ÉCU - The European Independent Film Festival

MashRome Film Festival

The first of its kind, ÉCU partner MashRome Film Festival is a four day film festival dedicated to the art of the mashup. Appropriately
taking place where old meets new, the event commences in Rome on May 8-11th, 2013, and will showcase the work of some of the leading independent filmmakers of the mashup and remix medium. Hosted at Aranciera di S. Sisto, an unconventional location that is part of the San Sisto Gardens, three of ÉCU’s own Official Selection films will be screened: documentary American Courtesans, the 2013 music video winner I’ve Only Just Begun, and the winner of the 2013 Ahmed Khedr Award for Excellence in Arab Filmmaking, A Tempo: the 3rd act.

The ubiquitous “mashup” is not necessarily a new concept. Original content has been appropriated, rearranged, transformed, and reinterpreted into something new for as long as creativity and art has existed, but it wasn’t until the emergence of recorded music that the practice became a recognized term. The advent of digital technology has now propelled the mashup into a credible form of creative expression, stretching far beyond music and into many other forms of media. MashRome Film Festival’s goal is to provide a platform for this emerging genre of film to grow while simultaneously fostering a broader international community of shared ideas and intercultural dialogue.

The festival consists of nine categories that will be judged by a panel of experts and professionals from across the global arts community. Authors, producers, directors, and writers from Mexico to Hungary and the places in between will evaluate submissions based on a permutation of criteria including originality, content quality, and use of technologies. Four prizes will be awarded: Best Prime, Best Experimental/Remix, Special Mash, and Best Mash Doc, with the last resulting in independent distribution.

Our Festival Manager Kadi Look will be there enjoying the festival and keeping us updated with some cool photos.

In the area? Passes for MashRome 2013 are now being sold online!

Carrie Dennis

ÉCU SPOTLIGHT: Audrey Hepburn

From previously discussing the blockbuster Hors de Prix (Priceless) starring Audrey Tautou, inspired by the 1960’s film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, it would only be right to dedicate this week’s spotlight to the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. Not to mention it’s her birthday tomorrow!

With an impressive portfolio of classic films and her magical screen presence, the effervescent lady has become one of the most iconic actresses of all time. With a professional career spanning just fifteen years, she’s still one of the most recognised names in show business.

At the young age of 22, the Belgian-born beauty was discovered by the French novelist Colette while playing a major supporting role in the 1952 film The Secret Peopleand was instantly shot onto the stage as Gigi in the Oscar-winning Broadway production of Gigi. Within just two years of packing up and moving to Hollywood, Hepburn took the world by storm, earning an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as Princess Ann, in Roman Holiday. Pioneering her a leading Hollywood star.

Despite already being known as bit of a fashionista working with Givenchy in her starring role in Sabrina. Audrey Hepburn was in a league of her own in the fashion stakes for her famous role in Breakfast at Tiffany’s playing enigmatic party girl Holly Golightly; achieving her fourth Academy Award nomination. Donned with an array of glamorous outfits designed by Givenchy, her character’s timeless fashion ensembles cemented her status as a style-icon. The iconic character of Holly Golightly was to become the role most associated with the bright-eyed beauty for the rest of her life, and indeed beyond.

Following the hit Broadway production of My Fair Lady, Audrey Hepburn starred in the 1964 witty adaptation playing a leading role as Eliza Doolittle. Her character, a dirty Cockney flower girl, becomes the subject of a bet between Professor Henry Higgins (Rex Harrison) and Colonel Pickering in which Higgins claims he can transformher into an eloquent and refined lady. With success, she is transformed into a convincing high-society lady thus becoming a love-interest of young aristocrat Freddy Eynsford-Hills. Earning herself yet another accolade, the unstoppable leading lady won a place in motion picture history.

Attaining herself a well-earned rep’ in Hollywood, the Hollywood sweetheart co-starred alongside some pretty big Hollywood names- Gary Cooper, Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, Rex Harrison and Sean Connery. Many of whom became very close to her; with Cary Grant once humorously saying “all I want for Christmas is to make another movie with Audrey Hepburn”; Gregory Peck becoming a dear friend and Rex Harrison placing Audrey as his favourite leading lady.

After an impressively successful fifteen years in film, Audrey’s acting became less frequent and her final film role was a cameo appearance in Steven Spielberg’s film,Always in 1988. After her final film role, the Hollywood star dedicated her time to work for UNICEF and became a goodwill ambassador for the charity. With first-hand experience of starvation, after being a victim of the Nazi occupation as a child, she travelled the world- making more than 50 trips to help raise awareness and help impoverished children in the world’s poorest nations. In 1992, Audrey was presented an award by President George Bush for her notable charity work, but sadly died in 1993 before she could receive it.

Actress, dancer, fashion-icon and humanitarian. One of Hollywood’s greatest style icons and one of the world’s most successful actresses, the beautifully talented Audrey Hepburn has set the standards high. There has never been anybody quite like her, nor will there ever be again.

