Scott Hillier, President of ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival and Oscar award-winning independent filmmaker is offering a credit on his latest documentary in exchange for transcription and translation work (Arabic – English). We have been shooting in Libya and have 10 interviews (maximum 30 mins long). This is an unpaid position but you will gain a valuable credit of which you can use in your future filmmaking career opportunities or job prospects. This is a heartf...

The European Independent Film Festival, Europe's premier event for independent cinema, announces this year's 24 award-winning films. After screening 101 films from 33 countries, ÉCU 2012 ended the weekend with a lively ceremony honoring its award-winners. They include "Best Director" for "The Return" (Dir. Blerta Zeqiri) "Best European Independent Dramatic Feature 2012" for "Women and Children" (Dir. Daniel Mitelpunkt) "Best European Independent Dramatic Short 2012" for "Corner Shop" (Dir.Georg...

“The difference in European independent cinema is that it doesn’t leave anyone indifferent” Interview: 29th of January, 2012 We interviewed Scott Hillier, a film and documentary director, producer, and President of ÉCU- The European Independent Film Festival . By Mariana Castaño (Paris) Scott Hillier is a “storyteller”. “Storyteller” is the word he uses himself, in a manner of English that he speaks at the speed of light. His eyes and hands move quickly an...

26/01 If you have a good story, pursue it — immediately and at any cost — preaches Scott Hillier, Oscar honored filmmaker and president of ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival. Scott, in pursuit of a good story, is doing just that. Departing for Libya this evening, Scott and his crew will film a documentary following Jihan Mansur Kikhia, the daughter of former Libyan Foreign Affairs Minister Mansur Kikhia, as she seeks to uncover the truth about her father’s...

American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) held its first Short Film Fest on the last weekend of November. It brought together ÉCU- The European Independent Film Festival, South Western University “Neofit Rilski”, the International Documentary and Short Film Festival (DokuFest), Early Bird Student Film Festival, and In the Palace International Short Film Festival.Scott Hillier, the president of ÉCU gave a lecture at the opening, which was the highlight of the three-day event. He talked about f...

FOOLS’ PARADISE PRODUCTIONS partnered with ÉCU – THE EUROPEAN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL presents Best Student Film: Stanley Pickle, directed by Victoria Mather, Best Animation: Paths of Hate, directed by Damian Nenow, Best Experimental Film: Invertebrate, directed by James McAleer and Special Jury Mention: Städgata directed by Erick Love Lundqvist.   The principal guest of the event will be Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal: Minister of parliamentary affairs. The ju...

BLAGOEVGRAD, Bulgaria – The European Independent Film Festival, South Western University “Neofit Rilski", The International Documentary and Short Film Festival, Early Bird Student Film Festival and In the Palace International Short Film Festival will share for three days at the American University in Bulgaria during the fisrt edition of AUBG Short Film Festival from the 24th to 26th of November. AUBG Short Film Fest will showcase 28 short films from more than 13 countries. The films, ...

Français Spanish Hello fans, members, and those addicted to ÉCU! Don’t worry, the June Newsletter has arrived, so take a seat and enjoy this monthly update. As you know, ÉCU organized a special screening at Café Coutume in Paris and it was successful. ÉCU screened two films that won awards at the 2011 festival – Paths of Hate and Salam Rugby. Guests really enjoyed the films and there were some great discussions over drinks after the screening. Missed the ...

    “Dirty Old Town,” a gonzo hit showing the darker side of Manhattan, will be released theatrically in Germany and Switzerland! On Thursday June 16th, “Dirty Old Town” will premiere at the Kult Kino in Basel, Switzerland. On Monday June 20th, it will then premiere at the legendary Kino Babylon in Berlin with other engagements to follow. More details below: —————– German Premiere ————————— DIRTY OLD TOWN Germa...

ÉCU- The European Independent Film Festival, Europe’s premier event for independent cinema, announces the festival’s award winners. ÉCU 2011, in partnership with G-Technology, screened 77 films from 26 countries over the weekend of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April 2011 at cinema Sept Parnassiens and the Cinema Action Christine in Paris.Twenty awards were given out at the ceremony. “The Best Director” 2011 was shared by Susanne Kellermann, Florian Hirschmann, Katja Benrath the directors of...

This month we say au revoir to Rhiannon Hobbins, ÉCU’s Festival Manager for the past four years. Rhiannon was the ultimate resource for all that is ÉCU but she is moving on to her next adventure back in her home country of Australia. It’s hard to express how much she will be missed but her influence will be everlasting as the festival builds upon the fabulous foundations that she put in place. So, without further ado Rhiannon tells us in her own words how the last four years...

Olá, my name is Ana Clara Soares, I’m Brazilian and for the past two months I’ve been a happy ÉCU intern. To me, Paris is magical, and I absolutely love it. There’s just so much art in every single corner, so much life that in the 2 years that I’ve been living here I can say without a doubt that I’ve only experienced an embarrassingly small portion of the city’s greatness. Nonetheless, I guess that’s one of the reasons why I’ve continued living here - utterly fas...

By Claire Leonard, ÉCU Writer Underground systems throughout the world have long held a magnetic attraction for filmmakers.  Be it the perpetual bustle of commuters, the transient nature of encounters, the stark strip-lighting or the endless labyrinthine, white-tiled corridors –there is a quality which brings filmmakers time and time again underground into these man-made environments to explore our inner lives. Earlier this year, the young filmmaker Paul Bryan captu...

 .............                                                                                                                                                          WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER N° 479: October 7, 2010 Follow this LINK if you cannot read the newsletter properly Contact the Editor, Advertise on the sites.  Our newsletter reaches 82 000 film professionn...

by Ana Clara Soares, ÉCU writer September in Paris has been a month with endless opportunities for independent filmmakers to expose their work, and film-goers to enjoy them. With the end of our summer, it’s a time to enjoy the last moments of warm afternoons at parks or begin to find refuge in the movie theaters on surprisingly chilly nights. For those who like myself would prefer to combine these occasions with the opportunity to discover new films and filmmakers, festivals li...

by Ana Clara Soares, ÉCU writer All of us can create certain ideas of what to expect of film festivals simply from thinking about their names. If it’s named Silhouette one can somehow expect “silhouettes” of ideas, expressed in a short film format. If it’s named The European Independent Film Festival, you can expect from us to watch some exciting European indie films. But what about a festival named L’Étrange (i.e. The Strange)? I bet your expectations are less clear-c...

 .............                                                                                                                                                          WELCOME TO OUR NEWSLETTER N° 470: july 2, 2010 Follow this LINK if you cannot read the newsletter properly Contact the Editor, Advertise on the sites.  Our newsletter reaches 79 000 film professionnals ev...

With a lot of Europe preparing itself for a nice long summer break we seem to have stepped up a gear and had an incredibly busy month here at ÉCU this month – and the cool thing is that there appears to be no end in sight as we head down various roads and avenues at warp speed! Last week I was joined at the London Film Academy by Lousia Mayman (director of ÉCU 2010’s Best Student Film) for an ÉCU 2011 presentation and the screening of Lousisa’s film, The Highest Low. I...