07-12-2008

The European Independent Film Festival launches new program for independent filmmakers.

    he European Independent Film Festival 2009 (ÉCU 2009) announces a new initiative, The Perfect Pitch , which will premiere at the 2009 Festival to be held between the 13th-15th of March, 2009 at La Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Francois Mitterrand, in Paris.

    The Perfect Pitch will be a series of workshops conducted by cinema industry professionals and will address various aspects related to preparing and executing a professional 'pitch'. The workshops are aimed at assisting independent filmmakers in fine-tuning their presentations to producers, distributors and financiers. Pitching projects to companies and/or individuals who will fund films is at very heart of the filmmaking experience - and is something many filmmakers need help with.

    The Perfect Pitch workshop sessions will be held on Friday, the 13th of March, in the Salon Belvedere on the 18th floor of La Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Francois Mitterrand. On Friday afternoon judges will evaluate individual pitch performances, and twenty Perfect Pitch participants will be selected to pitch their films to a panel of film buyers, movie producers and distributors on the final day of the Festival, Sunday the 15th of March. All Perfect Pitch participants, as well as festival attendees and industry professionals, are invited to attend the pitching sessions on Sunday. All Perfect Pitch participants, as well as festival attendees and industry professionals, are invited to attend the pitching sessions on Sunday.

    "This is a chance for filmmakers to perfect a skill that doesn't come naturally to a lot of us - the hard sell. Unfortunately this is an integral part of filmmaking and without this skill we can't keep on making films. The Perfect Pitch offers the chance not only to perfect a filmmakers 'pitching' skills - but also to give them the opportunity to do it for real at the end of the workshops." Says Scott Hillier, President of The European Independent Film Festival.

    For more information regarding The Perfect Pitch please contact Sarah Schutzki, Program Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Individuals interested in signing up for the program are invited to visit the website, www.ecufilmfestival.com, and follow The Perfect Pitch link in the menu bar.

    Since its inception four years ago, The European Independent Film Festival (ÉCU) has established itself as the arena for independent filmmakers from around the world to screen their films to large audiences, as well as to agents, talent scouts, production company representatives, distributors and established producers looking for new projects and raw talent. For more information visit the festival website, www.ecufilmfestival.com.

    Sarah Schutzki
    The European Independent Film Festival (ÉCU)
    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.