Raindance

Founded in 1992, Raindance is the UK's largest independent film festival.

The very first Raindance event was in April 1992 when we hosted a film seminar with the Hollywood maverick, Dov Simens. Since 1993 the Raindance Film Festival has annually uncovered the hottest new filmmakers to hit the cinematic scene. Some Raindance-premiered hits are Pulp Fiction, Memento, the Blair Witch Project, Ghost World and Love Exposure. In 1998 Raindance launched the British Independent

Film Awards – a yearly industry event attended by the upper ranks of the UK moviemaking establishment. The BIFAs are now regarded as one of the penultimate awards in the world film calendar. Honours have included Ben Kingsley, Harvey Weinstein, Richard Curtis, and helped launch countless films including 2008’s Slumdog Millionaire. Until 2001 Raindance Film Festival was sometimes referred to as the ‘London’ or ‘pre-MIFED’ Screenings (MIFED collapsed post 9/11), essentially filling the film market position for the UK and which saw approximately 63% of films picked up by UK distributors. A similar London UK Film Focus (LUFF) was set up in 2004 by Film London, followed by the Production Finance Market in 2007. Similarly “Raindance Kids: London’s Children Film Festival” which had been set up by Raindance and ran successfully for a number of years post 9/11 when sponsorship collapsed, hitting all arts organizations. The model was reproduced two years later by the London Barbican who now run the “London Children’s Film Festival”. Raindance consulted on the creation of the Berlin Talent Campus and created Raindance East (now the independently run East End Film Festival). The rest of the year at Raindance is spent training thousands of new and established filmmakers in all aspects of film. Among high profile alumni are Christopher Nolan (Batman Begins), David Yates (Harry Potter), Guy Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn – who actually met at a Raindance course. Raindance training is one of the world’s largest catering for over 3000 students per year. Raindance set up the Independent Film Trust in 2006, a charity to help support the film festival, the BIFA awards as well as film training for disadvantaged kids. In 2007 Raindance.TV was launched, an online IPTV channel which has supported the online distribution of hundreds of features and shorts, with views topping 1 million in its first 6 months.

2010 saw the launch of a limited theatrical distribution of Raindance hits through Apollo Cinemas. Our filmmaking publications are published internationally, translated into French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Portugese and Italian and are an essential on most university reading lists.

03/06/2026

Horror weekend is back 💀

Join us for one weekend of non-stop thrillers, twists and traps from 19-21 June, 10AM-9PM daily.

🔪 LIFE FOR BEGINNERS dir. Paweł Podolski
🔪 BROKEN BEAK dir. Christian Carroll
🔪 SHADOWS OF WILLOW CABIN dir. Joe Fria
🔪 CORPORATE RETREAT dir. Aaron Fisher
🔪 PINOCCHIO: UNSTRUNG dir. Rhys Frake-Waterfield
🔪 THE KILLING MOON dir. Daniel Bogran
🔪 THE TROLL dir. Brianna Lee

🎟️ A fan of fear and fright? Indulge in our Horror Pass, which grants you unlimited access to all horror films.

Browse all films and secure your seats: https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule?filterTags%5B69c551bbbb407f6d4ab5faab%5D=true

03/06/2026

Horror weekend is back 💀

Join us for one weekend of non-stop thrillers, twists and traps from 19-21 June, 10AM-9PM daily.

🔪 LIFE FOR BEGINNERS dir. Paweł Podolski
🔪 BROKEN BEAK dir. Christian Carroll
🔪 SHADOWS OF WILLOW CABIN dir. Joe Fria
🔪 CORPORATE RETREAT dir. Aaron Fisher
🔪 PINOCCHIO: UNSTRUNG dir. Rhys Frake-Waterfield
🔪 THE KILLING MOON dir. Daniel Bogran
🔪 THE TROLL dir. Brianna Lee

🎟️ A fan of fear and fright? Indulge in our Horror Pass, which grants you unlimited access to all horror films. Hit the link in bio to browse all films and secure your seats.

