We’re very excited to reveal the Raindance Film Festival 2019 programme.
Celebrating its 27th year, the Festival will take place in London’s West End from 18-29 September, screening over 200 projects – including features, documentaries, shorts, web series, virtual reality and music videos.
Against a backdrop of divisive politics and global turmoil, Raindance uses the medium of cinema to amplify the voice of indie filmmakers with compelling stories to tell. Join us to celebrate the world, international, European and UK premieres of the best of indie cinema.
The Jury
The jury comprises Rachel Shenton and Chris Overton (winners of the Academy Award® for Best Live Action Short Film For The Silent Child), David Yates (director,Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts franchises), Tom Felton (Harry Potter franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Himesh Patel (Yesterday), Kacey Ainsworth (Eastenders, Granchester), Babou Ceesay (Eye In The Sky, Dark Mon£y), Ed Skrein (Deadpool),Ella Balinska (Charlie’s Angels), Susan Wokoma (Year of the Rabbit), Ophelia Lovibond (Guardians of the Galaxy), Hugh Skinner (Fleabag, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again), Billy Zane (Titanic),Tom Ellis (Lucifer),Ruth Bradley (Grabbers, Humans), Chloe Pirrie (The Game), Nathaniel Martello-White (Cla’am), Josh Dylan (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) award-winning singer songwriter Emeli Sandé, and Bastille singer and songwriter Dan Smith.
Opening Night
Raindance opens 18 September with the World Premiere of Krow’s Transformation (dir: Gina Hole Lazarowich, Canada), documenting Canadian transgender model Krow Kian. A successful female model as a teen, the film charts Krow’s transition over a 3-year period, including Krow walking the catwalk for Louis Vuitton’s iconic SS19 show in Paris – his first show since transitioning to a male. The film incorporates conversations between Krow and his mother, plus stories from other trans people in Krow’s circle. Krow Kian and first-time filmmaker Gina Hole Lazarowich are due to attend the gala premiere at Vue West End. A party at Café De Paris will follow, featuring Guilty Pleasures
Book Opening Night Gala Tickets (with Opening Night Party)
Closing Night
The festival closes 29 September with the UK Premiere of post-modern comedy Aren’t You Happy (dir: Susanne Heinrich, Germany). The debut feature from Susanne Heinrich brings together theory, feminism, humour and a bubblegum pop palate of colour as we follow a girl roaming a city looking for a place to sleep. Don’t miss Raindance’s fabulous closing night party after!
Book Closing Night Gala Tickets (with Closing Night Party)
Feature Films in Competition
Best International Film
7 Reasons To Run Away (dir: Gerard Quinto, Esteve Soler, David Torras, Spain) – UK Premiere
The family, the poor kid, the sixth-floor neighbours, the tenant and the agent, the business couple, the man left behind by progress, and the couple about to get married. Seven stories that mix horror and comedy, seven moments of black comedy, seven surreal visions of a dysfunctional society.
Aurora (dir: Miia Tervo, Finland)
In this romantic and sometimes melancholy comedy Aurora, a commitment-phobic party animal, meets Iranian Darian one night at a hot-dog stand in Lapland. Darian is running from death and Aurora is running from love. They need each other in order to finally stop running.
By The Name Of Tania (dir: Mary Jiménez, Bénédicte Liénard, Belgium) – UK Premiere
The Amazon flows lazily through the goldmine-gashed landscape of northern Peru. Using real eyewitness accounts, directors Bénédicte Liénard and Mary Jiménez tell the story of a young woman who winds up forced into prostitution when her initially hopeful attempt to escape the stifling limitations of village life goes wrong. Step by step, she is robbed of her moral and physical integrity. The film reconstitutes a space of dignity and returns voice and identity to that which has been formally rendered name¬less. With its powerful imagery, the girl’s traumatic odyssey embodies the horrific devastation visited upon the natural world by contemporary industrial society
Greener Grass (dir: Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe, USA) – UK Premiere
Writers, directors and stars Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe create a hilariously deadpan hellscape of competitive suburbia with a boldly stylized absurdist chain of events that unfurls with increasing fervor after one soccer mom gifts another her infant daughter just to be polite.
Jirga (dir: Benjamin Gilmour, Australia) – UK Premiere
An ex-soldier returns to Afghanistan to find the family of a civilian he accidentally killed during the war. Seeking forgiveness, he puts his life in the hands of the village justice system – the Jirga.
