Festival Passholders: Because the laminate around your neck says as much about your personality as your Letterboxd.
For 34 years, Raindance has been the beating heart of independent film in Europe, now the continent’s largest, boldest, and most delightfully unruly festival for filmmakers who refuse to ask permission.
Since 1993, we’ve welcomed thousands of creators, dreamers, rebels, students, A-listers, no-listers, and those mysterious industry figures who somehow appear at every VIP bar despite never being on the list.
And while the films are the reason we gather, let’s be honest: the passholders are the real spectacle. Every laminate unlocks not just screenings and parties, but entire personalities. Entire species, even.
After three decades in the trenches, we’ve learned to recognise them from twenty metres away.
Festival passholders come in seven flavours — each one instantly recognisable from twenty metres away, usually because they’re arguing with a volunteer or bragging about a panel.
So, in the grand Raindance tradition of affectionate mischief — here are The Raindance Seven: 7 Types of Festival Passholders
Let’s meet the herd.
1. The Ultra-Proud Filmmaker Passholder
Their film is showing once — MAYBE twice — but they are wearing that pass like it’s an Oscar statuette.
They will casually mention their screening time in every sentence:
“Oh hi — I’m on at 18:20 Thursday. Did I mention I’m on at 18:20 Thursday?”
They attend every event because someone might recognise them.
Someone won’t.
But we love the optimism.
2. The Industry Passholder Who Knows Exactly Where the Free Drinks Are
They don’t watch films.
They navigate receptions like a seasoned archaeologist unearthing hidden bottles of prosecco.
Will say:
“I’m really here to meet talent.”
Translation:
“I haven’t seen a movie since 2014.”
If you spot them, follow discreetly — they know where the canapé trays are before the staff does.
3. The Panel-Hopper Passholder
Goes to EVERY panel.
Asks questions at EVERY panel.
Has opinions about filmmaking despite never having actually made a film longer than 47 seconds.
Carries a notebook titled “My Film Career.”
Notebook is empty.
They will still quote Phoebe Waller-Bridge at you until you collapse.
4. The “I’m Only Here Because My Partner’s a Filmmaker” Passholder
They do not understand where they are.
They do not want to be here.
They thought this was going to be a normal date night.
Now they’re five films deep into Romanian magical realism and pretending to enjoy the experience.
Bless them.
They’re trying.
5. The Overconfident Student Passholder
Fresh from a filmmaking course, bursting with enthusiasm and cortisol.
Tells everyone:
“I’m working on a feature.”
The feature is three bullet points in their Notes app.
Still — we admire the hustle.
They’ll either be directing the next A24 hit or selling NFTs by Christmas.
6. The Volunteer-Turned-Power-User
They volunteer one year, get the pass the next year, and suddenly become Raindance aristocracy.
Knows every venue.
Knows every filmmaker.
Knows which seats squeak and which ones don’t.
Will often whisper to newcomers:
“Stick with me — I know where they hide the wristbands.”
7. The “I Am Getting My Money’s Worth” Passholder
This person is unstoppable.
They attend 14 screenings in three days.
They live on £3 Tesco sandwiches and adrenaline.
Volunteers recognise them.
Filmmakers recognise them.
The chairs recognise them.
If Raindance offered a pass that included sleeping bags for Screen 2, they’d buy it.
The Raindance Film Festival Pass
After thirty-four years of Raindance mayhem, one truth remains eternal: the festival pass isn’t just a laminate, it’s your passport to the strange, chaotic, joyful ecosystem we call independent cinema. And if you’ve recognised yourself (or several of your friends) in this list, congratulations: you’re one of us.
Which brings me to the best bit.
For the holiday season, we’re knocking an unbelievable 37% off Raindance Festival Passes.
Yes, really. No catch, no gimmick, no guerrilla shootout required. Just a once-a-year chance to join Europe’s largest and oldest independent film festival for a fraction of the price.
Whether you’re a filmmaker, a binge-watcher, a panel-hopper, or a free-prosecco hunter — this is your moment.
Grab your pass now.
Become the passholder you were destined to be.
Raindance promotes and supports independent filmmaking and filmmakers.
From new and emerging to industry pros, Raindance connects, trains, supports, and promotes visual storytellers through every step of their career.
The Raindance Film Festival runs each Summer in London’s Leicester Square.
Raindance has been delivering film training since 1992. A wide range of Open Classes to a 2 year HND Level 5 BTEC in Moving Images to a Postgraduate Film Degree are delivered to students on five continents, both in person and online.
