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ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival

Ile de France, France

Festival overview

About ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival

Physical film festival in Ile de France, France with submission categories including European Dramatic Feature (submitted by an individual) and European Dramatic Feature (submitted by production company).

ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival proudly provides the platform for independent filmmakers to express authentic, cinematic storytelling in the most compelling ways possible. As one of the world’s most recognised independent film festivals in the world, ÉCU embraces innovation and creativity and allows directors in competition to showcase their films to audiences who love and appreciate independent cinema.

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. Mr.Scott Hillier is now the father of my independent spirit.

It devotes considerable attention to the presentation and dissemination of films and their creators, and also meticulously analyzes film themes and content. The team of festival organizers is exceptional, demonstrating great care and responsibility.

We are very happy that our film PURGA was featured in this festival. The team are fantastically helpful, the jury extremely competent, and the selection of the highest quality.

What truly fantastic programming and as a filmmaker you are really made to feel part of a passionate global community of people who really believe in the same values around story telling and visual expression. 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 22nd edition, will take place on April, 2027 in Paris, France. ÉCU isn’t just about screening an amazing slate of films over its three-day event in Paris.

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 dialogue focusing on celebrating but also 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 50+ partner festivals, partner

Schedule

Important Dates

Call for Entries Opens
Apr 29, 2026
Final Submission Deadline
Mar 5, 2027
Notification Date
Mar 17, 2027
Festival Starts
Apr 23, 2027
Festival Ends
Apr 25, 2027
Location details

Office & Venue

Venue address
98 Boulevard du Montparnasse Paris, Île-de-France 75014 France
Eligibility

Rules & Eligibility

General Rules+

  1. Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective.

  2. Open to all films made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster.

  3. Films may be submitted in any language, however if the film is NOT in English, it must have English subtitles.

  4. The films selected to be screened at the festival, must have English and French subtitles.

  5. Please note that French subtitles are only required if the film gets into the Official Selection.

  6. Appropriate subtitles are required to ensure the best screening for our audience.

  7. 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 requested upon submission.

  8. The films must be completed since August 1st, 2025.

Current Categories, Deadlines & Fees

Category

European Dramatic Feature (submitted by an individual)

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

Current FeeEUR 70.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

European Dramatic Feature (submitted by production company)

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.

Current FeeEUR 110.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

European Dramatic Short

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. Running time cannot exceed 30 minutes.

Current FeeEUR 50.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

European Documentary

ilms 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.

Current FeeEUR 60.00Early
Category

European Animated Film

Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all European animated work in the moving image field made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster.

Current FeeEUR 40.00Early
Category

European Experimental Film

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.

Current FeeEUR 20.00Early
Category

European Music Video

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 than 50% by a record company or music publishing entity.

Current FeeEUR 20.00Early
Category

European Comedy Film

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.

Current FeeEUR 50.00Early
Category

Non-European Dramatic Feature (submitted by an individual)

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.

Current FeeEUR 90.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

Non-European Dramatic Feature (submitted by production company)

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.

Current FeeEUR 110.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

Non-European Dramatic Short

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. Running time cannot exceed 30 minutes.

Current FeeEUR 65.00Early
RuntimeMaximum runtime: 30 minutes
Category

Non-European Documentary

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.

Current FeeEUR 75.00Early
Category

Student Film

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.

Current FeeEUR 35.00Early
Category

Arab Special Selection

For the 9th 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.

Current FeeEUR 55.00Early
Category

Feature Script Competition

We at ÉCU understand that for many talented writers - especially those without representation - it is difficult getting scripts read by the people that matter: directors, producers and heads of development. That’s why we decided to launch ÉCU's Much More than a Script Competition back in 2009. We will read scripts in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian before making an official selection of the very best.

Current FeeEUR 60.00Early
Category

Short Script Competition

We at ÉCU understand that for many talented writers - especially those without representation - it is difficult getting scripts read by the people that matter: directors, producers and heads of development. That’s why we decided to launch ÉCU's Much More than a Script Competition back in 2009. We will read scripts in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian before making an official selection of the very best.

Current FeeEUR 40.00Early
Category

Script competition Deadline

Current Fee—
Category

Artificial intelligence (AI) Film

Films should be independent in spirit and original in perspective. Open to all work in the moving image field that has been done with at least 90% of AI technology, that was made with less than 50% participation by a major studio or television broadcaster. Projects can incorporate both material generated by AI and material originally created by the author, however films that use material generated by AI that infringes in copyright violations will be disqualified.

Current FeeEUR 50.00Early

Festival Photos & Videos

ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival
ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival