ÉCU-The European Independent Film Festival

by Ana Clara Soares, ÉCU writer

September in Paris has been a month with endless opportunities for independent filmmakers to expose their work, and film-goers to enjoy them. With the end of our summer, it’s a time to enjoy the last moments of warm afternoons at parks or begin to find refuge in the movie theaters on surprisingly chilly nights. For those who like myself would prefer to combine these occasions with the opportunity to discover new films and filmmakers, festivals like Silhouette and L’Étrange represented the ideal option.

My curiosity about the Silhouette Festival was finally put to rest when I managed to gather a group of friends who’d be willing to drink some wine outdoors, at a lovely park, while enjoying the sunset and watching diverse short movies for free. Granted, it wasn’t that hard. Put together in 2002, the purpose of Silhouette is mainly fighting against a preconceived idea that short movies are generally “entertainment for intellectuals” – a mission that is somewhat hard to accomplish when you’re showing Nicolas Boucart’s “L’Eclusier”, a 26-minute short film about a recluse man. On the other hand, Bill Plympton’s animation “The Cow Who Wanted To Be A Hamburger” did the trick for me, making me laugh out loud and reminding me that Silhouette is all about quality entertainment. This year’s edition was hosted in both the CENTQUATRE (an amazing center put together to satisfy any of your artistic urges) and the beautiful Buttes Chaumont park – two Parisian locations that make me feel privileged just from being able to visit them.

Despite having been warned that it would be cold, I erroneously assumed that a thin leather jacket over a short-sleeved shirt accompanied by some jeans and sandals would be ok. IT WASN’T, and although we bought wine and two very comfy blankets from the Association Silhouette, we still had to leave at the break – jogging towards the metro in order to try to stop shivering. So yes, after gathering some coats (emphasis on the plural here) and thick socks, along with some candles and blankets, one would be prepared for a treat including concerts and a range of short films, all of which organized according to particular themes, making each evening unique. Enjoying Silhouette to its fullest by attending it on numerous days is therefore highly advised if you have the time – as an ECU representative, I was definitely very glad to have been part of this festival!
For more information on this year’s edition of the Silhouette Festival, check out their website and keep in mind the workshops and other events hosted by the Association Silhouette throughout the year!

http://www.association-silhouette.com.

More to come on L’Étrange Festival very soon…