ECU to showcase 94 films from 25 countries 13-15 March

The European Independent Film Festival (ÉCU), Europe’s premiere event for independent filmmakers and their audiences, announces its Official Selection for the fourth edition of the festival. ÉCU will showcase 94 films from 25 countries ranging in genre from feature films, short films, documentaries, animation and experimental films and for the first time a category for films dealing with environmental issues.
Competing at ÉCU 2009 will be ‘Voyage d’Affaires’ starring Guillaume Canet, ‘The Chef’s Letter’ with Ray Fearon and “My Horizon” with Nick Nolte and Sean Brosnan. In addition, this year’s festival will launch the new ‘Perfect Pitch’ programme, The European Independent Film Channel and will include workshops and ‘Meet the Directors’ sessions.
“I know how hard it is for independent filmmakers to get the recognition they deserve,” says Scott Hillier, ÉCU 2009’s President and Academy Award honoured independent filmmaker. “Our mission is to discover and showcase the most exciting young talent in the film industry today.”
The jury will judge films from 11 competitive categories and award ‘Europe’s Best Independent Film’ at the ÉCU 2009 Awards Ceremony on Sunday 15 March 2009.
Personalities from cinema, television and the arts as well as filmmakers and film industry professionals will mix with a cinema-loving public craving the energy, free-spiritedness and innovation that embodies independent film.
Hillier adds, “ÉCU brings the fresh, distinctive vision of these hugely talented new filmmakers to audiences craving innovation and real creative flair. The platform we provide can be an essential link between a director and a distribution deal.”
The film festival takes place on the 13th, 14th and 15th March 2009 at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, site François-Mitterrand in Paris, France. Admission is free.
The European Independent Film Channel
The European Independent Film Channel will be launched at ÉCU 2009. Its mantra is to give filmmakers maximum year-round exposure and to provide the public with the very best independent films from around the World.
New Programme to Launch at ÉCU 2009
The Perfect Pitch is a series of workshops aimed at independent filmmakers looking to fine-tune their pitch presentations to producers, distributors and financiers. At the end of the workshops, twenty programme participants will be invited to pitch their projects to a panel of industry professionals, including Stephane Parthenay of Pyramide International, Alexis Hofmann of BAC Films and Hengameh Panahi of Celluloid Dreams.
Workshops and ‘Meet The Directors’ Sessions
There will be a series of workshops presented by industry experts on scriptwriting, editing, acting and distribution. ‘Meet the Directors’ sessions will be held throughout the weekend.
Since its inception four years ago the festival has proved to be a discovery point for many of Europe’s talented filmmakers, who are driven by the passion to make great cinema, but don’t benefit from huge production budgets.
For more information and a full list of the 2009 Official Selection, go to www.ecufilmfestival.com