It’s that time of year again, where we have the chance to be mesmerised by what I believe to be the best in independent cinema.
The Raindance mission is to discover new talent from wherever it comes – and it does arrive from the most unexpected quarters. This year, we received a record-breaking number of submissions from 98 countries and I’m always humbled with how truly international the Festival has become.
I’m thrilled that this year we have introduced a Virtual Reality Arcade, which will certainly blow your socks off. We are also highlighting Women in Film and LGBT films, showcasing what women and LGBT communities are constantly bringing to the industry.
This year’s industry strands are just as impressive, with special guests, panelists and events. We have also lucked out by getting an impressive Jury who give their valuable time to watch movies and give awards.
We look for deeply passionate and personal stories told in an entertaining manner. We favour extreme topics told in extreme ways. We strive to find new filmmakers with fresh ideas and pick out artists that enjoy taking risks.
It’s our brilliant programmers who have the heart-breaking job of deciding which films should be shown and which films from around the world will entice, challenge, inspire and of course, entertain our audiences.
We are now in our 24th year, almost a quarter-century, and we have been very fortunate to reach a point where audiences continue to descend on Raindance to unearth the most innovative, leading edge work in emerging cinema today.
Now get ready, sit back and I sincerely hope that you enjoy this year’s programme as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you.
Discover. Be discovered.
Elliot Grove – Founder
About Elliot Grove
Photo Credit David Martinez / BIFA 2018
Few people know more filmmakers and screenwriters than Elliot Grove. Elliot is the founder of Raindance Film Festival (1993) and the British Independent Film Awards (1998). He has produced over 700 hundred short films and five feature films: the multi-award-winning The Living and the Dead (2006), Deadly Virtues (2013), AMBER (2017), Love is Thicker Than Water (2018) and the SWSX Grand Jury Prize winner Alice (2019). He teaches screenwriting and producing in the UK, Europe, Asia and America.
Elliot has written three books which have become industry standards: Raindance Writers’ Lab: Write + Sell the Hot Screenplay, now in its second edition, Raindance Producers’ Lab: Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking and Beginning Filmmaking: 100 Easy Steps from Script to Screen (Professional Media Practice).
In 2009 he was awarded a PhD for services to film education.
