ÉCU The European Independent Film Festival


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. The festival is dedicated to the discovery and promotion of independent film making talents from Europe and beyond, showcasing films that demonstrate quality, innovation, and creativity in both form and content.
These qualities are judged in 14 categories, 7 of which are open to non-European filmmakers, 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 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 16th edition of ÉCU will be held on April 9–11, 2021 in Paris, France.
As well as the film screenings, festival attendees had the opportunity to participate in an array of workshops, ‘Meet-the-Directors’ discussions in which the audience posed questions directly to the filmmakers. There was also a full program of live music hosted by ÉCU's partner Access Film-Music at the after-parties on all three nights of the festival.
CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2020THE MANCHADOR - Kaveh Tehrani
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2020GEORGE THE DOG, REFUGEE - Tomasz Wiński
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020SHIBIL - Nikola Bozadzhiev
Best European Independent Documentary 2020SHADOWS OF LIGHT - Walter Fanninger
Best European Independent Animated Film 2020MIND MY MIND - Floor Adams
Best European Independent Comedy 2020KOEKOEK! - Jörgen Scholtens
Best European Experimental Film 2020THEM - Robin Lochmann
Best European Independent Music Video 2020ADAGIO FOR STRINGS AND STORM - Ivan Yudin
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2020FUNFAIR - Kaveh Mazaheri
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2020The Journey of a Murder - Jun Wang
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2020AMAZING GRACE - Lynn Montgomery
Best Student Film 2020MY CAT AS SOCRATES - Villő Krisztics
Best Feature Script 2020BRIDGE BY THE EARTHEN HOUSE - Paul Hunt
Best Short Script 2020TIME MUSEUM - Gahee Lee
Best Actor 2020Chis Schultz in DORRIS 85 by Grace Philips
Best Actress 2020Fatou Mbemgue in LA GITA by Salvatore Allocca
Best Editing 2020Liu Kai Qi - BATHHOUSE DRUMMER; directed by Treey Liu
Best Cinematography 2020Daniel Lindholm - ELECTRIC LITANY - SEALIGHT; directed by Sakari Lerkkanen
Best Director 2020Raúl Koler and Emiliano Sette - ANACRONTE
Special Jury Mention 2020THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING - Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Special Jury Mention 2020CALIFORNIA ON FIRE - Jeff Frost
Special Jury Mention 2020NO, I DON'T WANT TO DANCE - Andrea Vinciguerra
Audience Award 2020THE CALL CENTRE - Louisa Connolly-Burnham
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2020MANARA - Zayn Alexander
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingTHE WALKING FISH - Thessa Meijer

Workshops

During the festival, workshops available to all attendees are conducted by professionals in the film making industry. These workshops give a chance to the public to get into film making and to the enthusiasts to improve their craft.

Music

ÉCU is a strong supporter of musicians. Along with the usual film festival activities, live music can be heard throughout the entirety of the weekend.

Meet the directors 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

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 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
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, USASeptember 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, February 4–5, 11–12, 18–19, 25–26, 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

Categories

The festival comprises both European and non-European films.

European Categories

ÉCU 2020
The 15th ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival took place from 23–26 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.
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:
CategoryWinner
Best European Independent Film 2019PIGGY - Carlota Martínez Pereda
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2019SYDNEY - Paul Wyett
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019RWANDA - Riccardo Salvetti
Best European Independent Documentary 2019THE QUIET REBEL - Carole Cassier
Best European Independent Animated Film 2019AUGENBLICKE - A BLINK OF AN EYE - Kiana Naghshineh
Best European Independent Comedy 2019PATER FAMILIAS - Giacomo Boeri
Best European Experimental Film 2019EL HOR - Diane Lucille Campbell
Best European Independent Music Video 2019BIRTHPLACE - Jorik Dozy, Sil van der Woerd
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2019THE MOUSE - Liat Akta
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2019IN GOD I TRUST - Maja Zdanowski
Best Non-European Independent Documentary 2019WOMEN OF THE GULAG - Marianna Yarovskaya
Best Student Film 2019REVERIE - Philip Louis Piaget Rodriguez
Best Feature Script 2019COURTESY OF THE KAISER - Mark Larson
Best Short Script 2019CLEMENT - German Perugorria Pans
Best Actor 2019Mark Weinman in SEX ED by Alice Seabright
Best Actress 2019Sylvie Le Clanche in LE MAL BLEU by Anaïs Tellenne and Zoran Boukherma
Best Editing 2019SUBMISSIO] - by Gary Coogan
Best Cinematography 2019THIRD KIN] - Yannis Kanakis
Best Director 2019PIG HEAR] - Artjom Baranov
Special Jury Mention 2019SKIN - Guy Nattiv
Special Jury Mention 2019SALA] - Claire Fowler
Special Jury Mention 2019I LOVE MY MU] - Alberto Sciamma
Audience Award 2019EVERYTHING YOU DIDN'T SA] - Charlie Reader
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2019FACES IN THE SU] - Farah Shaer
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingJOC - Andreea Valean

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

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

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
Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2016Horseface - Marc Martinez Jordán
Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2016Vanitas - Oscar Spierenburg
Best European Independent Documentary 2016I Women in Sin] - Iris Zaki
Best European Independent Animation 2016The Old Man and the Bird - Dennis Stein-Schomburg
Best European Independent Experimental Film 2016Refugees - Eduardo Hernandez Perez & Hans Jaap Melissen
Best European Independent Music Video 2016Circles - Helen Takkin
Best Independent Comedy 2016Discipline - Christophe M. Saber
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short 2016Thunder Road - Jim Cummings
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Feature 2016Kidnap Capital - Felipe Rodriguez
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
Best Student Film 2016The Van Boomel Brothers - Laurens Jans
Best Short Script 20166 September - Ionut Gaga
Best Feature Script 2016As an Actress - Maria Hinterkörner
Best Actor 2016Patrick's Day - Moe Dunford
Best Actress 2016Love/Me/Do - Rebecca Calder
Best Editing 2016The Way of Tea - Coban Beutelstetter
Best Cinematography 2016The Seed - Kassim Olivier Ahmed
Best Director 2016The Man of my Life - Mélanie Delloye
Special Jury Mention 2016Semiliberi - Matteo Gentiloni
Special Jury Mention 2016Balcony - Toby Fell-Holden
Special Jury Mention 2016Welcome - Javier Fesser
Audience Award 2016While You Were Away - Ben Mallaby
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking 2016Little Gandhi - Sam Kadi
Excellence in Women's FilmmakingUntil 20 - Jamila Paksima & Geraldine Moriba

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

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

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

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