 2017
Aegean Film Festival, GreeceJuly 25–30
Craft Film Nights, SpainJuly 27, 2017
Cabriolet Film Festival, LebanonJune 9–11, 2017
ÉCU-in-Viseu, PortugalJune 7–9, 2017
ÉCU-in-Cannes, FranceMay 21–27, 2017
Cabriolet Film Festival, LebanonJune 9–11, 2017
Naperville Independent Film Festival, United StatesSeptember 23–30, 2017
ÉCU-in-ViseuJune 7–9, 2017
Vault Film Festival, UKJanuary 28–29, March 4–5, 2017
Cinema Jam November Session, UKNovember 21, 2016
Aesthetica Short Film Festival, UKNovember 3–6, 2016
American Film Market, USNovember 2– 9, 2016
Evolution! Mallorca International Film Festival, SpainNovember 3–12, 2016
NDU International Film Festival, LebanonNovember 6–11, 2016
International Short Film Festival of Cyprus, CyprusOctober 15–21, 2016
Zurich Film Festival, SwitzerlandSeptember 22–October 2, 2016
Arkadia ShortFest, RomaniaSeptember 2–4, 2016
Naperville Independent Film Festival, USSeptember 10–17, 2016
International Film Festival of Patmos, GreeceJuly 21–27, 2016
Cabriolet Film Festival, Beirut, LebanonJune 3–5 13–15, 2016
NDU International Film Festival, BeirutNovember 15–22, 2015
Clare Valley Film Festival, AustraliaNovember 13–15, 2015
Qabila film festival, EgyptOctober 8–10, 2015
Tyrolean Independent Filmfestival/TyIFF, AustriaSeptember 18, 2015
Naperville Independent Film Festival, USSeptember 12–19, 2015
ÉCU-in-Viseu, PortugalAugust 13–15, 2015
Arkadia Short Film Festival, RomaniaJuly 3–5, 2015
MashRome Film Festival, ItalyJuly 1–3, 2015
ÉCU-in-Viseu, PortugalJune, 2015
Clare Valley Film Festival, AustraliaMay 30, 2015
Cabriolet Film Festival, LebanonMay 29–31, 2015
ÉCU-in-Cannes, FranceMay 17–24, 2015
Vault Film Festival, LondonFebruary 7;14;21;28, 2015
ÉCU-in-São Paulo, BrazilJanuary 29 – February 4, 2015
ÉCU-in-Berlin, GermanyJanuary 14–15, 2015

Past Editions

ÉCU 2024

The 19th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 19 to 21 April 2024.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2024Wild Summon, Karni Arieli & Saul Freed
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2024Bus From Adana, Jochem de Vries
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2024Alias Wolf, Oscar Spierenburg & Tobias Spierenburg
Best European Independent Documentary 2024AYITI, a Haitian Story Clément Beauvois, Kevin Duval, Valentin Gaffie, Alexis Pautler
Best European Independent Animated Film 2024Purga, Gintarė Valevičiūtė Brazauskienė. & Antanas Skučas
Best European Independent Comedy 2024KOEKOEK! - Jörgen Scholtens (Netherlands)
Best European Experimental Film 2024Soma, Arturo Bandinelli
Best European Independent Music Video 2024Ren – Money Game Part 3, Ren Gill & Samuel Perry-Falvey
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2024It Turns Blue, Shadi Karamroudi
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2024X Kills Me, Ding ZiJun
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2024Grasshopper Republic, Daniel McCabe
Best Student Film 2024Push, Anastasia Seregina
Best Feature Script 2024The Prodigal, Written by Thomas O’Malley
Best Short Script 2024Comment J’ai Perdu Mon Ongle De Pouce, Written by Siham Medjahed
Best Actor 2024They Call Me Chino, Actor: Manel Llunell
Best Actress 2024Breakfast Of Champions, Actress: Sabrina Robinson
Best Editing 2024Exit, Editor: Reza Abiyat
Best Cinematography 2024Through Gloom, Cinematographer: Milda Juodvalkytė
Best Director 2024The Moon Rises, Gaspard Vignon
Special Jury Mention 2024Dead Man Walking (DMW), Jacob Polat
Special Jury Mention 2024I C U, Vincent Zhou
Audience Award 2024John Adams. Get Up The Yard, Jose Ángel Catalán Ruiz
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2024Saleh, Zaki Alabdullah
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingSeize the Summit, Arwa Damon & Binnur Karaevli
ECU prize 2019 ECU prize 2019.jpg
ÉCU prize 2019

