ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival is thrilled to announce its Official Selection of films that will be showcased at the 15th edition of the festival. ÉCU 2020 will proudly screen 90 films from 30 countries on the 24th, 25th and 26th of April 2020 in Paris, France.
European Dramatic Feature
Director Nikola Bozadzhiev
Country Bulgaria
This is a story of impossible love, seen through the eyes of an unexpected character: the incarnated soul of the main character – his horse.
European Dramatic Short
Director Dekel Berenson
Country Ukraine, UK, Israel
Living in war-torn Eastern Ukraine, Anna is an aging single mother desperate for a change. Lured by a radio advertisement, she goes to a party with a group of American men who are touring the country, searching for love.
BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Director Mads Koudal
Country Denmark
A woman’s lifelong relationship with her disabled daughter is changed forever when she receives an unwanted letter.
Director Louisa Connolly-Burnham
Country UK
Paige spends her days setting up people’s life insurance in a drab North London call centre. She is bored of her life, longing for intimacy and connection that she unexpectedly finds on the phone to a charming customer called David.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
Director Christian Kinde
Country UK
Since the death of her mother, Lilah has begrudgingly taken on her mum’s role in the family home. Lilah makes the choice to flee with Jimmy, putting her family’s forgiveness to the ultimate test.
Directors Pierluigi Braca, Luigi Montebello
Country Italy
Fiumicino. 1996. Two lovers, one game. The violent end of a relationship through the faces of a dice.
FILMS FROM THE SMOG YEARS
Directors Michal Zadara, Barbara Wysocka
Country Poland
The air in Warsaw, Poland is extremely polluted. A director tries to film the poison that we inhale every day, but the obstacles are institutional, emotional, and practical.
Director Javier Kühn
Country Spain
A Victorian story about life, death, and everything in between.
GEORGE THE DOG, REFUGEE
Director Tomasz Wiński
Country Czech Republic
Anna and Lizzie share a flat with George – a tax consultant who thinks he is a dog. George agrees to their strict rules: at home, he may only walk on all fours, isn’t allowed to speak, must lick their feet and obey every order.
Director Salvatore Allocca
Country Italy
‘La Gita’ is a teenage story, focused on an Italian girl of second generation who realizes for the first time in her young life what it is to be different from others. She must find the strength to accept herself and continue despite everything.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
IL NOSTRO CONCERTO
Director Francesco Piras
Country Italy
Antonio is an eccentric pensioner. He lives alone in an apartment in the centre of Cagliari. He spends his days in chat rooms, where he sings classic Italian songs. There he meets Karen, a German pianist who becomes his friend. But Karen is hiding a secret.
IM HÄUSCHEN VON HERRN VAN DEN BRINK
Director Björn Renner
Country Germany
Two small-time crooks Heiko and Marcello end up in the hut of Mr. van den Brink. Having fled the police they hide in a garden house but then wake up with their hands and feet bound. From now on the owner of their hiding place, Mr. van den Brink, is calling the shots.
Director James Skinner
Country UK
Fuelled by drink and without a plan, Tom has brought his old football coach to the long-abandoned sports clubhouse. Tearing himself apart, Tom can’t decide if he wants answers or vengeance
Director Kaveh Tehrani
Country Norway
Mina and Saeed live a stressful life in the Iranian capital, Tehran. Being a woman in Iran is not easy so Saeed invents a device that places the responsibility for the hijab where it belongs – with the men whose gaze women need protection from.
NACHRICHT
Directors Lukas Turtur
Country Germany
After not seeing each other for a long time, a couple meets again in a hotel room in Paris. They have to cope with trust, love, longing and finding each other again in this globalized world.
NAIDA
Directors Yury Sholin
Country Russia
The stray dog Naida becomes the only friend of severe security guard Sergey. Sergey has lost the meaning of life after losing his family. But he needs to make a difficult choice.
REA
Director Joanna Bielinski
Country Germany
Oliver Helfrich and his wife Rea lead a family life dominated by violence and psychological terror. In the middle is their baby son Jonas.
LA REGINA SI ADDORMENTA DOVE VUOLE
Director Lorenzo Tiberia
Country Italy
Rebecca is a four-year-old girl who, driven by her parents’ quarrel, escapes from her bedroom and hides in the garden of a nursing home.
