ÉCU 2010, in partnership with G-Technology by Hitachi, will showcase sixty-seven films from twenty-seven countries ranging in genre from feature films, short films, documentaries, animation and experimental films in addition to a category for films dealing with environmental issues. The Official Selection will represent the pinnacle of independent filmmaking talent from around the World.
Among the competing films at ÉCU 2010 will be Curtains, (dir. Dan Jemmett & Mighty Boosh star Julian Barrett, UK) which explores sex, puppets and unfortunate deaths, Trolley Boy (dir. Teemu Auersalo, Ireland), a comedic animation about all of those things that go wrong in supermarket parking lots, Entwined (dir. Reeve Rixon, Scotland), a story about an elderly woman forced to confront her past while trapped in a Victorian whirligig, Legend of John the Inverted, (dir. Philippe Lamensch, Belgium), a philosophical look at a man's life who is born with his feet pointing backwards, Das Packet (dir. Marco Gadge, Germany), a short film about two rusty old mobsters delivering a dangerous package and Ayla (dir. Su Turhan, Germany), a cross-cultural drama dealing with illicit love and murderous revenge.
"ÉCU 2010's official selection slate exemplifies the passion of independent filmmaking," says Scott Hillier, ÉCU 2010's President and Academy Award honoured independent filmmaker. "These are films that are made by filmmakers who are driven by a desire so strong to tell their stories that they bare their souls on the screen. We will be projecting films that will touch the audiences and remain in their thoughts for a long time."
Filmmakers will be competing for twenty-two awards, including the prestigious title of "Europe's Best Independent Film 2010". This year's jury includes director's Audrey Najar and Frederic Perrot (France), Cannes Film Festival award-winner Joao Salaviza (Portugal) and filmmaker Dunja Kusturica (Serbia).
In addition to the film screenings, festival attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting array of workshops hosted by industry professionals on scriptwriting, editing, acting and directing. There will also be workshops demonstrating how G-Technology hard drive solutions can cost-effectively support and enhance the real-time all-digital workflow.
Other highlights include "Meet-the-Directors" sessions, where audience members will have the chance to pose questions to filmmakers. There is also a programme of post-festival music events organised by festival partner Access Film-Music who has presented over one hundred exceptional recording artists during Film Festival Week in Park City, Utah, USA.
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, "I know how hard it is for independent filmmakers to get the recognition they deserve," adds Hillier. "Our mission is to discover and introduce to the public the most exciting young talent in the film industry today."
Since its inception five years ago, ÉCU has proved to be a discovery point for many of Europe's talented independent filmmakers. As a result of ÉCU's commitment to the discovery, promotion and projection of independent films, the festival is fast becoming known as Europe's version of Sundance.
The European Independent Film Festival 2010, in partnership with G-Technology by Hitachi, will take place on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March at two venues, Cinema Le Grand Action and Le Triomphe, both located in the heart of Paris' Latin Quarter. For more information and a full list of the 2010 Official Selection, go to http://www.ecufilmfestival.com/
Stay connected with ÉCU 2010:
http://www.ecufilmfestival.com/
www.facebook.com/TheEuropeanIndependentFilmFestival
http://www.twitter.com/ECUfilmfestival
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