The Man Who Surprised Everyone (dir: Natasha Merkulova & Aleksey Chupov, Russia)
Egor is a fearless state forest guard in the Siberian Taiga. He is a good family man, respected by his fellow villagers and together with his wife Natalia they are expecting a second child. But one day Egor finds out that he has cancer and only two months left to live. No traditional medicine or shamanic magic can save him. Finally, left with no other options, he takes a desperate attempt to trick death. As disguise Egor chooses to take the identity of a woman.
Browse all the Feature films and book tickets here
Best UK Feature
Hurt By Paradise (dir: Greta Bellamacina, UK) – UK Premiere
Hurt By Paradise is the debut feature by writer/director Greta Bellamacina. It is the story of Celeste – a young poet and single mother – her comedically unsuccessful attempts to get her first book published and find her father, and her co-dependent friendship with her babysitter Stella- a failed actress captivated by an online love affair…
My View: Clem Burke (dir: Philip Sansom, UK) – UK Premiere
An access all areas documentary about musician Clem Burke. A look back at forty years on the road, performing with one of the world’s most iconic bands: Blondie.
On The President’s Orders (dir: James Jones, Olivier Sarbil, UK)
The searing story of President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody campaign against drug dealers and addicts in the Philippines is told through unprecedented and intimate access to both sides of the war: a kill squad in the Manila police, and an ordinary family from the slums.
Schemers (dir: David McLean, UK)
His football career over, Davie starts promoting gigs in Dundee with his friends John and Scot – leading to a hugely ambitious Iron Maiden show. Out of his depth and deep in debt with Fergie, a gangster of legendary violence, Davie needs to pull off the biggest scheme of his life.
Thirst for Justice (dir: Leana Hosea, UK) – European Premiere
American may appear to be a democracy which guarantees freedom of speech and basic rights, but at its heart lies a great injustice. Against the odds, several extraordinary citizens band together to fight for their basic right to clean water – from Flint to the Navajo Nation, via Standing Rock.
Browse all the Feature films and book tickets here
Best Documentary Feature
Nothing Fancy (dir: Elizabeth Carroll, UK) – European Premiere
An intimate, candid look at the curious world of 95-year-old cookbook author and British expatriate Diana Kennedy. Standing barely five feet tall with a distinct English accent, Diana is a formidable critic of anyone who doesn’t agree with her views on Mexican culinary traditions, or, God forbid, doesn’t recycle.
Driven to Abstraction (dir: Daria Price, USA) – World Premiere
The art world was rocked by the greatest hoax in the history of modern American art: an $80 million forgery that brought down Knoedler, New York City’s oldest and most venerable gallery. Was Knoedler’s esteemed director the victim of a con artist, or did she suspect the fake?
Family in Transition (dir: Ofir Trainin, Uri Levy, Israel) – World Premiere
In Nahariya, a small traditional town in Israel, a family’s life changes when the father reveals that she is a transgender woman. The mother stays with her spouse, but just when it seems that life is back to normal, everything is shaken up again.
Who Made You? (dir: Iiris Härmä, Finland) – UK Premiere
Who Made You? leads us into the world of cyborgs, sex robots, and androids. Artificial intelligence is interacting with our mental and physical existence like never before. What do these developments mean for humanity, community, and how will they affect our perception of what it is to be human?
Why Are We Creative (dir: Hermann Vaske , Germany) – UK Premiere
Why Are We Creative is an exploration of the many facets of creativity – artistic, cultural, political, philosophical, and scientific. A personal road movie through the land of inspiration, featuring many of the world’s most influential creatives, including over fifty Nobel Prize laureates and Academy Award winners.
Browse all the Feature films and book tickets here
The Discovery Award – Best Debut Feature
A Dobugawa Dream (dir: Asato Watanabe, Japan) – International Premiere
After the death of his classmate, a young boy shuts himself away from his friends and family. One day something cracks inside of him and he decides to wander through the streets to find a new path.
Alice (dir: Josephine Mackerras, Australia/France)
After discovering that her husband’s addiction to escorts has left their family penniless, Alice finds herself drawn into the world of high-end prostitution as a means of caring for herself and her child.
Miguelito (dir: Sam Zubrycki, Australia/Puerto Rico/Colombia/US) – European Premiere
In Colombia and Puerto Rico in 1973, every radio station played songs by a boy called Miguelito. Many still remember him, but what happened to him? Miguelito takes an upbeat road trip through Latin America, uncovering the memories of those who were affected by his music and short-lived career.