SUBURB
Director Nikolas Juergens
Country Germany
In the dull wasteland of the suburbs, a group of teenagers’ desire to grow strength and get recognition transforms into violence against the weak. Tenderness becomes a taboo.
Director Émile V. Schlesser
Country Luxembourg
Max, a young man with Down syndrome, stakes on a superhero identity to muster the courage to profess his love to a childhood friend. Showing up uninvited at her farewell party, he soon finds himself involved in a test of courage which goes horribly wrong.
Director Pablo Robertson de Unamuno
Country UK
Terry is disillusioned with inner city life. As he wanders the streets of London at night some strange characters start to appear, beckoning him on a journey where he must confront his demons from the past.
THREE TIMES
Director Paco Ruiz
Country Spain
Mario is at home alone. His parents are gone and it will take them a while to return. Enough time for their son to arrange a sex date on the Internet with a total stranger.
Director Siham Hinawi
Country Belgium
A 40-year-old self-conscious cop spends a night on duty which will push her over the edge.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
Director Thessa Meijer
Country Netherlands
An ambitious amphibian sea-creature wants to venture into the human world. Her dream to evolve is so strong that she overcomes the physical boundaries of her fish-body and transforms into a human being. But even as a young woman will she ever be content?
In partnership with Eindhoven Film Festival
European Documentary
Directors Thomas Freundlich, Valtteri Raekallio
Country Finland, Norway
Fram is a documentary and travel film about two friends journeying to the end of the earth, in order to make a dance film in the polar wilderness of Svalbard.
Director Jonathan Schörnig
Country Germany
In 2014 Mekon had to flee Nigeria after his parents were murdered.
Directors Alexander Gratovsky, Nicole Gratovsky
Country Spain
A philosophical journey into the eternal questions on the nature and purpose of mankind and our communication with the world. Third film of the trilogy.
Director Walter Fanninger
Country Austria
A film about a festival that celebrates the summer solstice with heavy metal sounds and archaic fire rituals. With Bartholomäus Resch as massive and incorruptible host, blending traditional and modern culture and various styles of musical performance, as well as ancient nature and cosmic spirituality.
Director Imma de Reyes
Country UK
When Cari became a widow she lost both the love of her life and her dancing companion. But she is a phenomenal woman who bounces back with wit, make-up and music. On meeting Vincente, Cari gets a second chance at teenage love, even if it means living in isolation.
Non-European Dramatic Feature
ADVERSE
Director Brian A. Metcalf
Country USA
A rideshare driver, suffering from mental illness, discovers that his sister is in debt to a dangerous crime syndicate
THE JOURNEY OF MURDER
Director Jun Wang
Country China
Sha Tao is a village girl with mental disorders who gets involved in a money transaction of ghost marriage.
Non-European Dramatic Short
ANACRONTE
Directors Raúl Koler, Emiliano Sette
Country Argentina
Since the timeless night, on the life’s plains, humanity faces the Sorcerers of Evil’s indefeasible designs.
Director Bonnie Foster
Country USA
A fashion model leaves her life for the desert and meets a mysterious stranger who finally brings the change she’s been looking for.
C’EST LA VIE
Director Yang Tian Zijie
Country China
Much as Hyde was fond of Chopin, he never listened to it outside his home. Through the help of a holy music store, Hyde is led to discover his own essential existence.
CARRY MY HEART TO THE YELLOW RIVER
Director Alexis van Hurkman
Country China
Taking her hospitalized friend’s place on a bike tour to the Yellow River, a high school graduate travels to faraway Gannan and races the clock to share pictures of the journey.
Director Hao Zheng
Country USA
In the near future, when all labor works are replaced by humanoids, a Chinese chef, Pu (60s) is ordered to pass on his cooking skill to a humanoid robot William.
DORRIS 85
Director Grace Philips
Country USA
While trying to maintain composure and a sense of normalcy in a tough situation, Dorris Havemeyer struggles to keep up her spirits while celebrating a significant birthday.
Director Kaveh Mazaheri
Country Iran
Majid, a young financially struggling man, comes up with a ploy in order to better the life of his wife Sarah.
