ÉCU-The European Independent Film Festival

ÉCU 2009 Events

ÉCU 2009 will feature an exciting array of workshops hosted by dozens of industry experts. The workshops will cover a variety of topics relating to cinema including writing, directing, acting, editing and distribution. And they will be free and open to ALL festival attendees including members of the public. These events offer the unique opportunity to learn from the best in the business. The workshops were a huge success in 2008, and will be even bigger and better in 2009!

Directors will also have the chance to talk to the audience and with other filmmakers during the ‘meet-the-directors' panel discussions that follow each screening.

ÉCU strives to give its filmmakers the opportunity to make connections in the film industry and to chat to others about their projects. We will be holding several social events will also be held throughout the weekend, including an opening night "directors-meet-the-press" cocktail cruise along the Seine.

Success Stories

"Forbidden Future" (director Gard Andreassen, Norway) which won Best European Documentary Feature at ÉCU 2008, has been broadcast on Norway's NRK2 television channel and is now available for purchase on DVD from BasicTV productions.

"My Home Your War" (director Kylie Grey, Australia) won Best Non-European Documentary Feature at ÉCU 2008, and is now being distributed by Galloping Films as well as Al Jazeera English Television.

The Boys from Bagdhad High (directors Ivan O'Mahoney and Laura Winter, UK) won Best News and Current Affairs at ÉCU 2008 and has been broadcast on the BBC and HBO.

Agieszka 2039 (director Martin Gauvreau, UK) won Best Editing and Best Experimental Film at ÉCU 2008 and will be screened at a number of other major film festivals over the coming months, including the California Film Festival, the Staten Island Film Festival, and the Dresden Film Festival. The film is now being distributed by EuroIndie Film Distribution.

The ÉCU 2007 Film of the Festival, "Nu" (director Jan-Willem van Ewijk, Holland), was officially selected to screen at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Montreal World Film Festival and Jan-Willem is now working on his second feature film. "Nu"is due to be released in selected arthouse cinemas in the Netherlands in September 2008.

"Anonymous" (director Christian Pozo, Spain) won Best Director and Best Editing at ÉCU 2007 and has since screened at numerous international film festivals. The award-winning film is now being distributed by Ouat Media Inc.

"Mirage" (director Youngwoong Jang, USA) won Best Animated Film at ÉCU 2007 and is now being distributed by Broken Arrow Entertainment.

"A Cigar at the Beach" (director Stephen Keep Mills, USA) won Best Non-European Documentary at ÉCU 2007, and is now being distributed by the Toronto-based Ouat Media Inc.

"Silent Radio" (director Alan Arrivée, USA) won Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Film at ÉCU 2007, and was subsequently part of the official selection in a number of international film festivals, including Cannes and Long Island. The film is now being distributed by EuroIndie Film Distribution.

John Paul Hurley won Best Actor at ÉCU 2007 for the film "Laid Off" (director Zam Salim, UK) which later went onto win the Edinburgh Film Festival and the Silver Jury Prize at the San Francisco Film Festival.  The film is now being distributed by Network Ireland Television.

"Lights Out" (director Erick Fefferman, USA) won Best Foreign Dramatic Short at ÉCU 2007 and is now being distributed by EuroIndie Film Distribution.

"Our Own Private Bin Laden" (director Samira Goetschel, Canada) was awarded Best Foreign Film and Best Foreign Documentary at ÉCU 2006 and has since gone onto secure a distribution deal with Visual Entertainment Inc. releasing the film for sale around the world.

"Gratte-papier" (director Guillaume Martinez, France) won the 2006 Audience Award and was later signed up for distribution with L'Agence de Court Métrage in Paris.

"Horn OK Please" (director Joel Simon, UK) won Best Animated Film at ÉCU 2006, and is now being distributed by Network Ireland Television.

"Blue Horizon" (director Tony Bennett, UK) won Best Experimental Film at ÉCU 2006 and is now being distributed by EuroIndie Film Distribution.