Paris through the lens of a movie director

Meet Scott Hillier, an Australian movie director in Paris, who runs the European Independent Film Festival (the ÉCU).

He’s this week’s guest on The Earful Tower podcast, where he talks of the iconic light in the city of Paris, his film festival, and his exploits around the world as a director and war photographer. Find out more about the annual Film Festival here. 2024 marks the 19th year of the festival, and this year it will be held on April 19th, 20th, and 21st in Montparnasse.

The Earful Tower podcast

Listen to the episode below, or wherever you get your podcasts. Keep scrolling for more from Scott Hillier and from this week’s episode.

What makes the Paris light so special?

Scott spoke about how he adores the light in Paris and how there is a “low winter light which just cuts like a knife” but then in the summer you have a “caramel light”. He marvelled at how the light catches people, saying that “it’s cinematic … and that’s why this is the perfect city for film.”

What is life like in the 17th arrondissement?

Scott lives just behind the Arc du Triomphe in the Batignolles neighbourhood of the 17th arrondissement. He said that he doesn’t know of a “more rustic, authentic, French, Parisian part of town than the Batignolles. It just has it all.”

If you’re keen to learn more about this charming neighbourhood, here are our recommendations for the 17th arrondissement – check it out here.

ÉCU: The European Independent Film Festival

The European Independent Film Festival will be screening films from 19, 20th and 21st April 2024. Scott explains that their mantra is to discover, project and promote the world’s best independent films. The festival has been running for 19 years and they have expanded to Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Learn more about the ÉCU here.

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This week’s Earful Tower podcast episode

Below, again, is the podcast episode with Scott Hillier. Enjoy! And if you like what you hear, please consider becoming a Patreon member on the link below.