GREYISH
Director Eghbal Shirzaei
Country Iran
It’s a minimal story about a woolen old man as a metaphor of our life.
HORMONE DISTRESS
Director Karen Hsu
Country China
Jimmy is an elderly office worker. Everyday he sticks to the same routine. Life’s not grand but enjoyable. But recently, something unusual seems to be happening in his life.
THE JUMP
Director Gabriele Di Sazio
Country USA
A 14 year old boy sneaks into a pool with his friends to dive off the 10m diving platform. He will fail to demonstrate his courage to his friends but he will end up demonstrating it to himself.
In partnership with Cinalfama.
THE SOUND OF A WILD SNAIL EATING
Director Elisabeth Tova Bailey
Country USA
A woman is bedridden by a mysterious pathogen, and a snail takes up residence on her nightstand. A journey of survival and resilience, with captivating and graceful explorations.
Non-European Documentary
AMAZING GRACE
Director Lynn Montgomery
Country USA
Grace Fisher was an active musician and dancer until a rare spine disease almost derailed her budding career.
AUSTRALIA’S LOST IMPRESSIONIST- JOHN RUSSELL
Director Catherine Hunter
Country Australia
Who was John Russell and why has he been largely overlooked by mainstream art history?
Director Jeff Frost
Country USA
California on Fire utilizes time, sound, and the catastrophic effects of climate change as a backdrop to examine loss.
Student Film
BATHHOUSE DRUMMER
Director Treey Liu
Country China
Shōta runs into a century-old bathhouse where he finds inspiration in the back-beating massage rhythm. Shōta decides to organize a performance in the bathhouse for his new friend Wang Fushun.
BEAR WITH ME
Director Daphna Awadish
Country Netherlands
Through moving interviews, Bear With Me reveals the many difficulties prevalent for those who cross borders in order to be with the ones they love.
DÍA A DÍA
Directors Jan Philip Baldus, Tobias Kraus
Country Germany
The low-budget documentary “Día A Día” unbiasedly depicts the daily life of struggling individuals in La Paz, Bolivia.
Directors Mathilde Girard, Auriane Remond, Julia Berdollt, Abigaëlle Michel, Victoria Lallemand
Country France
Kumagai, a veteran samurai is forced to kill a mysterious opponent on the battlefield. The memory of his deed keeps haunting him and is destroying him day after day.
THE LOST EYE
Director Sarah Pannakoek
Country Netherlands
Wanda is riding her horse when suddenly, his eye gets stolen and a great adventure starts.
MEDICINE
Director Alexander Hauser
Country Germany
Lisa supports her former drug addict mother Sabine in a custody dispute with the youth welfare office. They are on the verge of preventing Sabine from losing custody of Tom.
Director Kevin Tromp
Country Netherlands
In a strange and deserted world where time does not seem to exist, Sam wanders alone. While searching for the strength to cope with the loss of his mother, both light and darkness are crossing his path.
MY CAT AS SOCRATES
Director Villő Krisztics
Country Hungary
The Greek philosopher Socrates returns as a stray cat. He is taken in by Viola, who is desperately fighting for independence in the stifling milieu her mother has built around her. Everyone who surrounds Viola has opinions on her unstable spirit, yet Viola finds the company of the cat more entertaining.
Director João Gonzalez
Country Portugal
Nestor, a man with several obsessive-compulsive behaviours lives in an unstable houseboat which never stops oscillating.
Directors Xufei Wu, Chun Yao Chang
Country China
1920s, Southern China. A young bridegroom is visiting his aunt, who lives alone in the distant mountains. Bamboo grows everywhere like an ocean. The mansion is beautiful, and his aunt seems kind. Still, there is that locked room in the attic. And that strange noise. And secrets?
Director Jonas Rouyer
Country France
In order to forget the society he despises Philastère takes refuge in his passion, legends.
Director Victor Bargès
Country France
A car is stopped in a Serbian countryside. A young man, Ulysse, with facial injuries is on the phone. He turns over the back seat of his car and sits on the driver seat. There is not enough money. On the back seat, a couple of refugees are trying to reason the young man.