02/06/2026

A bold and diverse collection of indie filmmaking workshops, panels and masterclasses.

Step into our indie film forum at the Canon Lounge, 194 Piccadilly, where we’ll be joined in conversation with BAFTA award-winning actor, ; learn about the traits of an Oscar®-winning film with ; practice sustainable production with ; enjoy an intimate talk with representatives and filmmakers; dive into international production opportunities presented by the ; and explore independent pathways to production, financing, and distribution with .

🎟️ All Indie Film Forum sessions are free to attend with a Festival Pass, Industry Pass or Day Pass. Daily, 17-26 June, from 10am-6pm.

Haven’t secured your pass yet? Buy it now: https://raindance.eventive.org/passes/buy

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

At this year’s Animated Shorts programme, you can discover the latest Immersive Storyworld from TooFar Media, Xiphactinus (Zif-ACK-tih-nus).

Xiphactinus invites you to probe the ancient deep with an embattled Silicon Valley phenom as an artful predator mentors him toward a savage truth.

Xiphactinus is not just a story—it’s an immersive, multi-sensory experience presented in breathtaking 4K and surround sound. Blending a narrative by Rich Shapero with gripping animations – featuring captivating artwork by Júlia d’Oliveira and original music. It’s an experience fit for the depths of the Interior Sea.
Accompanied by a selection of Raindance's newest short film finds!

🌊 Discover Xiphactinus at Animated Shorts programme
📍 Pre Drinks Party and Screening @ Vue Piccadilly
📅 Thursday, June 18th, 6:45pm - 8:45pm
🎤Introduced by Rajiv Parikh, President of TooFar Media

Check out what they are planning at

Home - TooFar Media a M Home About Awards Home About Awards Dead but Not Ready Published 2026 Follow aspiration beyond death’s threshold. 130-page novel by Rich Shapero An animated tour through visionary architectural renderings by Robert Oshatz and team Q&As with Rich Shapero Available in the App Xiphactinus Publish...

02/06/2026

From trauma to justice ⚖️

Emma, a 15-year old aspiring nurse, known for winning the award of ‘most virtuous’ in her Swiss village becomes pregnant after a r**e. This traumatic event shifted her perspective in order to carve a path of self-determination while confronting the moral hypocrisy of the village, and the World War II phenomenons.

Fresh off of Venice, and nominated for Best International Feature and Best Performance in a Debut Feature. Marie-Elsa Sgualdo’s film focuses on women’s rights and transforming trauma into determination.

🎟️ SILENT REBELLION will be making its UK Premiere on Sun, 21 June at 3:15PM.

Book your tickets now: https://raindance.eventive.org/films/silent-rebellion-69f374eb8c14ac8472613301

02/06/2026

Impactful and relevant global stories 🌟

Our documentary features programme is made up of award-winning films that expose truths, push boundaries and move us deeply.

🎟️ Tickets are now on sale for all films, hit the link in bio to secure yours now. Want it all? Get your all-inclusive Festival Pass, with unlimited access to film screenings.

01/06/2026

A celebration of the huge breadth of experiences and identities found within q***r stories 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️

Celebrate pride month with our Q***R SHORTS 1 & 2 programmes curated by Q***r Filmmakers Network. These stories celebrate differences and challenge conventional narratives.

🩷 TAXI MOTO dir. Gaël Kamilindi
🩷 SUITE BERGAMASQUE L. 75 dir. Raj Trivedi
🩷 MATCHES dir. Jake Delaney
🩷 METHOD COWBOY dir. Carlos Valdivia
🩷 DIEGO dir. Melissa Silveira
🩷 CHEERS CAMDEN dir. Joshua Black
🩷 FITTING dir. Kasra Firouzyar
🩷 SHE’S NONBINARY dir. Jess McLeod
🩷 IT’S NOT P*E! dir. Kat Mills Martin
🩷 BETTY ST. CLAIR dir. Syra McCarthy, Kyle Casey Chu
🩷 NO CONTEST dir. Olivier Wright
🩷 SPIDERS ON MY LASHLINE dir. Grace Tan
🩷 THE SWIMSUIT dir. Amina Krami
🩷 FOUR ITCHY BOYS dir. Andrew Hebert
🩷 TETH dir. Peter Darney