Oray (dir: Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay, Germany) – UK Premiere
Oray strives to be a better person but struggles with his shady past. His dream of being a good Muslim and the perfect husband is suddenly shattered while arguing with his wife. Oray goes to Cologne, where he tries to rebuild his life in a new Muslim community. But he is constantly torn between his faith, everyday reality and identity.
Platform (dir: Sahar Mosayebi, Iran) – UK Premiere
The story of Shahrbanu, Sohaila, and Elaheh Mansourian, three sisters who are Wushu fighters. Born into a poor family, their father made them work in the fields to support the family. When their father left, they sought a better life – and joined the Iranian national Wushu team.
The Waiter (dir: Steve Krikris, Greece) – UK Premiere
Renos is a professional waiter, ambiguous, lonely, a meticulous observer of people. When he unwittingly becomes entangled in the mysterious disappearance of his neighbour, he is led on a ride that will alter his well-kept routine and change his life. A film equal parts character study and paradoxical murder story.
Browse all the Feature films and book tickets here
The Shorts
Best Short Of The Festival
Feathers (dir: A.V. Rockwell, USA) – UK Premiere
Elizier, an emotionally-dejected new enrollee at The Edward R. Mill School for Lost Boys, must overcome memories of a tragic past, and the present hazing by his peers, in order to tackle larger issues dominating his young life.
Pearl (dir:Yuchao Feng,China/US) – European Premiere
Six-year-old Lin lives in an isolated fishing village with her brother and their widowed mother. When the family is given an opportunity to start a new life, Lin has a startling revelation. A melancholy tale inspired by real events.
New Land Broken Road (dir: Kavich Neang,Cambodia/Malaysia) – UK Premiere
Phnom Penh at night. Three young hip hop dancers drive a single motorbike and stop on a muddy, deserted road. They meet a young street vendor whose cart is full of colours.
Milton (dir: Tim Wilkime, USA) – UK Premiere
A guy makes a bad first impression when he meets his girlfriend’s family as they gather at her grandfather’s deathbed.
Brotherhood (dir: Meryam Joobeur, Canada) – UK Premiere
Mohamed is a hardened shepherd living in rural Tunisia with his wife and two sons. He is deeply shaken when his oldest son Malik returns home after a long journey with a mysterious new wife. Tensions between father and son rise over three days until they reach breaking point.
Browse all the shorts and book tickets here
Best UK Short Film
The Devil’s Harmony (dir: Dylan Holmes Williams, UK) – UK Premiere
As the nerdy captain of the a cappella club, Kiera is an easy target for bullies. But her club possesses a secret power: when they sing ‘Devil’s Harmony’, listeners fall into a never-ending sleep. Kiera covertly wreaks revenge against the bullies, until a charismatic former bully expresses affection for her…
November 1st (dir: Charlie Manton, UK) – UK Premiere
A mother and daughter travel across the state to witness a long overdue execution.
Pagans (dir: Lucy Luscombe, UK)
Three young women learn about loss over the course of one Bonfire Night that takes them on a surreal journey into the depths of the English countryside.
Strange Days (dir: Alice Seabright,UK) – UK Premiere
Nina can’t stop thinking about Carla, who went missing when they were teenagers.
This is the Winter (dir: Peter King, UK) – World Premiere
2023. A separatist movement has ignited civil war in the north of England. The government has built a wall, dividing the country, to protect people in the south. Trapped in a refugee camp north of the border, a teenage girl has to choose between her father and her politics.
Browse all the shorts and book tickets here
Best Animated Short
Brexicuted (dir: Chris Shepherd, France)
This satirical animation considers why Brexit is happening. A variety of British characters, interviewed the day after the UK voted to leave the EU, speak about what motivated their decision.
My Generation (dir: Ludovic Houplain, France)
What if we put down our smartphones and opened our eyes wide shut? My Generation is an 8 minute travelling shot, where we go through different worlds, encountering contemporary art, GAFA, sport, religion, pornography, politics, finance, sacred cows, generalised surveillance, all opium of the people.