Sophie Thomas

ÉCU EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AMERICAN COURTESANS’ KRISTEN DIANGELO

It has been three weeks since the 2013 European Independent Film Festival and I still cannot get this documentary out of my head.  The trailer was one of the Official Selection’s most viewed, but really, that doesn’t even do it justice.  It would be impossible to even begin to convey all that’s depicted in this film in a mere 2 minutes.

American Courtesans discusses one of the most taboo subjects in the world: prostitution.  You are drawn into the world of several real-life escorts, reliving raw experiences with these women as they open up their souls to tell you their story.  The film does not force acceptance of this lifestyle upon you; it gives you a perspective that has never before been realized.

One of these real-life escorts featured in the film is none other than American Courtesans producer and creator, Kristen DiAngelo.  While meeting her at the festival it is undeniable that the woman has an incredible energy about her.  Her courageousness and bravery are certainly a force to be reckoned with, but I believe it is her complete and utter kindness that demonstrates the most.  She has put her safety, her right to privacy, and so much more on the line in order to bring awareness to issues that are all too often pushed under the rug.

Having a chance to interview Kristen was entirely my pleasure and honor.  Learn what it was like to make this heart wrenching, phenomenal documentary and live life with no regrets.

1. Your film was so real and so raw. Did it take a lot of persuading to get other women involved?

I really don’t know how it even came together. There are times that I look back on the process and it seems impossible that it really happened, but it did. When I approached my best friend Pearl, she shut me down in like, two seconds. However, I’ve never been one to shy away from a simple “no.”  Pearl, like myself, has been conditioned to believe that we are only safe if no one knows [what we do].  So, we never talked, for fear… fear of hurting ourselves, fear of hurting others.  But as we began to come together as a group, we all agreed that the only way to change public perception was for someone to step forward.  So we agreed to put ourselves out there as openly and honestly as we could.  For myself and many of the women, the film was both empowering and cathartic.

2. What was the process like of making the film? Did shooting take a while; did pre and post-production take a while?

American Courtesans, from conception to completion, only took 11 months.  The first week we shot in California and then stopped for the holidays.  While stopping for the holidays we stepped back to see what was working and what wasn’t working…that was one of the best things we could have done.  It gave us time to re-evaluate and focus on what worked while altering what didn’t work.  We then started up in January again with another two weeks of filming, and these two weeks took us on a road trip across America.  At that point, the film was ready for post-production.  Once some editing was done and we’d cut down the story a bit, we did a three-city, one-week shoot and were finished.  Our post-production was done just as fast.  In fact, American Courtesans was only in post for 10 weeks.  Our editor Bobby Poirier worked with James Johnson, our director, and together they worked magic with this film.  Then it was off to Fancy Film who did our color correction and formatting…amazing job.  I must say that having a wonderful crew made the whole process so much easier as it was my first film.

3. Was there a single event that inspired you to create the film, or was it more of an accumulation of everything you’ve been through? Were you inspired to create this film by other women, or other people?

Throughout my life I have known many sex workers. Mainly women, but men too.  These individuals are some of the most intelligent, honest and compassionate people I have ever met. I simply wanted others to see what I did.

4. Was there a reason for getting back in the sex-industry world after you had stopped and began working as a businesswoman? Do you think most women’s main reasons for getting back in the business are financial ones?

I had been working in corporate America for approximately six years when I began to have health problems. I thought I would get better, but I didn’t. Over the next two years I began evaluating my life and came to the conclusion that time was a precious thing and I wanted more than what I had. So, after a total of eight years of working in finance, I made the decision to return to this world [the sex industry world], and here I am.  There were two things that factored into me making that decision: time and money. I needed to make enough to continue supporting myself, but at the same time, I needed to work fewer hours with less stress.

There are many reasons that people become sex workers, probably as many as any other occupation.  However, like most jobs, people go to work for a paycheck.  No matter how much a person loves their occupation or hates it, they most likely wouldn’t show up unless they were paid.  Sex work is no different.

5. Are you happy with the way your life has turned out? (In the film you stated that you were content). Do you have regrets?

I have no regrets.  My life has been a life filled with both joy and sorrow.  I’ve experienced highs that most will never know, and lows that only serve to make those highs that much more amazing.  I heard a saying once that surely applies to my life…. “Everyone dies, but not everyone lives”… and I have lived.  No regrets.

By Ally Oberrotman

APRIL NEWSLETTER UPDATE

April is easily shaping up to be one of the nicest months Paris has seen, but that doesn’t mean we have come out of our post-festival depression just yet!

The 2013 European Independent Film Festival was one of the most incredible events of the year and the entire ÉCU staff is more than grateful for everyone who made it so.  The weekend was unforgettable, with 108 films screened and over 3,000 participants.  3,000!  Our three cinemas were filled with filmmakers, producers, directors, students, and cinemagoers eager to watch the best independent films from around the globe.