Book your tickets now for Wed, 24 June at 12:45PM or Thurs, 25 June at 1:30PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule/shorts-programme-q***r-shorts-1-6a01f400dbc923135447d7e6

31/05/2026

Stories that capture growth and its journeys 🌱

The YOUNG BLOOD shorts programme delves into youth and the uncertainty that lies ahead, capturing the tension between hope and doubt. Honest reflections on growing up in a world that's constantly shifting.

🌏 Those Were the Days dir. Selma Dybvig Søreide
🌏 Laundreams dir. Amber Gadd, Evie Ward-Drummond
🌏 Winners & Losers dir. Cecelia Wheeler
🌏 American Retail dir. Carlotta Summers
🌏 Art Baby dir. Bimé Fageyinbo
🌏 On The Phone dir. Matthew Kyle Levine
🌏 Rare Birds dir. Lily Weisberg
🌏 Mess Around dir. Matt Maddox

Explore the future with us on Sunday, 21 June 2026 at 12:15PM for the film premieres.

Tickets are selling fast, snap yours up now: https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule/shorts-programme-young-blood-69fc73a570abb16fdca78b10

31/05/2026

Raw, heartfelt and poetic 🌊

Fresh off of , first-time filmmaker Aisha Evelyna captures the collision between the past and present in SEAHORSE.

Barely holding her life together, Nola, a sous chef, is constantly searching for stability. After a life changing moment during a bike crash, she wakes to find her estranged father, Cyrus, now homeless, standing over her. As buried memories begin to resurface and with her father becoming increasingly ill, Nola is forced to face grief, forgiveness, and the fragile possibility of repairing her broken past. Will Nola have enough time?

Nominated for Best Performance in a Debut Feature, book your tickets now for Thurs, June 18th at 3:20PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/seahorse-69fb52c9270587a5cd326172

31/05/2026

Bring your finest country apparel to this comedically lustful classic 🍻🤠

Whiskey Williams, a 40-year-old dive bar diva and country singer/writer chases stardom through her lascivious music and chaotic charm. After a publicly indecent video goes viral, she must choose between cashing in on her new-found infamy or settling down with an aging rocker.

First-time director and nominee for Best Performance in a Debut Feature, Amanda Richards, brings this comedically gross-yet-endearing film to life.

Mosey on down to the UK Premiere of WHISKEY DIXIE & THE BIG WET COUNTRY on Wed, 24 June at 8:15PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/whiskey-dixie-the-big-wet-country-69f374eb8c14ac84726132fd

30/05/2026

Presenting the next round of jurors for the 34th Raindance Film Festival 🩷

Chris Overton (Oscar winning director), Lee Knight (filmmaker: Oscar® nominated short film A Friend Of Dorothy), Cherish Oteka (BAFTA-winning documentary filmmaker), Adrian Garcia Bogliano (Director and screenwriter), Tarquin Gotch (Film producer and Music supervisor), Natasha Dack Ojumu (Co-founder of Tigerlily Productions/Documentary Producer), Max Marlow (Producer), Rita Osei (Director and producer), Corin Taylor (Executive Producer at Blink Productions), Amedeo Claris (Author).

With just about two weeks to go, film tickets are selling fast (some have sold out!) so don’t wait.

🎟️ Get your tickets locked in now: https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule

30/05/2026

A raw and deeply human story of quiet wisdom and self-destruction.

Following a serious domestic violence incident, 13 year-old Paul arrives in an unfamiliar town where in his pursuit of happiness he makes one bad decision after another. But, his inevitable downfall is thwarted by a strange disabled man.