The Mystical Journey of Jimmy Page’s ’59 Telecaster (dir: Smith & Foulkes, UK) – World Premiere
When legendary guitarist Jimmy Page met the Fender Telecaster, rock history was made. Created as part of Led Zeppelin’s 50th anniversary celebrations this animated short takes viewers on a psychedelic tour through a pivotal time in music, shaped around Jimmy’s own words on his relationship with the iconic guitar.
The Opposites Game (dir: Anna Samo, Lisa LaBracio, USA)
A classroom erupts into a war of words as students grapple with a seemingly simple prompt: what is the opposite of a gun?
The Woman Who Turns Into a Castle (dir: Kathrin Steinbacher, UK)
An animated documentary about a woman who turns into a castle, based on Oliver Sacks’s case study.
Browse all the shorts and book tickets here
Best Documentary Short
99 Problems (dir: Ross Killeen, Ireland)
The inside scoop on the murky world of the ice cream business. Through the eyes of Pinky, the self-declared ‘King of the Ice Cream Men’, we’re taken into this unregulated industry where rival drivers will stop at nothing to protect their livelihoods.
Here, We Are (dir: Viviana Zuñiga, Mexico)
Rafael and Joel live in Santiago Tuxtla, a town in the state of Veracruz, Mexico that has been affected by the war on drugs. They have found a way to retain their humanity – through music. It builds community and combats fear, violence, and sadness.
Heroin Hearse (dir: Ryan Buckley, USA) – International Premiere
In the overdose capital of America, Dwayne Woods turns a vintage hearse into a mobile pulpit, preaching a message of life through the imagery of death. When he opens a rehab at the ground zero for heroin use, Dwayne hopes sheer compassion will trump experience when recruiting his first client.
Inferno (dir: Patrick Fileti, Mexico/Australia) – European Premiere
Inferno is an explosive portrait of the lives of pyrotechnic artists and their families in the lead up to the festival of San Juan de Dios, where blazing revelry engulfs the town.
Kamali (dir: Sasha Rainbow,UK) – European Premiere
Kamali is the only female skateboarder in her fishing village. Her timorous mother, Suganthi undertakes a pilgrimage in a quest for self-discovery. Separated for the first time, they must each find freedom in a man’s world.
Browse all the shorts and book tickets here
Raindance Immersive
Best Immersive Game
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time (dir: Marcus Moresby, UK) – UK Premiere
Join the Doctor on a mission to save the universe. Doctor Who: The Edge of Time lets fans embark on an adventure through space and time! Travel across the universe, visit alien locations, pilot the TARDIS, and solve the mystery of the controlling force behind the Reality Virus.
No Man’s Sky: BEYOND (dir: Sean Murray, Grant Duncan, Ryan Doyle, David Ream, UK)
No Man’s Sky: BEYOND is a Virtual Reality space exploration game set in a procedurally generated fictional universe. Inspired by the adventure and imagination from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action.
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets (dir: James Hunt, Sweden) – World Premiere
The Curious Tale of the Stolen Pets is an interactive tale of childlike wonder. Help your grandfather solve the mystery of the stolen pets by exploring wonderful miniature worlds, crafted from the ground up for Virtual Reality. Every world is unique, full of interactions and colourful life.
The Infinite Hotel (dir: Kevin Beimers, UK) – World Premiere
The Infinite Hotel is universe’s most luxurious holiday destination, boasting an infinite number of floors, an infinite number of rooms, and an infinite number of things that could go wrong. You’re the elevator operator. Time to get to work.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Best Interactive Narrative Experience
A Box In The Desert (dir: Owen Hindley, Nanna Gunnars, Ástþór Ágústsson, Iceland)
Imagine you find yourself trapped inside an invisible box in an endless desert. A stranger appears telling you that you’re “saved” – but are they speaking the truth? Should you instead trust this voice in your head? Is it actually better to remain in the box, safe from harm? Forever?
INORI (dir: Miwa Komatsu) – UK Premiere
In this virtual world, constructed by contemporary artist Miwa Komatsu, mystical creatures guide you through a journey of self-reflection, assertion, and spiritual reincarnation. You will be able to forge a connection with the world around you, as well as with your inner self, bringing blessings from the unreal into your reality.
Ray Sparks (dir: Rafael Pavon, Spain) – World Premiere
Ray is explosive. Ray is electrifying. Ray is restless. But he is also very, very shy. Immerse yourself in a VR fairy tale and play with Ray to gain his trust.
