At the European Independent Film Festival, we receive films from all over the world and in many different languages – French, Portuguese, Hebrew, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Italian, Spanish, Icelandic, English and even Aussie (*do* they qualify as speaking English in the land down under?). This ultimately raises the following question: how can filmmakers and subtitles work together to appeal to the international audience?

The ECU 2010 Official Selection will be subtitled as follows: English films will be subtitled in French, French films subtitled in English and all other foreign language films will be subtitled in English. We believe this is the best way for the international audience and jury to watch, appreciate and get maximum ejoyment from the ÉCU 2010 Official Selection. With the Official Selection announcment on the 15th February, and the festival one month later, competing directors need to start thinking about how to address the subtitle situation if they have not done so already.

El Vez over on directorsnotes.com raises some interesting points on the subject. When facing this tricky task, many seem to be constricted by our limited concept of the subtitle. It doesn’t have to be a blot on the bottom of the screen, but instead another route of artistic expression. What is lost aurally can be won back visually. Who knows, maybe directors will soon look forward to adding subtitles, savouring the opportunity to breathe new life into a project, which at that point, they’re sick of staring at. Click here to read.