What to look forward to this month

On August 15–17, ÉCU will hold our inaugural All Americas’ Independent Film Festival at Cinemanía in Mexico City. We’re thrilled to showcase over two dozen independent short films, judged across ten categories, with awards also presented for feature and short film scripts. More information is available at aaiffamericas.com. We are looking for film-loving volunteers to aid us during our festival, which will be located at 46 Altamirano, Ciudad de México, 01090, México. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions — we would love to hear from you!

The ÉCU team is also hard at work preparing for our second annual All African Independent Film Festival, which will be taking place at the French Institute in Kigali, Rwanda from October 10th-12th! We are currently assembling our official selection of films, which will be announced on August 20th. Read more about this upcoming festival at aaiffafrica.com. 

We’re also pleased to announce that C.J. “Fiery” Obasi will serve as Jury President for the All African Film Festival. Obasi is a multi‑award‑winning filmmaker who recently received the AAIFF Africa 2024 Best Independent Film award for his captivating work, Mami Wata. We encourage you to listen to our Spotify interview with him, where he shares insights ranging from what sparked his passion for filmmaking to his creative process.

Keep in mind also that submissions are open for the 6th annual All Asian Independent Film Festival, which will be from December 5th-7th at the Legend Cinema in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. While it’s still some time away, don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested in submitting, or check out our website aaiffasia.com for more information. 

We also want to take some time to let our readers know what is happening in Paris this month, especially in regards to cinema and independent filmmaking: 

The 34th edition of the Cinéma en plein air de la Villette is continuing until August 17th! This open-air movie festival will be playing blockbuster classics ranging from Barbie (2023) by Greta Gerwig to La La Land (2016) by Damien Chazelle! Don’t miss it! 

If you are a fan of documentaries, then the REcyclerie’s Gare aux Docs event at the Petite Ceinture railway tracks is playing a series of them! There will be documentaries covering a range of different topics, and the event lasts until August 31st. The screenings are free, but by reservation early — make sure to book your spot! 

Lastly, we encourage you to visit Le Cinéma du Panthéon — Paris’ oldest surviving movie theater dating back to 1904! They specialize in screening films d’auteur, and its terrace was designed by the legendary Catherine Deneuve. 

As always, a big thank you to our partners and sponsors. Here are a few that we’d like to highlight:

Cinemanía 

In 1994, Cinemanía was created as an alternative to mainstream cinema in México City on the premise that cinematography will always have a devoted audience. Today, the cinema is not just screening films, but has become an emblematic cultural space offering courses, workshops, exhibitions, and much more for both professionals and the general public. 
Read more about Cinemanía here: cinemanias.mx

Institut Français du Rwanda/ Centre Culturel Francophone 

The Centre Culturel Francophone in Kigali, Rwanda serves as a center of cultural exchange while promoting French, Rwandan, and African cultures in the Rwandan capital. Offering a rich and varied selection of cultural events year-round, the center offers a multimedia library, a multimedia games room, and language center. The Institut Français, located at the Centre Culturel Francophone, belongs to a worldwide network offering French courses, cultural events, and assistance enrolling in French universities. Read more about the Centre Culturel Francophone here: if-rwanda.org

33 Films

33 Films is a South African production company boasting a selection of innovative works in development. Their team takes on a variety of in-house projects. Find them on Instagram: @33filmsza