The Line (dir: Ricardo Laganaro, Brasil) – UK Premiere
A full body VR interactive narrative experience about love and fear of change. Set in a scale model of 1940s São Paulo, The Line invites us into the world of Pedro and Rosa, two miniature dolls who are perfect for each other, but reluctant to live out their love story.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Best Cinematic Experience
Afterlife (dir: Luisa Valencia, Canada) – International Premiere
After the tragic death of their five-year-old son, a family struggles with their loss and attempts to mend their frayed bonds. Experience the struggle through the child’s ghostly eyes, exploring a multiverse of different reality paths, as his family acknowledges his absence – or presence – in their lives.
Butterfly Dance (dir: Tan Seng Kiat, Taiwan) – International Premiere
An unknown couple appear in the darkness in a cinema. As a 35mm film is being played, frame by frame, it feels like a love affair is emerging, and only you and the film know the secret of the affair.
Only The Mountain Remains (dir: Chiang Wei Liang, Taiwan) – UK Premiere
At a deserted petrol station at the bottom of a mountain, a man and a woman, both of whom are foreign to the country, are waiting for their contact. When they run into a police patrol, the chase begins.
Operation Othello: I Am Not What I Am (dir: Mary Chieffo, Jeff Liu, Viola Davis, Beth Grant, Josh Nelson, USA) – UK Premiere
Operation Othello presents original Shakespearean text in a way that is accessible and exciting for modern audiences. In the style of Sherlock, Minority Report and How to Get Away With Murder, this action-packed retelling follows events of scandal, intrigue, and betrayal in the perilous world of elite Navy SEALs.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Best Documentary Experience
Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey (dir: Jan Kounen, France/Luxembourg) – UK Premiere
A visionary experience through the realms of medicinal plants, led by an indigenous Shipibo traditional healer in the Amazon rainforest.
Memoria: Stories of La Garma (dir: Rafael Pavon, Spaik) – International Premiere
16,500 years ago, a group of humans came back to their shelter in Spain after hunting. The entrance had collapsed, leaving everything inside untouched. Narrated by Geraldine Chaplin, this VR experience invites you to explore the memories trapped in the cave, preserved for thousands of years.
Rise of Animals with David Attenborough (dir: Elliot Graves, UK) – World Premiere
Through the power of hand interaction you’ll discover and bring to life some of the first creatures that roamed the earth – all within your own environment. Driven by a voiceover from David Attenborough and using ultra-realistic real-time animation sequences, this powerful Mixed Reality experience is both educational and entertaining.
The Holy City (dir: Nimrod Shanit, Timur Musabay, Israel/Canada) – World Premiere
Transport yourself to the world’s spiritual epicentre in this engaging sensory narrative experience built using stunning photogrammetric scans of Jerusalem. THE HOLY CITY uses a series of challenging interactive games in room-scale environments to help nurture empathy and understanding across the Abrahamic cultures and religions that coinhabit the city.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Best Animated Experience
Battlescar – Punk Was Invented By Girls (dir: Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia, France) – UK Premiere
1978, New York City. In the cell of a juvenile detention centre, Lupe, a Puerto Rican American sixteen-year-old, meets Debbie. Debbie introduces Lupe to the punk rock scene of the Lower East Side and the secret worlds of Alphabet City. Battlescar is an exploration of identity through immersive VR storytelling.
Glimpse (Preview) (dir: Benjamin Cleary, Michael O’Connor, UK) – UK Premiere
Glimpse is an animated interactive VR experience starring Taron Egerton (Rocketman) and Lucy Boynton (Bohemian Rhapsody), presented by Mr Kite and directed by Academy Award winning writer/director Benjamin Cleary and VR creator Michael O’Connor. A highly emotive visual feast set in the imaginative mind of a heartbroken panda named Herbie (Egerton) who has recently broken up with his girlfriend Rice (Boynton). Herbie is an illustrator and using his art we delve back through the memories of his relationship from the heartbreaking end to the beautiful beginning. A dreamlike voyage through his mind, his heart and his illustrations.
Gloomy Eyes (dir: Jorge Tereso, Fernando Maldonado, France) – UK Premiere
The sun got tired of humans and decided to never rise again. The darkness awoke the dead from their graves. A zombie kid called Gloomy and a mortal girl called Nena fall in love, forming a deep connection that even the most powerful man cannot destroy. Narrated by Colin Farrell.
