Regarding the ÉCU Arab Selection, this year we were presented with three strong contenders: “…And I was left behind”, by Maysaa Almumin, “Holy Mother”, by Hussein Hossam and finally “Saleh”, by Zaki Alabdullah.   Each one of this three movies portrayed very different stories, but all of them very personal, complex, and emotional. For instance, in the Qatari short movie “…And I Was Left Behind”, the director reenacts her memory of sitting next to her grandmother while she used the sewing machine, listening to her words regarding travelling, distance, and loss. This movie takes us on a jour ..read more

On the final day of the ÉCU Independent European Film Festival, a wide array of activities took place, from awarding the festival winners to providing workshops for guests. Tonight, the 19th edition of the ÉCU Film Festival took place, hosted at the Cinema Les 7 Parnassiens, in Montparnasse. An exciting day full of activities, workshops, conversations, and more importantly, a love for cinema.  We had the pleasure of being presented with very inspiring films this year and I personally received the opportunity to interview some of the present filmmakers.  For instance, Emily Niebuhr g ..read more

Vincent Zhou, director from “I C U” The echoes of applause still resound through the busy boulevards of Paris as the second night of the ÉCU Film Festival came to a close earlier today. The day when the magic of cinema transcended barriers and captivated audiences, leaving a permanent mark on the artistic scene of the city for the 19th time.  After the initial grandiose of the opening night, the stakes were high. The independent filmmaking scene as well as the crew of ÉCU managed to fulfill critics expectations. The ÉCU Film Festival unfolded with all the grandeur and charm once again pr ..read more

The night before, the entire focus and effort of the ÉCU crew went unnoticed in the corridors of a Parisian “Les 7 Parnassiens” cinéma in Boulevard de Montparnasse. Now, however, as the red carpet unveiled – inviting the filmmakers coming from poles apart countries and continents the scene is set. For these 3 days this boutique cinema turns into a site of pilgrimage for all those who want to give a well-deserved thanks to indie filmmakers. The opening night of the 19th edition of ÉCU film festival greeted the guests with the consistent professionalism, admiration of culture and love for indep ..read more

Polish Queer Cinema Special Interview With Kamil Krawczycki Sunny day of March 26, 2019 – the council of the Świdnik municipal council gathers for another day of seemingly uneventful local politics. This day however will not go unnoticed, rather it will start a chain of events that will in turn lead to the country spiraling into further polarization. The opening statement of the Resolution nr 1/2019 reads : For the sake of life, family, and freedom, we declare that the local government we represent – in accordance with our centuries-old culture of social life – will not interfere in the privat ..read more

Examining The Case of Kurdish Cinema Yilmaz Güney, one of the fathers of Kurdish filmmakingThe Past Map of The The Ottoman Empire, XIXth century, Library of Congress Their homeland is scattered between 4 hostile to each other countries, with the seemingly only uniting factor being the repression of the group. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and later decolonization efforts, several national republics have been established throughout the region. Turkey, forging the ambitions of its predecessor gave up the claims for the Middle East. Countries of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon formed in a turb ..read more

Nowadays, it is almost impossible to watch a movie or TV show that does not feature some type of romantic relationship, as well as intimate scenes. From kissing to more sexual content, viewers are quite used to watching explicit scenes. But what exactly is the behind-the-scenes process? How is the on-screen intimacy so realistic? And what professional measures are put in place to ensure the well-being and comfort of the actors? All these questions can be answered by a relatively recent but important profession known as intimacy coordinator (or intimacy director). These experienced professional ..read more

Examining The Case of Kurdish Cinema Yilmaz Güney, one of the fathers of Kurdish filmmakingThe Past Map of The The Ottoman Empire, XIXth century, Library of Congress Their homeland is scattered between 4 hostile to each other countries, with the seemingly only uniting factor being the repression of the group. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and later decolonization efforts, several national republics have been established throughout the region. Turkey, forging the ambitions of its predecessor gave up the claims for the Middle East. Countries of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon formed in a turb ..read more

In the final weeks prior to ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival, which will be taking place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, the launch party kicked off celebrations. Held in the Black Sheep Coffee in Paris, the party invited all cinephiles and indie film aficionados to become acquainted with the Official Selection for the 19th edition of ÉCU. With an atmosphere of excitement, several past films featured at ÉCU were showcased and a live DJ kept the crowd grooving the whole night. Independent filmmakers and budding film students were amongst the crowd, making it the perfect opport ..read more

Peek inside the daily lives of the remote Yanomamo in southern Venezuela as they masterfully craft long blowguns for monkey hunting. Or the mournful and yet beautiful rituals of religious figures and community healers in one of India’s most holy cities.  Ethnographic films, a specific manifestation of the research from the field of Social-Cultural Anthropology, strip down the common documentary movie-watching experience. What is left is a compelling, organic, and non-sensationalized form of nonfiction filmmaking that gives viewers a glimpse into various cultural realities around the world ..read more