At Raindance, we believe one thing above all: bold new voices are where great cinema begins. Each year, the Raindance Discovery Award celebrates those voices—filmmakers whose work may be modest in budget but rich in vision. In 2024, the award was renamed in honour of Elisar Cabrera, a cherished member of the Raindance family whose creative spirit and quiet brilliance continue to guide us.
Dedicating the award to Elisar was a deeply personal effort led by Matthew Devlen, Ian Powell, and Elisar’s mother, Caroline Kennedy. Raindance co-founders Elliot Grove and Suzanne Ballantyne shared this vision from the start. They had long wanted to find a way to honour Elisar. Renaming the Discovery Award gave that vision lasting form, ensuring that Elisar’s legacy lives on through the bold, independent storytellers he championed.
Elisar worked at Raindance for over 14 years. More than a colleague, he was a talent scout of rare intuition. He was someone who could see the spark of brilliance long before the rest of the world caught on. His passion wasn’t for industry trends or name recognition. He championed films that were unpolished, provocative, and often overlooked. In many ways, the Discovery Award is the essence of Elisar himself: humble, fiercely independent, and driven by heart.
In 2024, the first Elisar Cabrera Discovery Award was presented to Sleep, a chilling and masterfully crafted South Korean thriller that captivated audiences and judges alike with its originality, tension, and cinematic precision. Sleep set the tone for what this award now stands for—a celebration of daring new voices pushing boundaries on screen.
Ian Powell, Mayumi Cabrera, Caroline Kennedy, Maarit Erricker, Cass Rawat (IAC Chairman), Ursula Voss, Rajeeb Chohda,
Back Row Kaitlin Argeaux, David Pugh-Jones, Andrew Mark Sewell, Russell Calbert & Loretta Durrell
Ian Powell, Cass Rawat, Caroline Kennedy, Mayumi Cabrera, and Elliot Grove
To learn more, visit www.theelisarcabreraraindanceaward.com
This Year’s Honouree: Srishti
In 2025, we are thrilled to announce that the Discovery Award goes to Sristi, a haunting, poetic film that captures the quiet beauty and unspoken trauma of a rapidly changing world. Sristi exemplifies everything the award stands for: originality, emotional truth, and a refusal to follow the expected path.
Directed with a confidence that belies its debut status, Sristi first appeared on our programming radar through a blind submission. It wasn’t accompanied by hype, celebrity endorsements, or marketing muscle. It didn’t need to be. Its raw visual poetry and arresting performances told us all we needed to know. This was a film that deserved to be seen.
Ian Powell, Cass Rawat, Paul Antar, and Miss Eileen Daly.
The award includes a £500 cash prize, generously donated once again by the International Arcadia Chapter (IAC). Their ongoing partnership with Raindance reflects a shared commitment to independent thought, pioneering voices, and the power of culture to spark new ideas and challenge convention.
About the International Arcadia Chapter
The IAC is a non-profit organisation. It is dedicated to humanitarian causes, cultural expression, environmental stewardship, and the advancement of the arts and sciences. Its members span the globe, with a strong London and UK contingent, many of whom come out to support Raindance each year.
Matthew Devlen, Caroline Kennedy and Andrew Mark Sewell are all members of the Chapter, which is part of the historic Great Order of the Amarant, founded in 1653 by Queen Kristina of Sweden. The IAC’s ongoing partnership with Raindance is led each year by IAC Chairman Cass Rawat, who oversees the presentation of the Elisar Cabrera Discovery Award.
This collaboration with the IAC continues the legacy of Queen Kristina, whose fearless curiosity, love of the arts, and unconventional spirit helped shape the very roots of this Order. A visionary patron, the trailblazing Queen filled her court with artists, musicians, and philosophers. They are believing that creativity and independent thought were as vital to society as politics or power. This international group of friends gathers every two years in Stockholm to celebrate Kristina’s bold legacy, reimagined now for the modern world.
Prince Joseph Kohn, Helen Sherborne, Kaitlin Argeaux, Sammy Joyce, Matthew Devlen, Cass Rawat, Helen Molesworth, Andrew Mark Sewell
Not pictured: Christine Petersen, Alastair Cumming, Anna Malni
To learn more, visit www.arcadiachapter.com
Why Discovery Still Matters
In a landscape flooded with content and dominated by algorithmic trends, genuine discovery is more vital than ever. The Raindance Discovery Award isn’t about polishing what’s already commercial. It’s about trusting your gut. It’s about standing behind a filmmaker before the rest of the world catches up.
To the team behind Sristi, the award is more than a cheque or a trophy. It’s a signal that their voice matters and their story has reached beyond borders. And that someone—somewhere was listening.
As we celebrate Sristi and remember Elisar, we’re also sending a message to filmmakers everywhere: if you’re creating something truthful, something urgent, something that doesn’t quite fit in—we’re looking for you.
You can submit your short, feature, documentary or VR project here.
Did you know?
- Raindance Film Festival is considered one of the top fifteen film festivals in the world?
- The Higher Education programme at Raindance Film School offers HND, BA and MA in Filmmaking and Screenwriting?
- Raindance members support indie film, and enjoy a range of member benefits
- You can call us on +44 (0) 207 930 3412
#Raindance2025 #DiscoveryAward #ShristiFilm #ElisarCabrera
#InternationalArcadiaChapter #QueenKristina
Raindance promotes and supports independent filmmaking and filmmakers.
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