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.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2020THE MANCHADOR - Kaveh Tehrani (Norway)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2020GEORGE THE DOG, REFUGEE - Tomasz Wiński (Czech Republic)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020SHIBIL - Nikola Bozadzhiev (Bulgaria)
Best European Independent Documentary 2020SHADOWS OF LIGHT - Walter Fanninger (Austria)
Best European Independent Animated Film 2020MIND MY MIND - Floor Adams (Netherlands)
Best European Independent Comedy 2020KOEKOEK! - Jörgen Scholtens (Netherlands)
Best European Experimental Film 2020THEM - Robin Lochmann (Germany)
Best European Independent Music Video 2020ADAGIO FOR STRINGS AND STORM - Ivan Yudin (Russian Federation)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2020FUNFAIR - Kaveh Mazaheri (Iran)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020The Journey of a Murder - Jun Wang (China)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2020AMAZING GRACE - Lynn Montgomery (US)
Best Student Film 2020MY CAT AS SOCRATES - Villő Krisztics (Hungary)
Best Feature Script 2020BRIDGE BY THE EARTHEN HOUSE - Paul Hunt (UK)
Best Short Script 2020TIME MUSEUM - Gahee Lee (US)
Best Actor 2020Chis Schultz in DORRIS 85 by Grace Philips (US)
Best Actress 2020Fatou Mbemgue in LA GITA by Salvatore Allocca (Italy)
Best Editing 2020Liu Kai Qi - BATHHOUSE DRUMMER; directed by Treey Liu (China)
Best Cinematography 2020Daniel Lindholm - ELECTRIC LITANY - SEALIGHT; directed by Sakari Lerkkanen (UK)
Best Director 2020Raúl Koler and Emiliano Sette - ANACRONTE (Argentina)
Special Jury Mention 2020CALIFORNIA ON FIRE - Jeff Frost (US)
Special Jury Mention 2020NO, I DON'T WANT TO DANCE - Andrea Vinciguerra (UK)
Audience Award 2020THE CALL CENTRE - Louisa Connolly-Burnham (UK)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2020 MANARA - Zayn Alexander (Lebanon)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingTHE WALKING FISH - Thessa Meijer (Netherlands)
ECU prize 2019 ECU prize 2019.jpg
ÉCU prize 2019

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.

ECU 2019 poster ECU 2019 poster.jpg
ÉCU 2019 poster

The winners of ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival 2019:

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2019PIGGY - Carlota Martínez Pereda (Spain)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2019SYDNEY - Paul Wyett (UK)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019RWANDA - Riccardo Salvetti (Italy)
Best European Independent Documentary 2019THE QUIET REBEL - Carole Cassier (France)
Best European Independent Animated Film 2019AUGENBLICKE - A BLINK OF AN EYE - Kiana Naghshineh (Germany)
Best European Independent Comedy 2019PATER FAMILIAS - Giacomo Boeri (Italy)
Best European Experimental Film 2019EL HOR - Diane Lucille Campbell (UK)
Best European Independent Music Video 2019BIRTHPLACE - Jorik Dozy, Sil van der Woerd (Netherlands, Indonesia)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2019THE MOUSE - Liat Akta (Israel)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019IN GOD I TRUST - Maja Zdanowski (Canada)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2019WOMEN OF THE GULAG - Marianna Yarovskaya (US)
Best Student Film 2019REVERIE - Philip Louis Piaget Rodriguez (Denmark)
Best Feature Script 2019COURTESY OF THE KAISER - Mark Larson (US)
Best Short Script 2019CLEMENT - German Perugorria Pans (Uruguay)
Best Actor 2019Mark Weinman in SEX ED by Alice Seabright (UK)
Best Actress 2019Sylvie Le Clanche in LE MAL BLEU (SICK BIRDS) by Anaïs Tellenne and Zoran Boukherma (France)
Best Editing 2019SUBMISSIO] - by Gary Coogan (Director: Savvas Stavrou) (UK)
Best Cinematography 2019THIRD KIN] - Yannis Kanakis (Director: Yorgos Zois) (Croatia, Greece)
Best Director 2019PIG HEAR] - Artjom Baranov (Germany)
Special Jury Mention 2019 SKIN - Guy Nattiv (US)
Special Jury Mention 2019SALA] - Claire Fowler (UK)
Special Jury Mention 2019I LOVE MY MU] - Alberto Sciamma (UK)
Audience Award 2019EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T SA] - Charlie Reader (UK)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2019FACES IN THE SU] - Farah Shaer (Lebanon, US)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingJOC - Andreea Valean (Romania)