Arab Special Selection
Director Sawat Ghaleb
Country Iraq
Saeed is a young boy who works as a street gas cylinders seller in a poor neighbourhood in Baghdad. He is in love with his boss’ daughter. In a big city like Baghdad, these two can’t find a place to kiss. Every time he tries to kiss her something happens.
Director Zayn Alexander
Country Lebanon
Tragedy strikes when the Zayyad family loses its patriarch under mysterious circumstances, leaving the surviving members to fend for themselves within a judgmental community in Southern Lebanon.
UNDER COVER
Director Shereen Lani Younes
Country USA
A young woman walks home.
UNDER THE LEMON TREE
Director Noor Alasswad
Country Qatar
We spend a day under the shade of a lemon tree with a Palestinian woman named Khaldieh who was abruptly exiled from her hometown of Tulkarem in 1967. She recreates her homeland through an assemblage of simple elements.
European Comedy Film
Director Basile Vuillemin
Country Switzerland
A man uses an automated funeral homes company to bury his mother.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Director Florence Keith-Roach
Country UK
When Annabelle wakes up in a stranger’s bedroom on her 30th birthday, she thinks the day cannot get any worse. But then Bernard walks in.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
Director Savvas Stavrou
Country Cyprus
Still living at home, a lonely forty-year old devises an intricate plan to take his life after his mother dies. As the day progresses, he allows excuses, to stop him, oblivious to the true reason behind his stalling.
KOEKOEK!
Director Jörgen Scholtens
Country Netherlands
Absurd comedy about a lonely man who lives inside a cuckoo clock. Every hour he straps himself into his ejection seat and shoots through the doors of the clock. “Cuckoo!” He yells, “Cuckoo!” His work is of vital importance.
In partnership with Eindhoven Film Festival.
QUIET CARRIAGE
Director Ben S. Hyland
Country UK
A man must decide whether to intervene and stop a casual commuting rule breaker, or live with a lifetime of regret. A comedy about a passive man with an overactive imagination.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
Director Rally Ridberg
Country UK
A satirical exploration of homophobia in young men.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
European Music Video
ADAGIO FOR STRINGS AND STORM
Director Ivan Yudin
Country Russia
Official music video for Adagio for Strings and Storm by Nico Cartosio.
Director Loïc Andrieu
Country France
Throughout a cinematic video, director Loïc Andrieu introduces a new female hero high-concept. It features Jane, an enigmatic L.A.P.D officer, forced to face her Orphic power to dive into death.
ALPHA
Director Simone Marangi
Country Italy
A dark trip through vice and desire.
BASS ASTRAL X IGO ‘FEELING EXACTLY’
Director Grajper
Country Poland
The protagonist’s dilemmas and his inability to recognize his emotions was the film’s starting point. Set in a psychiatric hospital, the film touches on the dark history of hospitals and their mistreated patients.
ELECTRIC LITANY
Director Sakari Lerkkanen
Country UK
A man confronts his fear of Death on a journey to the other side. Death which is represented by a woman.
KAADA– FAREWELL
Director Christian Holm Glad
Country Norway
“Farewell” is an emotional and visually impressive mosaic of personal stories from across the world that are masterfully connected to the piano driven melancholy of the track.
LEE ANN WOMACK’S ‘HOLLYWOOD’
Director Chris Ullens
Country UK
Lee Ann embarks on a cinematic road trip through iconic California, all shot frame by frame in rarely seen before rear projection stop motion.
PAUL KALKBRENNER’S ‘PART TWELVE‘
Director Taisia Deeva
Country Germany
We are witnessing the life of a patriarchal and totalitarian community living in an isolated place after the death of the oldest man – their leader.
Director Kevin McGloughlin
Country Italy
The album’s flag piece of Stefano Lentini, takes shape from artist Kevin McGloughlin’s visual work by 3D light ghosts. The single encapsulates the special effects’ illusions of a threatening new world, but softly expands into a piano epilogue, developing in a climax of tense flash glows.
WILD HORSES
Directors Kévin Roualland, Maxime Dupuy
Country France
Wild Horses is both a short film and electronic music video telling a dystopian sci-fi love story through beautiful, timeless animation.
