ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival will be rolling out its indie carpet on the 29th, 30th and 31st March and screen a selection of the World's Best Indie Films. Showcasing 109 films from 35 countries, the festival will take place at Cinéma Les 7 Parnassiens in Montparnasse and at the arthouse theatre Cinéma Action Christine, located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
ÉCU is excited to present a new addition to its 2013 program: the ÉCU-Arab-Special-Section whichl will spotlight six independent Arab film directors at the Cinéma Le Lincoln near the Champs-Élysées.
"We are extremely proud of this year's Official Selection, as well as having the opportunity to screen great films in The Arab-Special-Section. Giving these talented independent filmmakers the recognition they deserve is very important to us. In our eighth year ÉCU continues screening the best indie films from around the world - a mission we believe in wholeheartedly," said Academy Award-honoured filmmaker and ÉCU President, Scott Hillier.
The 2013 Official Selection will certainly impress with 9 World Premiers and 15 European Premiers. Some highlights include, "EAT" directed by Moritz Krämer, a German experimental film about a fashion model who begins eating walls and chairs; "We're not Slaves," directed by Ainur Askarov, a short film from Russia about a small boy in besieged Leningrad during World War II, and a British feature film called "Girl Shaped Love Drug," a visually stimulating story of a boy with a metaphysical presence and a girl with a Manchurian heart who live a beautiful romance, directed by Simon Powell. Another film in competition is "Buzkashi Boys" from Afghanistan which was nominated for an Oscar early this year in Hollywood.
ÉCU's 2013 Official Selection films are competing for 25 awards in 17 different categories including ÉCU's latest award, "The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking". Winners will not only receive recognition from the worldwide independent film community, but prizes from the London Film Academy, Red Giant, Lomography, Footage Firm, Jungle Software and others.
During the festival weekend, attendees will not only be able to attend film screenings, but will also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops ranging in subject from business aspects of filmmaking to editing and structure. Directly following film screenings, ÉCU will host Director Q&A sessions where audience members can pose questions directly to the filmmakers. Music concerts will be held throughout the weekend thanks to ÉCU's partner, Access Film-Music, with performances by Andy Frasco & The UN, Bona Fide Genius, Kristin Shey, and Chicago Mike Beck.
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival has always strove to do its best for the independent filmmaking community. It is due to this solid belief that the festival has been a launching site for many talented directors - proving that great cinema, and its creators, can be driven by pure passion and creative thinking and not only by big budgets. ÉCU will continue its mission to discover and promote extraordinary independent films from around the world and being a major European cultural event which brings thousands of people to Paris every year.
Stay connected with ÉCU 2013 at: