This year, we celebrated 30 years of independent cinema in the UK, with the 30th anniversary of the Raindance Film Festival. We are very grateful for and proud of our dedicated audience, members, and team, who help us to continue providing a platform and voice for independent filmmakers.
We accomplished many milestones together this year, let’s take a look at some of our collective achievements.
1) Double Milestones Achieved
Not only did Raindance achieve a milestone in anniversaries this year, but we achieved a double milestone, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), of which Raindance are Proud Founders. This BIFA, one of our very own Raindance alumni, Nadira Murray, was awarded the Raindance Discovery Award for the film WINNERS (2022).
WINNERS follows 9-year-old film fanatic Yahya as he journeys to return a lost trophy to its rightful owner. WINNERS has been selected as the official UK entry to the AMPAS International Feature Film category for the 2023 Oscar awards.
2) Icon Award Recipients
Each year, Raindance has the privilege of bestowing Icon Awards to individuals who have made an extraordinary impact on the British film industry.
This year, we honoured Vanessa Redgrave, Jonathan Pryce, and Gemma Arterton with the Raindance Icon Awards, and presented a posthumous award to Helen McCrory. The Raindance Icon Award is the festival’s signature award, honouring and celebrating the icons of independent cinema: those who make an authentic and iconic impression via the medium of film.
3) Festival Submissions Record
Raindance saw a record breaking level of interest this year, with film submissions from 141 countries. Each year, we receive an outstanding selection of independent work, and are so thankful to everyone who participates and continues to support us.
4) Raindance Film School, Mexico City
Located in the dynamic Mexico City, our latest campus makes the third Raindance Film School campus internationally – with the other two being in London and Dubai.
This new location completes our unique studying programme – the Raindance International Degree Programme in Filmmaking. This bachelor’s degree allows for studying across 3 continents while achieving a full UK degree at no extra cost to a standard UK degree. Applications for January 2023 are now open.
5) Cannes Villa Party
To mark the start of our 30th anniversary celebrations, we brought back our glamorous Raindance Filmmakers’ Cannes Villa Party earlier this year. In association with Magnificent Films, we hosted the party during the 75th annual Cannes Film Festival.
In addition to these highlights, we also hosted a number of kickass parties, networking sessions and film courses. There’s only more to come in the new year!
None of this would have been possible without YOU!
Thank you for your continued love and support. Raindance would not be where we are not without you. We are looking forward to a bigger and better 31st Raindance Film Festival with you. Wishing you happiness and success in 2023!
Yours in Filmmaking,
Raindance
Submissions for the 31st Raindance Film Festival are now open. Send us your film or script, and see your work receive the recognition it deserves.
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.