ÉCU 2018

The 13th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from May 4–6 at Cinema Les 7 Parnassiens in Paris. 81 films from 37 countries were screened during the 3-day festival.

During the festival weekend, international audiences were exposed to film and their filmmakers from across a spectrum of experiences, cultures, and genres. The Director Q&A sessions provided a setting for discussion between the audience and the directors on filmmaking, while after-parties throughout Paris extended these conversations into the fueled early morning hours. ÉCU endeavours to provide a cultural platform not only for entertainment but also for active networking across the independent film world. Here are the winners of ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival 2018:

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2018The Box - Dusan Kastelic (Slovenia)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2018Wren Boys - Harry Lighton (UK)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2018Merrick - Benjamin Diouris (France)
Best European Independent Documentary 2018 Rezo - Leo Gabriadze (Georgia, Russian Federation)
Best European Independent Animated Film 2018Planet Tobler - Aran Quinn (Ireland, US)
Best Experimental Film 2018Plasma Vista - Harriet Fleuriot, Sara Faulker, Sarah Cockings (UK)
Best European Independent Music Video 2018The End - Loïc Andrieu (France)
Best European Independent Comedy 2018Punchline - Christophe M. Saber (Switzerland)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2018Passion Gap - Jason Donald, Matt Portman (South Africa)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2018Kafou - Bruno Mourral (Haiti)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2018Grind - Yuri Alves (US)
Best Student Film 2018Facing Mecca - Jan-Eric Mack (Switzerland)
Best Short Script 2018Too much Bupkis - Tom Brown & Dave Jay (US)
Best Feature Script 2018The Forgotten Patron - Louise Deschamps (Canada)
Best Actor 2018Wave - TJ O'Grady Peyton (Ireland)
Best Actress 2018all For Dreams - Mami Shimazaki (Israel)
Best Editing 2018The Third Breath - Jonathan Mandel (France)
Best Cinematography 2018Mobius Bond - Narvydas Naujalis (Lithuania)
Best Director 2018#TAGGED - Martjin Winkler (Netherlands)
Special Jury Mention 2018Aquathlon - Alexey Shabarov (Russian Federation)
Special Jury Mention 2018Les Misérables - Ladi Ly (France)
Special Jury Mention 2018She'eriot - Yael Arad Zafir (Israel)
Special Jury Mention 2018Too Much Info Clouding Over My Head - Vasilis Christofilakis (Greece)
Audience Award 2018Béa - José Esteban Pavlovich Salido (Mexico)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2018Wasati - Ali Kalthami (Saudi Arabia)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingThe Elephant - Suraya Raja (UK)

ÉCU 2017

The 12th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 21st to 23 April 2017 at Cinema Les 7 Parnassiens in Paris. 73 films from 28 countries were screened during the 3 day festival. In addition, the audience attended '#SheShoots - Female Filmmakers in Conversation' discussion panel.