Tonis Pill’s debut feature, FRÄNK, is an elegant and understated Estonian story about growing up, pain, and redemption. Catch the UK Premiere on Tues, 23 June at 8:45PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/fr%C3%A4nk-69d6736efb40f5f7ec94cd39

30/05/2026

When the last remaining American soldiers pulled out of Vietnam in 1975, they didn’t just leave a country devastated by war, they also left behind hundreds of thousands of fatherless children, the offspring of American troops and Vietnamese civilians.

They are known as the children of dust, the dust that settled after the war.

In CHILD OF DUST, Sang manages to locate his biological father in the US, with the help of a charitable organisation. His only mission is to race against time and meet his ailing dad to break a cycle of war traumas passed on for generations.

🎟️ Catch the UK Premiere on Sun, 21 June at 10:40AM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/child-of-dust-69fb52c9270587a5cd326085

30/05/2026

If you care about independent film, don’t wait for the streaming platforms to tell you what matters.

Go where discovery still exists.

The 34th Raindance Film Festival runs from 17-26 June with premieres, breakthrough filmmakers, industry conversations, networking, and films that do not feel manufactured.

Cinema is still alive. You just have to know where to look.

https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule

29/05/2026

A fun, palpable and honest depiction of girlhood 🎀💓

Fresh off of SXSW and Talinn, Stella Marie Markert’s remarkable feature debut, THANKS FOR NOTHING is making its UK Premiere at . The film revels in the emotional excesses of girlhood, rendered through flamboyant archetypes, mawkish emotion, kitsch scenery, and cinematic tableaux.

Katharina, Ricky, Victoria and Malou live in an assisted living group where they have built up an anarchic utopia as an alternative to everything they reject. Things go well until their “live and let live” agreement starts to falter.

🎟️ Get your tickets now for Tues, 23 June at 8PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/thanks-for-nothing-69d6736efb40f5f7ec94cd4f

29/05/2026

A triptych of interconnected stories ☀️

After 10 years in Vietnam, Kiên, returns to his family's market stall in Czechia, where he finds a distant father, tired mother, and harsh younger brother instead of the warm welcome he expected. Director Dužan Duong draws on his personal upbringing to craft a tender family drama and a multi-dimensional portrait of a Vietnamese-Czech family in SUMMER SCHOOL, 2001, blending the genres of crime and coming-of-age drama.

A story that highlights both the troubles and humour to be found in immigrant life, catch the UK Premiere on Sat, 20 June at 9PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule/summer-school-2001-6a01e741b664d4b16f8a02a2

28/05/2026

We’re welcoming TooFar Media back to the festival! You can find them across Raindance in several special events and pop-ups across the festival.

TooFar Media is an award-winning Arts Technology company based in Silicon Valley which creates Immersive Storyworlds that combine Book, Music, Art, Animation and Film.

Founded over twenty years ago by author, musician, composer and producer, Rich Shapero, TooFar Media collaborates with creative talent from around the globe, including Grammy award-winning musicians and producers, mind-blowing visual artists and talented animators.

TooFar Media’s latest Immersive Storyworld, Xiphactinus (Zif-ACK-tih-nus), invites you to probe the ancient deep with an embattled Silicon Valley phenom as an artful predator mentors him toward a savage truth.

You can find it featured throughout the festival, so make sure to check it out!

Catch what they are planning at https://toofarmedia.com

28/05/2026

Introducing the first round esteemed jurors for 🏆

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (My Father's Shadow, Gangs of London, His House, Slow Horses), Anthony Andrews (Co-founder and Creative Director of We Are Parable), Julian Richards (Founder of Jinga Films), Akua Gyamfi (Founder of The British Blacklist), Ashanti Omkar (Broadcaster, critic and producer), Christopher M. Anthony (Director and screenwriter), Daren Smith (CEO Craftsman Films), Ashley Horne (Producer), Fiona Lamptey (BAFTA-winning producer / former Director of UK Film at Netflix), Greg Gioia (Film writer and podcaster).

We’re privileged to be able to host such influential and reputable members of our industry.