35 countries were represented at ÉCU 2013 and films were divided into 17 categories, ranging from “Best European Independent Film” to “Best Cinematography.”  Our award ceremony was full of excitement and anticipation, even furthered by the presence of several Official Selection filmmakers.  If you missed our winners, click here for the entire list!

Our staff was kept super busy during festival weekend with live tweeting, Facebooking, and ÉCU’s 2013 Live Blog that captured a firsthand account of everything that happened throughout the festival weekend.  With so many filmmakers in attendance we were able to score exclusive interviews with producers and directors, like this one with American Courtesans’ Kristen DiAngelo.

As for the rest of the weekend, don’t even get us started on the afterparties!  We chatted and sipped champagne on Friday at Sitatunga Lounge, chilled in the caverns at Les Voutes Saint-Paul on Saturday night, and danced till we dropped on Sunday night while cruising down the Seine.  Every night was accompanied by awesome musical guests such as The Gift, Andy Frasco, Mike Beck, Bona Fide Genius, and Kristin Shey.  Videos and photos were snapped all weekend…check them out and see what went on, you might even catch a glimpse of yourself!

Now that the 2013 festival has come to an end, we are catching up on the Catalan indie scene and getting to know our favorite independent film actors a little bit better, like Jennifer Lawrence. Not to mention enjoying the beautiful weather that Paris is so kindly giving us!  We are keeping busy with the best outdoor activities, like the ones listed here.

More exciting than anything else, ÉCU is gearing up for Festival de Cannes, also known as the Cannes Film Festival!  We are looking forward to seeing Audrey Tautou open up the 2013 ceremony, and we are hoping to see you there as well!

Get ready for sun, sand, surf, and films!

Love,

ÉCU Team

By Ally Oberrotman

ÉCU SPOTLIGHT: Audrey Tautou

Cannes is just around the corner, and in honor of this year’s utterly adorable MC, this week’s SPOTLIGHT is none other than Audrey Tautou!

The classic beauty is no stranger to the Cannes Film Festival and will make the perfect hostess for this year’s 2013 Cannes Film Festival opening and closing ceremonies.  The internationally known actress is best recognized for her role inAmélie, where she played a timid waitress vying to positively impact the lives of those around her.  The 2001 romantic comedy received worldly praise, being nominated for five Academy Awards and four Césars, the French equivalent of the Oscars.

Despite the plethora of awards and massive stardom that Audrey has since been launched into, she remains a true French actress to the core.  Her life is not one you often read about in the tabloids and she always prefers a lackadaisical day of sailing to the craziness of Hollywood.  It is no secret that she is not one for the limelight, and she keeps a tight lip in regards to her personal life.

We have to say, the mystery of it all only entices us further! Born and raised in a very small commune in the center of France, she still carries all of the quintessential small town qualities that we love so much.

Audrey’s elegant beauty and witty rapport led to her being cast in the 2006 comedic production of Hors de Prix, or Priceless.  Irène (Tautou’s character) plays an alluring gold digger living lavishly off of the men she seduces.  Just as she is about to marry an older, (but incredibly) wealthy man and seal her financially desperate fate, she is caught with a man she believes to be a thoughtful millionaire.  In a not so accidental case of mistaken identity, it is revealed that Irène’s new man is actually a lowly barman, and not the rich heir she thought him to be.  After he incessantly pursues her for days and weeks on end, Irène must ultimately choose between love and the materialistic lifestyle that she has become so accustomed to.

The box-office hit was inspired by Blake Edwards’ 1961 production of Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Incidentally enough, Tautou was named after the film’s leading actress: the one and only Audrey Hepburn.   Call it fate, if you will- Tautou has always been destined for greatness.

Although playing such roles as Irène in Priceless and Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel in Coco Before Chanel, don’t mistake Tautou for a typecast actress.  In 2002 she appeared in Dirty Pretty Things, a gritty British independent film highlighting the dangerous, underground world of illegal immigrants living in London.  The thriller delves into the life of a Nigerian man who becomes involved in the black market human organ trade (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and a sweatshop worker (Tautou) being blackmailed into performing sexual favors for her boss.  Like most of Tautou’s movies, the indie was nominated for several awards, including an Oscar.

At only 34 years old Tautou has already experienced an acting career that places her with such greats as Meryl Streep and Bridgette Bardot.  She has not used her fame to storm Hollywood and the presses, but instead remains as discreet as humanly possible for someone of her elevated status.

Even though we would love to see her face spread across the covers of Page 6 and Access Hollywood a bit more often, that probably wouldn’t suffice- we will never be able to get enough of this generation’s Audrey Hepburn.

Prepare yourself for Cannes, everyone…this dazzling girl is our leading lady.

By Ally Oberrotman