Heart of Darkness (dir: Stuart ‘Sutu’ Campbell, Australia) – World Premiere
Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s novel, this sci-fi is set on the dwarf planet Ceres, where Astro-biologist Captain Kurtz has gone missing. Your mission is to find him. As you journey deep into the Ceres cave network you will learn the story of his disappearance via the onboard Artificial Intelligence, Teeva.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Artistic Achievement
Ayahuasca: Kosmik Journey (dir: Jan Kounen, France/Luxembourg) – UK Premiere
Battlescar – Punk Was Invented By Girls (dir: Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia, France) – UK Premiere
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time (dir: Marcus Moresby, UK) – UK Premiere
Glimpse (Preview) (dir: Benjamin Cleary, Michael O’Connor, UK) – UK Premiere
Gloomy Eyes (dir: Jorge Tereso, Fernando Maldonado, France) – UK Premiere
Heart of Darkness (dir: Stuart ‘Sutu’ Campbell, Australia) – World Premiere
Audio Achievement
Battlescar – Punk Was Invented By Girls (dir: Martin Allais, Nico Casavecchia, France) – UK Premiere
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time (dir: Marcus Moresby, UK) – UK Premiere
Glimpse (Preview) (dir: Benjamin Cleary, Michael O’Connor, UK) – UK Premiere
Gloomy Eyes (dir: Jorge Tereso, Fernando Maldonado, France) – UK Premiere
INORI (dir: Miwa Komatsu) – UK Premiere
Operation Othello: I Am Not What I Am (dir: Mary Chieffo, Jeff Liu, Viola Davis, Beth Grant, Josh Nelson, USA) – UK Premiere
British Award: Best UK Experience
Cosmos Within Us (dir: Tupac Martir, UK/Luxembourg) – UK Premiere
We are drawn into the mind of Aiken, a sixty-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s. As we wander, his memories shape-shift, as if in a state of constant reconstruction. However, his precious childhood moments feel tainted. Concealed in oblivion, there is one memory he’s trying to forget.
Doctor Who: The Edge of Time (dir: Marcus Moresby, UK) – UK Premiere
Glimpse (Preview) (dir: Benjamin Cleary, Michael O’Connor, UK) – UK Premiere
Rise of Animals with David Attenborough (dir: Elliot Graves, UK) – World Premiere
Through the power of hand interaction you’ll discover and bring to life some of the first creatures that roamed the earth – all within your own environment. Driven by a voiceover from David Attenborough and using ultra-realistic real-time animation sequences, this powerful Mixed Reality experience is both educational and entertaining.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
Discovery Award: Best Debut Experience
Anonymous (dir: Samantha Kingston, Mary Matheson, Marisol Grandon, UK) – World Premiere
Anonymous is a 360 narrative film telling the personal tale of the child of an alcoholic. After 28 years, Samantha shares her story of living with an alcohol dependent parent, hiding the secret, and dealing with their death.
Playing God (dir: Ben Fredericks, UK) – World Premiere
An interactive sci-fi drama that forces you to make difficult decisions during a humanitarian crisis. Based on the Spaceship Earth theory, which explores the philosophy of life boat ethics, PLAYING GOD aims to confront audiences with a new take on the global refugee crisis that is affecting society today.
See, Saw – Seen (dir: Paula Canovas del Vas, UK) – World Premiere
See, Saw – Seen is a multi-person, room-scale VR installation that blends fashion with art, aiming to objectify the audience, reversing the traditional roles played by the fashion industry over the past decades. Placed in the centre of attention, the audience experiences first-hand notions of voyeurism and feminism in the context of fashion, whilst discovering the mental universe of Paula Canovas del Vas Spring/Summer 2020 collection.
Afterlife (dir: Luisa Valencia, Canada) – International Premiere
Spirit of Raindance: Best Immersive Experience of the Festival
The winners of the immersive awards will be in competition for the festival’s special award, Spirit of Raindance: Best Immersive Experience of the Festival.
Get your Raindance Immersive (XR) Passes here
The Web Series
All Web Series will compete for two awards: the Jury Award and the Audience Award.
Did You Know?
- Raindance Film Festival is considered one of the top fifteen film festivals in the world?
- Raindance Higher Education programme offers HND, BA and MA in Filmmaking and Screenwriting?
- Raindance members support indie film, and enjoy a range of benefits
- Let Raindance guide you on your filmmaking pathway. call +44 (0) 207 930 3412 or email filmschool@raindance.ac.uk
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.