🩷 Check out the full list of jurors and nominees. Tickets are selling fast, so book your seats now!

https://raindance.eventive.org/schedule

28/05/2026

One weekend of indie thrills & chills 🩸

From 19th-21st June, join us for our horror showcase filled with a slasher-comedy, a screen-life thriller, a modern Mexican fairytale horror, a Japanese thriller based on a hit manga series, a psychological drama from Academy Award® nominee Cyrus Neshvad, and so much more.

💀LIFE FOR BEGINNERS dir. Paweł Podolski
💀SERENA dir. Robert Alicea
💀THE HOME dir. Mattias J. Skoglund
💀JACKALOPE dir. Bryce Hirschberg
💀MODEM dir. Tim James Brown
💀THE TREK dir. Meekaaeel Adam
💀FRIDAY THE 69TH dir. Alex Montilla
💀NAMELESS dir. Hideo Jojo
💀SACRIFICIOS dir. Mauricio Chernovetzky
💀CHILD dir. Cyrus Neshvad

🎟️ A fan of horror? Experience our horror marathon with our Horror Features Pass, granting you access to every horror film screening at .

https://raindance.eventive.org/films?filterTags%5B69c551bbbb407f6d4ab5faab%5D=true

27/05/2026

Presenting the short film nominees for the 34th Raindance Film Festival 🩷

An Oscar® qualifying festival, Raindance honours the work of short filmmakers with 4 awards. The recipients of Best Live Action Short, Best Documentary Short, and Best Animation Short are eligible for consideration in the three Short Film categories of the Academy Awards®.

Raindance is also BAFTA-qualifying and BIFA-qualifying for British Shorts in the official selection.

📅 The winners will be announced at Raindance’s Jury Awards Ceremony on Friday, 26 June.

27/05/2026

Presenting the feature film nominees for the 34th Raindance Film Festival 🩷

To celebrate the outstanding films screening at the 34th Raindance Film Festival, jury awards are presented to features and shorts. Raindance’s awards system honours features in 11 categories.

Tramp, Terra, Pinocchio: Unstrung and Modem are the most nominated films at Raindance this year, with 4 nominations each.

📅 The winners will be announced at Raindance’s Jury Awards Ceremony on Friday, 26 June.

27/05/2026

A portrait of trauma and generational disillusionment 🏍️

Starring Dylan Arnold (Oppenheimer, You, Halloween) and Sarah Pidgeon (Love Story, Tiny Beautiful Things), BORN TO LOSE follows a biker who returns home to find his father dead. He decides to take up his father’s job as a drug dealer and continue the troubled family legacy. But as mounting debts and family revelations complicate matters, the only way out for Andy appears to be a newfound connection with his father’s old friend Jed.

From Exec Producer Matty Matheson, comes Joseph Zentil’s directorial debut BORN TO LOSE, making its International Premiere on Sat, 20 June at 8:40PM.

https://raindance.eventive.org/films/born-to-lose-69dcfe17464194f063d4c875

25/05/2026

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

As young Ismet (Golden Tulip winner, ) disposes of illegal waste with his childhood friend Dogo (), they descend deeper into a corrupt system that fractures their bond. Nominated for Best Film at both Istanbul and Rotterdam, DEAD DOGS DON’T BITE is a taught commentary on friendship, wealth distribution and loyalty.

A thriller drenched in Mediterranean heat and moral rot, catch this gripping, acrid and alive UK premiere on 18 June at 6:00PM. Tickets at the link in bio.

25/05/2026

It keeps getting bigger and better 🍾

Looking back at our 12th annual Raindance Villa Party in Cannes. Thanks to our partners, Main Sponsor and Media Partner for making this possible. And special shoutout to our drinks sponsors @ and , our villa hosts ,, and the best DJ, .

Tickets are now on sale for all film screenings at the 34th Raindance Film Festival. Book now at the link in bio.

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Location

London

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Website

http://raindance.org/festival, http://raindance.org/courses

Address

10a Craven Street
London
WC2N5PE

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm

Raindance

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