What are the elements that lead to success? What sacrifices do artists undertake for their art? What kind of hardship do they endure to pursue their call? What happens behind the scenes of a Musical show? Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony-winning genius behind Hamilton, chose the screenplay by Steven Levenson to make his feature directorial debut and reflect on artistic creation, exploring what it means for artists to create and how their creativity affects the lives of those around them. By playing with time shifts and breaking the fourth wall, Miranda constructs a meta-musica ..read more

by Pallas-Amenah Morgan It’s the start of a new year, which brings with it a year’s worth of new festivals, competitions, and other chances for independent filmmakers to get their names up in lights. In 2021, the world of film saw the rise of audacious, diverse, and fresh faces in a new generation of rising filmmakers, many of them French talents. Especially in the realm of independent film, these talented artists continue to push the boundaries of French cinema both at home and abroad. From the Cannes Film Festival to Sundance, here are five French filmmakers who made a big scene in the cinem ..read more

by Anna Chiari Prano Bailey-Bond, winner at ÉCU 2012 with her sinister music video HOUSE , has gained international attention for her first long feature film, CENSOR, a dark and gritty horror about the strong relationship between cinema and the human mind. Grown on a diet of Twin Peaks, in the depth of a strange Welsh community, Prano has always brought to life a kind of Burtonian imagine, fusing a dark vocabulary with an eerie allure for the uncanny, the most disturbing and secret aspects of human nature. In 2021 with Censor, Prano was named a BAFTA Breakthrough, a “Director to Watch” by Vari ..read more

“The subject matter of art is life, life as it is: but the function of art is to make life better,” said Gertrude Stein, and it is precisely what Arjan Brentjes does with his short movies. With his highly artistic sensitivity, he depicts some of the roughest and disturbing aspects of real-life through the lenses of his unique perspective and beliefs, challenging the audience to confront uneasy truths and comforting them with that kind of relief only art can provide. Highly concerned with environmental issues and social media’s impact on people’s lives, Brentjes grew up in the nineteen-seventie ..read more

By Rosanna Suvini Paris: the city of aesthetics and romance. Two important elements of many well-loved Hollywood movies. This capital is a popular location to shoot in, and unsurprisingly so: it is a city which boasts beauty and culture on almost every corner, both by day and by night. Here are Paris’ top five movie spots which certainly enhanced the big-screen experience. Starting with a lesser-known location featured in a more recent success: Le Caveau de la Huchette in La La Land. The Latin Quarter of Paris holds the key to an abundance of jazz bars filled with talented and undoubted ..read more

Cobbled streets, wooden chalets, the smells of cheese fondue, churros, and grilled meet churning on a spit. The glow of lanterns and shouts of “Vin chaud! Chocolat! Châtaignes grillées!” bouncing between displays of carved figurines and macarons stacked like Christmas trees. Nope, this isn’t a Hallmark Christmas movie. This is Christmas-time in Paris! A visit to a Marche de Noel in the City of Light is a surefire way to get you in the holiday spirit. Even the grumpiest grinch won’t be able to help but savor a cup of hot mulled wine! During a typical year, about 15-20 Paris ..read more

The second edition of ÉCU’s sister festival, the All Asian Independent Film Festival (AAIFF) is almost here! Join us from November 24th to November 28th 2021. Launched to support independent filmmakers throughout Asia to display their unique ideas, to share their stories with international audiences, and to connect with other independent filmmakers, distributors and talent scouts, AAIFF is the occasion for an unforgettable film festival experience. Divided into six categories, the festival will screen 24 films from 10 different countries online and bring global attention to Asia’s independent ..read more

ÉCU is a fierce supporter of arts in education. This is why since the beginning we have partnered with Art and Film Schools to provide a platform to young up-and-coming talent which we then honor in our category Best Student Film. For National Arts in Education week we are passing the mic to Neve Spicer, writer, editor, veteran preschool teacher, and mother of three from We The Parents. Continue reading for Neve’s excellent overview on the proven benefits of arts in children’s education. — Every great piece of artwork, music, and cinema begins with the study of the fundamentals of the craft. T ..read more

The magic of Paris Paris is famous worldwide for its amazing cuisine and a certain tower, whatever its called. However, if you want to use Paris as the setting for your latest project, there are some ground rules you need to know.  In the majority of cities and public places across the world, there are some requirements for filming so make sure to brush up on them before you start.  On location filming is no doubt rewarding but there are other options available for budding filmmakers which you will discover below.  The Legal Stuff According to the Ministry for Europe and Foreig ..read more

We at ÉCU have enlisted the help of Daniel Maurer (‘THE BEYOND‘) and Süheyla Schwenk (‘JIYAN’), ÉCU 2021 winners of Best European Independent Documentary and Best European Independent Dramatic Feature respectively, to bring you the best tips from the independent film scene. From finding inspiration to tackling setbacks, as a filmmaker, you will face many challenges but using these top tips will help your career soar. Learn how to become a master filmmaker below!  Still from JIYAN by Süheyla Schwenk, Best European Dramatic Feature winner ÉCU 2021 Not your stereotypical filmmaker In reality ..read more