Europe’s premier event for independent cinema, ÉCU – The European Independent Film Festival – announces its 2021 award-winning films, including its highest honour, “Best European Independent Film 2021.”

During the festival weekend, international audiences were exposed to film and their filmmakers from across a spectrum of experiences, cultures, and genres. The Director Q&A sessions provided a great informal setting for discussion between the audience and the directors on filmmaking, while after-parties throughout Paris extended these conversations into the music-fuelled early morning hours. ÉCU endeavours to provide a cultural platform not only for entertainment but also for active networking across the independent film world.

For the last 16 years, ÉCU has been helping to launch and expand the careers of many talented independent filmmakers. The Festival is extremely proud to assist these passionately driven artists who create incredible cinema without the benefits of large production budgets. ÉCU’s mission to discover and promote extraordinary independent films from around the world renders it a major European cultural event.

LISTED BELOW IS THE FULL LIST OF ÉCU 2021 WINNERS:

Europe’s Best Independent FilmQuatre MainsLander Haverals
Best European Independent Dramatic ShortStickerGeorig M. Unkovski
Best European Independent Dramatic FeatureJiyanSüheyla Schwenk
Best European Independent DocumentaryThe BeyondDaniel Maurer
Best Independent Experimental FilmWalls of LimerickArturo Bandinelli
Best European Independent Music VideoParachuteTaisia Deeva
Best European Independent AnimationEvangelineNadine Schwenk
Best European Independent ComedyAmong HumansCaren Wuhrer
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic ShortWeekendArio Motevaghr
Best Non-European Independent Dramatic FeatureIsolated PeopleJun Wang
Best Non-European Independent DocumentarySun of the SoilJoey Penney
Best Student FilmSinking ShipsAndreas Kessler
Best Short ScriptFalse AlarmWritten by Martynas Puzas
Best Feature ScriptVisceral FatherlandWritten by LeLe Park
Best ActorPriit Võigemastin BLUE by Tõnis Pill
Best ActressWendy Nietoin SECURITY HEALTH WORK by Marc-Antoine Modolherma
Best EditingThe EphemeralMusic Video by Bernardo Moll Otto
(Director: Jorge Muriel)
Best CinematographyLetters to Godby Daniella Nowitz
(Director: Yves Cohen)
Best DirectorFlorence FaureBefore Boys
Special Jury MentionVagabondsPhilippe Dajoux
Special Jury MentionFerrotiposNüll García
Special Jury MentionSubmissionLeonardo Antonio
Audience AwardDa YieAnthony Nti
The Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking.
Presented in collaboration with Arab Cinema Center
Let My Body SpeakMadonna Adib
Excellence in Women’s FilmmakingAl-SitSuzannah Mirghani
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