Here are the winners of ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival 2017:

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2017Cubs - Nanna Kristín Magnúsdóttir (Iceland)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2017Emily Must Wait - Christian Wittmoser (Germany)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2017Rage - Michał Wegrzyn (Poland)
Best European Independent Documentary 2017Refugee Blues - Stephan Bookas, Tristan Daws (United Kingdom/ Germany)
Best European Independent Animation 2017Late Season - Daniela Leitner (Austria)
Best Experimental Film 2017Rhythm of Being - Giada Ghiringhelli (United Kingdom)
Best European Independent Music Video 2017I Got Myself A Finish (Tom Rosenthal) - Thomas Vernay (France)
Best European Independent Comedy 2017Le Chat Doré - Nata Moreno (Spain)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2017A Beautiful Day - Phedon Papamichael (US)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2017Selling Isobel - Rudolf Buitendach (US)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2017El Buzo - Esteban Arrangoiz (Mexico)
Best Student Film 2017Forest of Echoes - Luz Olivares Capelle (Austria)
Best Short Script 2017Going Home - Nir Shelter (Australia)
Best Feature Script 2017Hunters Pointe - Scott Liapis (US)
Best Actor 2017Eho - Selman Jusufi (Germany)
Best Actress 2017Y - Marie Petiot (France)
Best Editing 2017Three Rooms - Andrés Klimek (Mexico)
Best Cinematography 2017Son - Leif Thomas (Germany)
Best Director 2017Ce Qui Echappe (The Elusive) - Ely Chevillot (Belgium)
Special Jury Mention 2017The Dog and the Elephant - Mike Sharpe (United Kingdom)
Special Jury Mention 2017The Bridge Over the River - Jadwiga Kowalska (Switzerland)
Special Jury Mention 2017My Last Summer - Claude Demers (Canada)
Audience Award 2017Night-Shift - Hisham Sharafeddine (Lebanon)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2017Sing For Me - Sama Waham (Canada)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingStandby - Charlotte Regan (United Kingdom)

ÉCU 2016

The 11th Annual ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from April 8 to 10 at Cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens, 75014 Paris. 77 films from 31 countries were screened over 3 days. Films competed across 14 categories and were judged according to their quality, creativity, and independent spirit in both form and content.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2016The Chicken - Una Gunjak (Croatia/Germany)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2016Horseface - Marc Martinez Jordán (Spain)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2016Vanitas - Oscar Spierenburg (Belgium)
Best European Independent Documentary 2016I Women in Sin] - Iris Zaki (United Kingdom/ Israel)
Best European Independent Animation 2016The Old Man and the Bird - Dennis Stein-Schomburg (Germany)
Best European Independent Experimental Film 2016Refugees - Eduardo Hernandez Perez & Hans Jaap Melissen (The Netherlands)
Best European Independent Music Video 2016Circles - Helen Takkin (Estonia)
Best Independent Comedy 2016Discipline - Christophe M. Saber (Switzerland)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2016Thunder Road - Jim Cummings (US)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2016Kidnap Capital - Felipe Rodriguez (Canada)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2016Life on the Border - Basmeh Soleiman, Delovan Kekha, Diar Omar, Hazem Khodeideh, Mahmod Ahmad, Ronahi Ezaddin, Sami Hossein, & Zohour Saeid (Syrian Arab Iraq/Syria)
Best Student Film 2016The Van Boomel Brothers - Laurens Jans (Belgium)
Best Short Script 20166 September - Ionut Gaga (Romania)
Best Feature Script 2016As an Actress - Maria Hinterkörner (Austria)
Best Actor 2016Patrick's Day - Moe Dunford (Ireland)
Best Actress 2016Love/Me/Do - Rebecca Calder (United Kingdom)
Best Editing 2016The Way of Tea - Coban Beutelstetter (France)
Best Cinematography 2016The Seed - Kassim Olivier Ahmed (Belgium)
Best Director 2016The Man of my Life - Mélanie Delloye (France)
Special Jury Mention 2016Semiliberi - Matteo Gentiloni (Italy)
Special Jury Mention 2016Balcony - Toby Fell-Holden (United Kingdom)
Special Jury Mention 2016Welcome - Javier Fesser (Spain)
Audience Award 2016While You Were Away - Ben Mallaby (United Kingdom)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2016Little Gandhi - Sam Kadi (Turkey/US/Syria)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingUntil 20 - Jamila Paksima & Geraldine Moriba (US)

ÉCU 2015

The 10th Annual European Independent Film Festival took place from April 10 to 12 at Cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens, 75014 Paris. During the 3 days screening, it showed 84 films from 32 countries and then came up with the award-winning list. This year's "ÉCU-on-the-Road", ÉCU went to São Paulo, Brazil, from January 29 to February 4; and Berlin, Germany, from January 14 to 15. Each event showcased more than 20 independent films.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2015Here Lies - Duncan Ward (United Kingdom)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2015The Anklet - Guillaume Levil (France)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2015Roseville - Martin Makariev (Bulgaria)
Best European Independent Documentary 2015Gazi to Gezi – A Stones Throw Away - Ross Domoney (United Kingdom)
Best European Independent Animation 2015Mend And Make Do - Bexie Bush (United Kingdom)
Best European Independent Experimental Film 2015Out of Reach (Rain Night) - Pablo Diartinez (Belgium)
Best European Independent Music Video 2015Entomophobia - Robin Rippmann (United Kingdom)
Best Independent Comedy 2015De Smet - Thomas Baerten & Wim Geudens (Belgium / Netherlands)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2015Catching Fireflies - Lee Whittaker (US)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2015Flytrap] - Stephen David Brooks (US)
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2015Trip Along Exodus - Hind Shoufani (Syrian Arab Republic/Lebanon)
Best Student Film 2015Exit Neverland - Chadi Abdul-Karim (Denmark)
Best Short Script 2015Long Road Home - Richard Flynn (United Kingdom)
Best Feature Script 2015The Competitors - Ruth Greenberg (United Kingdom)
Best Actor 2015Roseville - Kalin Vrachanski (Bulgaria)
Best Actress 2015Sophie at the Races - Siobhán O'Kelly (Ireland)
Best Editing 2015Being an Angel - Luigi Abanto Varese (Spain)
Best Cinematography 2015127 - Leigh Elford (New Zealand)
Best Director 2015Before the Bomb - Tannaz Hazemi (US)
Special Jury Mention 2015Oh! My Princess - Heewook SA (Republic of Korea)
Special Jury Mention 2015The Barbiers Blade - Hakan Can (Germany)
Special Jury Mention 2015Touch - Andrew Richardson (United Kingdom)
Audience Award 20151 The Dandelion - Sophie-Clémentine Dubois (Belgium)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2015Amongst - Mohammed Alsalman (Saudi Arabia)
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingFinal Stroke - Anne Chlosta (Germany)

ÉCU 2014

The 9th Annual European Independent Film Festival took place from April 4 to 6 at Cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens, 75014 Paris. As well as the film screenings, festival attendees had the opportunity to participate in an array of workshops as well as a series of 'Meet the Directors' panel discussions, in which the audience pose questions directly to the filmmakers. There was also a full program of live music hosted by ÉCU's partner Access Film-Music.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2014216 Months - Valentin and Fréderic Potier (France)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2014Blind Squad - Vlad Fenesan (Romania)
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2014The Enemy Within - Yorgos Tsemberopoulos (Greece)
Best European Independent Documentary 2014Sickfuchpeople - Juri Rechinsky (Austria)
Best European Independent AnimationDrag Me - Nikos Kellis (Greece)
Best European Independent Experimental FilmSecond Wind - Sergey Tsyss (Russia)
Best European Independent Music VideoSandra Kolstad – Run Away - Yenni Lee (Norway)
Best European Independent ComedyGreat - Andreas Henn (Germany)
Best non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2014Humor - Tal Zagreba (Israel)
Best non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2014The Preacher's Daughter - Michelle Mower (US)
Best non-European Independent Documentary 2014Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution - Matthew VanDyke (US)
Best Student FilmDeserted (Israel) - Yoav Hornung (Israel)
Best Short ScriptBefore The Bomb - Tannaz Hazemi and James Grimaldi (Iran)
Best Feature ScriptYellow Dragon and the Red Fox - Anthony Etherington (UK)
Best ActorSay Nothing - Ed Stoppard (UK)
Best ActressChains of Love - Lotta Doll (Germany)
Best EditingMy Past Life - Sebastian Lindblad (Sweden)
Best CinematographyPortraits of Mistresses - Jean-François Hensgens (France)
Best Director 2014Jiminy - Arthur Molard (France)
Special Jury MentionStill Got Lives - Jan-Gerrit Seyler (Germany)
Special Jury MentionClosed Box - Riccardo Salvetti, Gianfranco Boattini (Italy)
Special Jury MentionYou Can't Write a Letter - Guillaume Levil (France)
Audience AwardBattlecock! - Ben Mallaby (UK)
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking7 Hours - Farah Alhashim (Lebanon)

