Short Courses
Take a look at our range of world-renowned
evening and weekend film training courses.
Raindance Film Festival
Autumn 2021
The biggest indie film festival in the UK, showcasing
shorts, features, web series, music videos and VR.
Short Courses
Take a look at our range of world-renowned
evening and weekend film training courses.
Raindance Film Festival
The biggest indie film festival in the UK, showcasing
shorts, features, web series, music videos and VR.
Raindance
The Home of Independent Film
Raindance is dedicated to fostering and promoting independent film around the world. Founded in 1992, it combines Raindance Film Festival, film training courses, and Raindance Higher Education.
Latest news from Raindance
Fake Films on the Big Screen
Hollywood has always been in love with portraying its own process of creation. Picking a random 1988 example, viewers of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? see the cartoon lead working on the fictious cartoon Somethin’s Cookin’. Later, Schwarzenegger’s alterego Jack Slater in...
How Independent Film Kept Me From Living In My Mother’s Basement
I nearly ended up in my mother's basement bedroom. You see, I didn't go to university. I didn't graduate from a liberal arts programme like so many of my colleagues. And I certainly didn't go to film school. I went to art school instead and graduated with a single...
Raindance Launches The Raindance Affiliate Program
Raindance Affiliate Program Yes, you read that correctly. We have been recruiting a small number of candidates, but now we are ready to open our arms to you, our emerging creative community. It is an opportunity for creatives to make a profit while providing sources...
“The film school and the workshops and the talks are one of the heartbeats of the Raindance that I admire so much“
Jude Law
“Raindance has done a very useful and very good job in promoting independent British cinema.”
Ken Loach
“Raindance is one of those really exciting festivals… The way you nurture & develop talent, you’re really passionate about bringing people up.“
Sally Hawkins
Your Film Career Starts Here
What does Raindance offer?
Raindance is a gateway to the world of independent film and filmmakers. We offer unique and revolutionary filmmaking and screenwriting training taught by working industry professionals. Our membership scheme offers a wide range of industry events, film training, networking opportunities and access to Europe’s largest and oldest independent film festival.
In other words:
You can come to Raindance to learn how to make a film, our production company Raindance Raw Talent can help you make a film. Your film can screen at the Raindance Film Festival which qualifies it for the British Independent Film Awards.
What film & television training courses are available?
From a full time degree or masters course to a 1 day or evening workshop, our directory of film & television courses covers most subjects including Basic Cinematography, Film producing, screenwriting, editing, acting and directing.
What makes Raindance Film School different from other film schools?
There is no other film school in the world that also hosts a major independent film festival. Raindance also founded the British Independent Film Awards.
Raindance Film School doesn’t hire tutors. You are taught by working industry professionals who can teach.
At Raindance we Make Filmmakers
How can I find a suitable film & television training course?
Raindance lets you quickly search our database of film & television training courses to see what’s available along with course dates, locations and prices. We want to make sure you have the requirements for film school. You can always contact Raindance for more information and book your place.
Do I need to be in London to take your film & television training courses
Most of our courses are now online. Our courses are also offered by our hubs in Raindance Toronto, Raindance Los Angeles and Raindance Dubai.
Do you offer discounts?
Raindance Members can save up to 30%. Raindance also offers discounts for students and concessions including health care workers and unemployed. Members also get free script registration and film festival submission discounts.
Does Raindance provide its own filmmaking courses?
Since 1992 we have developed courses presented by established and trusted industry professionals. Raindance has teamed up with experienced working industry professionals to provide bespoke film training from working practitioners.
Why do you need a Film School?
Why has Raindance been called ‘the filmmakers festival’?
Why should I submit my film to Raindance?
Raindance is known for showing the films of dissent, the films about whistleblowers, the films about underdogs, and those seeking justice. Raindance festival audiences are those seeking the boldest, freshest, most dynamic, and original independent films.
Our programming team has worked at Raindance since our beginning and have developed an eye for talent spotting. This means that a film included in the Raindance lineup guarantees international industry exposure and potential distribution offers.
What is the history of Raindance?
Raindance started by Elliot Grove in 1992 as a thought experiment: Can you make a movie with no money (he had just crashed out of the property market), no film training (he’d never been to film school) and no film experience.
Raindance started by offering weekend workshops in 1992. Our first volunteer was Edgar Wright. For 18 years our first office was on Berwick Street in London’s Soho. Christopher Nolan used it was a production base for his debut feature The Following.
The festival started in 1993. In 1998 Raindance founded the British Independent Film Awards. Our first hubs started in 2004 with Raindance Toronto. They now exist in Vancouver, Los Angeles, New York, Brussels, Paris, and Berlin.
In 2011 we launched the Raindance Postgraduate Film Degree. The Oscars recognised Raindance as a qualifying festival for shorts in 2012.
In 2014 we became the first festival to recognise web series. In 2016 we became the first festival to combine interactive and augmented reality within a film festival with the launch of the Gallery of immersive Stories.
In 2017 the 2 year HND and in 2020 the BA filmmaking degrees were launched.
Raindance opened its first international film school in 2020 at Raindance Dubai.