Festival start: 09 May 2025
Festival end: 12 May 2025
Cinema is an art form that needs to be simultaneously nourished and challenged and ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival provides the perfect arena for indie filmmakers to express authentic cinematic storytelling in the most compelling ways possible.
As one the World’s truly stand out independent film festivals, ÉCU embraces innovation and creativity and allows directors in competition to showcase their films to audiences who appreciate and love independent cinema. Filmmakers who are selected into ÉCU’s Official Selection join an active community of creatives who continually push the boundaries of indie cinema.
"It is always an absolute joy to present one's work at ECU. The team are fantastically helpful, the jury extremely competent, and the selection of the highest quality. I would recommend participating to anyone who's in love with indie filmmaking!" - Celina Liesegang, producer of Viscera: Autopsy of a (non)human body, ÉCU 2022 Official Selection
"It's always a pleasure having our films at ÉCU, especially this year with our awarded short film "Useless"! The communication has been great during the whole process and our filmmakers are so excited to be part of this competition. See you again next year with new projects!" - Marta Salvador Tato, distributor of USELESS, the winner of the Best European Independent Dramatic Short award 2022
Since its inception in 2006 ÉCU has forged a path for independent film and the scope of its presence has grown to a global scale with the festival often being referenced as the European equivalent of Sundance, an honour that we don’t take lightly.
Spring is not only a fabulous time for Paris but an exciting time for ÉCU because that is when we showcase roughly around 100 of the World’s very best independent films. Although ÉCU emphasises European talent, it also recognises the genius of international filmmakers with several categories allocated to non-European films.
The next ÉCU, the 19th edition, will take place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of April, 2024 in Paris, France.
ÉCU isn’t just all about screening an amazing slate of films over its three-day event in Paris in April. There are also professional workshops led by experts in the industry, Q&A’s held with the attending filmmakers after every screening session and a chance to network with fellow filmmakers, producers, agents, industry representatives, prospective film buyers and, of course, the cinema-loving public. At ÉCU, there is a continual dialogue celebrating and critiquing the world’s best indie cinema of today.
Though ÉCU’s main event IS the three-day festival in Paris each spring, there is even more! Thanks to our over 50 partner festivals, partner organizations, film centres and film commissions, ÉCU’s goes on an annual world tour called ÉCU-On-The-Road, which gives award-winning films (as well as many of the Official Selection films) the opportunity to have their films screened to a broader, global audience. ÉCU-On-The-Road showcased films in over 80 countries around the globe in 2016 - 2023 at special ÉCU mini-festivals, partner festivals, cultural institutions and film schools, including an amazing seven day special festival in São Paulo, Brazil. The event was made possible through the support of Caixa Cultural, São Paulo and was a huge success. ÉCU also held special events in Berlin (Germany), Cannes (France) and was part of festivals in Lebanon, Italy, Russia, USA, Romania, Austria, Denmark and other countries. This gives ÉCU filmmakers great exposure to audiences that they may never have reached.
Since 2006, ÉCU has helped the careers of literally hundreds of independent filmmakers, actors, DPs, editors, screenwriters and is honoured to be firmly established as one of the World’s eminent indie film festivals.
Above all, we are proud to be a filmmakers’ festival!
Prizes range from year to year, but are donated by partners like Adaptive Sound, Les Machineurs, Zacuto, SellAScript.com, Film Inquiry, Kingston, IED, InkTip, Parrot, Syrp, Red Giant, Write Brothers, Beachtek and others.
CATEGORIES
EUROPEAN CATEGORIES:
- Dramatic Feature Film
- Dramatic Short Film
- Documentary Film
- Animated Film
- Experimental Film
- Music Video
- Comedy Film
NON-EUROPEAN CATEGORIES:
- Dramatic Feature Film
- Dramatic Short Film
- Documentary Film
WORLDWIDE (EUROPEAN AND NON-EUROPEAN) CATEGORIES:
- Student Film
- Arab Special Selection
Conditions For Entry
Films must have been completed since August 1st, 2023. To be eligible for the short film competitions films must be 30 minutes or less. Films can only be accepted if no more than 50% of the funding came from a studio or broadcaster.
Subtitling
Films should be in their original language with english language subtitles. english language films should be subtitled in French. To qualify for the official selection, all non‐english language films must have an english‐subtitled screening copy available, and all english language films must have French subtitles.
Screening formats & deadlines
To enable ÉCU’s submission judges to view your films they need to be in a digital format. Most of our submission platforms (Festhome) enable filmmakers to upload their films directly to them. If you choose a different submission method, please send us a link to an online viewing site. In the case of being selected for the Official Selection a DCP and HighRes H264 1920×1080 back up copy will be required.
Essential Requirements
* Synopsis in english & French of no more than 50 words
* Brief director biography in english and French
* A photo of director
* 2 digital stills from film (High Resolution)
All this plus contact telephone number, return address and photos should be emailed to: submissions@ecufilmfestival.com
Payment
Films can be submitted via FestHome or directly to the festival via PayPal.
Shipping
If selected, DCP copies must arrive at the festival by date to be confirmed or, by prior arrangement, films may be delivered by hand by the filmmaker. The festival will only pay for the return shipping of films. Films will be returned during the week following the close of the festival. By prior arrangement, prints can be forwarded to another festival immediately after ÉCU. Attending filmmakers must collect their films directly from the festival.
Promotion
The entrant agrees that up to three minutes of their film may be used by The European Independent Festival in promotional activities including screening a clip on television and on the festival’s website. Cinema press may also be allowed a preview of screening copies in order to generate publicity.