ÉCU 2013

ÉCU 2013- The 8th Annual European Independent Film Festival took place from March 29 to March 31 and showcased 109 films from 35 countries. The festival was located at the principal cinema Les 7 Parnassiens; film screenings and professional workshops about screenwriting, directing, editing, acting, and sound mixing were held at Cinéma Action Christine. The Arab Section was held at Cinéma Lincoln.

CategoryWinner
Best European Independent FilmOthello - Hammudi Al-Rahmoun Font (Spain)
Best Independent Experimental FilmKore - Eric Dinkian (France)
Best European Independent Comedy FilmIsland Queen - Ben Mallaby (UK)
Best Student FilmMartha Must Fly - Ma'ayan Rypp (Israel)
Best Independent Music VideoI've Only Just Begun - Elias Koskimies (Finland)
Best Independent AnimationI am Tom Moody - Ainslie Henderson (UK)
Best European Independent DocumentaryMoving Gracefully Towards the Exit - Jean-Bernard Andro, Patrice Regnier (France // US)
Best European Independent Dramatic Short82 - Calum Macdiarmid (UK)
Best European Independent Dramatic FeatureGirl Shaped Love Drug - Simon Powell (UK)
Best Non-European Independent DocumentaryCavedigger - Jeffrey Karoff (USA)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic FeatureMotivational Growth - Don Thacker (US)
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic ShortBuzkashi Boys - Sam French (Afghanistan // US)
Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab FilmmakingA Tempo: The 3rd Act - Maria Abdel Karim (Lebanon)
Best Short ScriptThis Vehicle Has Been Checked for Sleeping Children - John Burdeaux (US)
Best Feature ScriptThe Last Waltz of Vienna - Brian Weakland (US)
The European Youth Excellence Award in FilmmakingA Mile In Our Shoes - MFC Study Support Centre (UK)
Best EditingVoices - Hussain Al-Riffaei (Bahrain)
Best CinematographyThe Cart - Natasha Novik (Russia)
Best ActorHIOB - Uwe Preuss
Best ActressOthello - Ann M. Perelló
Special Jury MentionsMYRA - Caroline Burns Cooke
Best DirectorGood Night - Muriel d'Ansembourg
Audience Award I Am Eleven - Genevieve Bailey (Australia)
Special Jury MentionsWe Are Not Slaves - Ainur Askarov (Russia)
Special Jury MentionsEAT - Moritz Krämer (Germany)
Special Jury MentionsWere you the last man to see Hitler? - Caroline von der Tann (Germany // Italy)

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Sheffield DocFest, is an international documentary festival and Industry Marketplace held annually in Sheffield, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivy Film Festival</span> American student-run film festival

Ivy Film Festival (IFF) is the world's largest student-run film festival, hosted annually on the campus of Brown University. The Festival was started in 2001 by then-Brown juniors David Peck and Justin Slosky in collaboration with students of the other seven Ivy League schools including vice chairman Doug Imbruce from Columbia University. The founders' goal was to create a venue to showcase and honor the work of talented student filmmakers. The Ivy Film Festival currently accepts submissions from around the world for both its short film and screenplay competitions.

