ECU European Independent Film Festival announces 2011 selection

PARIS, France  ECU - The European Independent Film Festival, Europe's premiere event for independent filmmakers and their audiences, announces its Official Selection for the sixth edition of the festival.

ECU 2011, in partnership with G-Technology by Hitachi, will showcase 78 films from 25 countries ranging in genre from feature films, short films, documentaries, animation and student films to experimental works. ECU's Official Selection represents the very best independent filmmaking talent from around the World. Several films will be making their World Premieres at the festival and more than a dozen others will be having their European Premieres. Filmmakers will be competing for twenty awards, including the prestigious title of Europe s Best Independent Film 2011.

Some highlights from ECU 2011's official selection are: Making it's World Premiere, the French feature film 27 m2 (Dir. Fabien Latrigue & Gabrielle Cserhati), takes a unique look at the lack of communication around housing problems in France. A Damn Killer, (Dir. Marcus Pajter ) is a German film telling the story of a man who dreams of becoming an assassin. Storia di Nessuno (Dir.by Manfreid Lucibello,) recounts the story of a lonely Italian hitman who one day stops looking over his shoulder. Making its European Premiere at a very timely moment, Cairo Exit (Dir. Hesham Issawi) reveals the dramas that many Egyptian youths face on a daily basis - and how tragedy faces those who try to break free. Also in competition is the visually stunning Georgian film, The April Chill (Dir. Tornike Bziave) which shows a human face behind one of the recent Russian incursions into Georgia. One of the most intriguing films of the festival is the documentary Salam Rugby, (Dir. Faramarz Beheshti) which spotlights women playing rugby in Iran.

ECU 2011's official selection slate exemplifies the passion of independent filmmaking, says Scott Hillier, ECU 2011'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.

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. Other highlights include Meet-the-Directors sessions, where audience members have the opportunity to pose questions to filmmakers and to dig deeper into their films. There is also a full programme of post-festival music events organised by festival partner Access Film-Music.

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. Our mission is to discover and introduce to the public the most exciting and innovative talent in the film industry today.

Since its inception six years ago, ECU has proved to be a discovery point for many of Europe s talented independent filmmakers. As a result of ECU's commitment to the discovery, promotion and projection of independent films, some people refer it as Europe's version of Sundance.

The European Independent Film Festival 2011 will take place on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April at  Cinema 7 Parnassiens located in Paris Montparnasse Quarter and the Cinema Christine located in the Saint Germain-des-Pres Quarter of Paris. For more information and a full list of the 2011 Official Selection, go to www.ecufilmfestival.com.