Acceptance of these regulations implies that you will abide by them in your dealings with the festival and also that you are legally entitled to submit this film for consideration. All music used in films in whatever category submitted must have permission from the writers or owners of that particular piece of music writing. You are also obliged to deliver a screening copy of the film to the festival office by the required date, should the film be selected.
Should your film be selected as part of ÉCU 2025′s Official Selection we will need you to sign a release form and should you attend the festival you consent to be filmed by the ÉCU film crews and will allow that footage to be used in post‐festival promotional activities.
Screening
The filmmaker has to allow the European Independent Film Festival to screen his/her film in the public arena in Paris during the weekend of the May 9th to 11th 2025. The filmmaker has to acknowledge that all location, acting and branding rights are his/her to grant to The European Independent Film Festival for the duration of the festival and during the festivals’ promotion phase.
European Dramatic Feature (by individual)
Short and Feature Films >30'
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early70€64.4€
57.4€
18 Dec 24
Standard80€73.6€
65.6€
15 Jan 25
Late100€92€
82€
12 Feb 25
Extended110€101.2€
90.2€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
14.4€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. This category is open to all European feature films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Dramatic Feature (submitted by production company
Short and Feature Films >30'
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early90€82.8€
73.8€
18 Dec 24
Standard100€92€
82€
15 Jan 25
Late120€110.4€
98.4€
12 Feb 25
Extended130€119.6€
106.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
18€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. This category is open to all European feature films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Dramatic Short
Short Films 30'<
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early50€46€
41€
18 Dec 24
Standard60€55.2€
49.2€
15 Jan 25
Late75€69€
61.5€
12 Feb 25
Extended80€73.6€
65.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
10.8€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European short films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Documentary
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early60€55.2€
49.2€
18 Dec 24
Standard70€64.4€
57.4€
15 Jan 25
Late85€78.2€
69.7€
12 Feb 25
Extended95€87.4€
77.9€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
12.6€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European documentaries made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Animated Film
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early40€36.8€
32.8€
18 Dec 24
Standard50€46€
41€
15 Jan 25
Late70€64.4€
57.4€
12 Feb 25
Extended75€69€
61.5€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
9€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European animated work in the moving image field (can include web pages) made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Experimental Film
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early20€18.4€
16.4€
18 Dec 24
Standard30€27.6€
24.6€
15 Jan 25
Late40€36.8€
32.8€
12 Feb 25
Extended45€41.4€
36.9€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
5.4€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European work in the moving image field that can be deemed experimental made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Student Film
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early35€32.2€
28.7€
18 Dec 24
Standard40€36.8€
32.8€
15 Jan 25
Late45€41.4€
36.9€
12 Feb 25
Extended50€46€
41€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
7.2€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European and non-European student films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Non-European Dramatic Feature (by individual)
Short and Feature Films >30'
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early110€101.2€
90.2€
18 Dec 24
Standard115€105.8€
94.3€
15 Jan 25
Late120€110.4€
98.4€
12 Feb 25
Extended130€119.6€
106.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
20.7€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all non-European feature films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Non-European Dramatic Feature (submitted by production company
Short and Feature Films >30'
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early110€101.2€
90.2€
18 Dec 24
Standard115€105.8€
94.3€
15 Jan 25
Late120€110.4€
98.4€
12 Feb 25
Extended130€119.6€
106.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
20.7€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all non-European feature films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Non-European Dramatic Short
Short Films 30'<
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early65€59.8€
53.3€
18 Dec 24
Standard70€64.4€
57.4€
15 Jan 25
Late75€69€
61.5€
12 Feb 25
Extended80€73.6€
65.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
12.6€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all non-European short films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Non-European Documentary
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early75€69€
61.5€
18 Dec 24
Standard80€73.6€
65.6€
15 Jan 25
Late85€78.2€
69.7€
12 Feb 25
Extended95€87.4€
77.9€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
14.4€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all non-European documentaries made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Music Video
Short Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early20€18.4€
16.4€
18 Dec 24
Standard30€27.6€
24.6€
15 Jan 25
Late40€36.8€
32.8€
12 Feb 25
Extended45€41.4€
36.9€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
5.4€
Submit
Videos should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European independent music videos. The video's budget cannot have been funded more then 50% by a record company or music publishing entity. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
European Comedy Film
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early50€46€
41€
18 Dec 24
Standard60€55.2€
49.2€
15 Jan 25
Late75€69€
61.5€
12 Feb 25
Extended80€73.6€
65.6€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
10.8€
Submit
Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. This category is open to all European comedies made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Films may be submitted in any language, however must have subtitles in English except if the film is in English it must have French subtitles. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure accurate judging abilities. A synopsis of no more than 180 characters, in English and French, a screenshot from the film and a short director's biography also in English and French are required upon submission.
Arab Special Selection
Short and Feature Films
Fee-8%
PRO 18%
Early55€50.6€
45.1€
18 Dec 24
Standard65€59.8€
53.3€
15 Jan 25
Late75€69€
61.5€
12 Feb 25
Extended85€78.2€
69.7€
05 Mar 25
Get an Annual Pass and get the maximum discount on festival and submission fees
Submissions deadline
05 Mar 25
Save up
11.7€
Submit
For the 11th year in the row ÉCU is highlighting independent Arab filmmakers, competing for The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking. The winner of this “Special Section,” will receive an award for their outstanding creative efforts dedicated to the memory of the late Ahmed Khedr, a talented director and good friend of the festival. Films should be independent in spirit, original in perspective and made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster.
Festhome holds accountable fees festivals by holding the payment of the fees of most newer festivals until they have viewed the submissions, held their festivals and other methods.