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is the largest documentary festival in North America. The event takes place annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The 27th edition of the festival took place online throughout May and June 2020. In addition to the annual festival, Hot Docs owns and operates the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, administers multiple production funds, and runs year-round screening programs including Doc Soup and Hot Docs Showcase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leeds International Film Festival</span> Film festival

The Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) is an annual film festival hosted in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It is the largest film festival in England outside of London. Founded in 1987, it is held in November in various venues throughout Leeds, including Hyde Park Picture House and Cottage Road Cinema. In 2022, the festival showed 140 films from 78 different countries, shorts and features, both commercial and independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cambridge Film Festival</span> Annual film festival held in Cambridge UK

The Cambridge Film Festival is the third-longest-running film festival in the UK. Historically, the festival took place in early July, but now it occurs annually during autumn in Cambridge. It is organised by the registered charity Cambridge Film Trust.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beloit International Film Festival</span> Film festival held in Beloit, Wisconsin

The Beloit International Film Festival (BIFF) is an annual film festival in Beloit, Wisconsin, usually held in mid-February. The first edition of the festival took place in 2006. BIFF has evolved from a single weekend to now span 10 days and seven venues. Most venues are in downtown Beloit and within easy walking distance between each. With more than 300 volunteers, it is a community-wide effort, welcoming filmmakers from across the nation and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atlanta Film Festival</span>

The Atlanta Film Festival (ATLFF) is an international film festival held in Atlanta, Georgia and operated by the Atlanta Film Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Started in 1976 and occurring every spring, the festival shows a diverse range of independent films, with special attention paid to women-directed films, LGBTQ films, Latin American films, Black films and films from the American Southeast. ATLFF is one of only a handful of festivals that are Academy Award-qualifying in all three short film categories.

The Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival was a 10-day film festival held annually in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to show the most recent films and music by artists with Asian ethnic origins, such as from Japan, China, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey, the Philippines, and The Middle East. It also included films whose topical matter is about Asians or Asian Americans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Africa in Motion</span>

Africa in Motion (AiM) is an annual African film festival which takes place in Edinburgh, Scotland, in late October/early November. The primary aim of the festival is to offer audiences in Scotland the opportunity to view the best of African cinema from across the continent. AiM 2021 will be the 16th edition showcasing African cinema, the main hosting venue being Edinburgh's Filmhouse Cinema. The festival was founded in 2006 by Lizelle Bisschoff, a South African researcher based in the UK.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Film Festival for Talented Youth</span>

The National Film Festival for Talented Youth, held annually in Seattle, Washington, showcases work by filmmakers 24 and under from across the U.S. and the world. Founded in 2007, it has since become the most influential youth-oriented film festival in North America, featuring early work by several notable filmmakers, including Gigi Saul Guerrero, Ben Proudfoot, and Rayka Zehtabchi. The festival includes film screenings, filmmaking workshops and panels, concerts by youth bands, and a gala opening night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sundance Film Festival</span> American annual independent film festival held in Salt Lake City, Utah

The Sundance Film Festival is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with 423,234 combined in-person and online viewership in 2023. The festival takes place every January in Park City, Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; and at the Sundance Resort, and acts as a showcase for new work from American and international independent filmmakers. The festival consists of competitive sections for American and international dramatic and documentary films, both feature films and short films, and a group of out-of-competition sections, including NEXT, New Frontier, Spotlight, Midnight, Sundance Kids, From the Collection, Premieres, and Documentary Premieres. Many films premiering at Sundance have gone on to be nominated and win Oscars such as Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor in a Leading Role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Horizons Film Festival</span> Annual film festival held in Wroclaw, Poland

New Horizons Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in July in Wrocław, Poland. It has been organised since 2001. It is one of the biggest and most popular film festivals in Poland. Since 2008 it is accredited by FIAPF with an "avant-garde" specialised competitive status.

The Trinidad and Tobago film festival is a film festival in the Anglophone Caribbean. It takes place annually in Trinidad and Tobago in the latter half of September, and runs for approximately two weeks. The festival screens feature-length narrative and documentary films, as well as short and experimental films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Queer Film Festival</span> Annual LGBT film festival in Melbourne, Australia

The Melbourne Queer Film Festival (MQFF) is an annual LGBT film festival held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in November. Founded in 1991, it is the largest queer film event in the Southern Hemisphere, in 2015 attracting around 23,000 attendees at key locations around Melbourne.

The Paris Feminist and Lesbian Film Festival is a women-only film festival founded in Paris, France, in 1989. The festival is organized by Cineffable, an association dedicated to promoting lesbian cinema, and encouraging lesbian creativity.

References

  1. "Hareza and English prepare for upcoming European tour". ParkRecord.com. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  2. "ÉCU-on-the-Road 2014/2015 |".