European Experimental Film
Director Chuck George Tsioutsias
Country UK
‘Once Upon Another’ is a visual narrative that challenges the notion of traditional sculpture and its relationship with surrounding spaces. It consists of a series of vignettes of installations (or in this case sculptures) that live in grand architectural landscapes.
REVOLUTION
Director Justin Bentvelsen
Country Netherlands
Screens occupy the majority of our daily lives, perhaps unconsciously. CGI is becoming more realistic and dominant every day. This increasingly blurs the boundary between reality and the alternative “reality” of the CGI world.
Director Robin Lochmann
Country Germany
In a forgotten village where everyone is cut from the same cloth, a new self-proclaimed leader arrives changing the local way of life. Dividing lines are carved out as the once unified society is torn and segregated.
European Animated Film
Director Maryam Mohajer
Country UK
My grandad was a romantic. He once saw a picture of my granny and realised that she was the love of his life. One day he decided to go meet my granny.
LA GRANDE ONDA
Director Francesco Tortorella
Country Italy
The “business turning point” of one of the most brutal and powerful criminal organizations in the world: the ‘Ndrangheta, told through the life and death of a common man.
HOW COUNTRIES FIGHT THEIR WARS
Directors Thomas Loopstra, Maurice Baltissen
Country Netherlands
How countries fight their wars.
Director Floor Adams
Country Netherlands
When relying on social scripts to survive the social world, it’s not easy to go off-script. Especially if you’re obsessed with German dive bombers and just want to date a girl.
In partnership with Eindhoven Film Festival.
NO, I DON’T WANT TO DANCE
Director Andrea Vinciguerra
Country UK
Have you ever had the impression that if you play the right song while a person is, for instance, frantically moving their arms trying to get rid of a bee, it may seem like they’re dancing instead? “No, I Don’t Want to Dance” it’s a stop motion animated short film which aims to raise awareness of how deadly dangerous dance can be.
In partnership with Aesthetica.
UNCLE THOMAS, ACCOUNTING FOR THE DAYS
Director Regina Pessoa
Country Portugal
From Regina’s personal and visual memories, this film acts as a tribute to her uncle Thomas, a humble man with a simple and anonymous life. Thomas shows how one doesn’t have to be “somebody” to be exceptional in our eyes.
Director David Carrizales
Country Spain
As human beings, we can’t seem to be able to get over our differences. But, are we really all that different? We_sounds; we’re all but the same.
Much More Than A Script Competition
Short Scripts
A CHILDREN DANCE
By Wagner Cardeña
Country: France
In a small village shocked by the killing of three children, a group of parents interrogate a stranger. The questions will soon turn into violence.
TIME MUSEUM
By Gahee Lee
Country: USA
APPALACHIA
By Roxana Stroe and Ana Maria Gheorghe
Country: Romania
Sam (17) spends his time with his friends, committing petty crimes and riding motorcycles. Raelynn is a Protestant girl raised by her father, the local pastor, in a strictly religious manner. Sam falls for Raelynn and starts following her daily and attending church services, just to see her. Soon Sam becomes Raelynn’s miraculous savior, her first and only love. The entire community is against them. He plans to run away with Raelynn, but things get out of hand.
Feature Scripts
BRIDGE BY THE EARTHEN HOUSE
By Paul Hunt
Country: UK
A postman hides his diagnosis of early onset dementia when his son commits suicide. As he deals with his own grief and that of his wife those who knew him are blinded to his worsening symptoms.
NOT ALL ANGELS HAVE WINGS
By Amaury Hayat
Country: France
To achieve her dream and go to Oxford, Sarah, a young student with a strong character, finds herself forced to work with Arnaud, the best student of the math department. However, Arnaud is unfriendly, strange and disinterested in the project. And in his own corner, he works on a secret project that is quite coveted and awakens the ghosts of the past of his professors.
VIOLENCE, THE NORM
By Maria Jose Moreno
Country: Germany
In Colombia’s illegal gold mines, a peaceful protest turned into a riot, and the riot turned into a war. This is the story of the war for Gold amid the world’s demand for high-technology. A union leader, a no-future teenager, and a tourist are caught up in the strike, while illegal armed groups take over a village to fight for the gold’s control.