Raindance is an independent

film festival A film festival is an organized, extended presentation of films in one or more cinemas or screening venues, usually in a single city or region. Increasingly, film festivals show some films outdoors. Films may be of recent date and, depending upon ...

and

film school A film school is an educational institution dedicated to teaching aspects of filmmaking, including such subjects as film production, film theory, digital media production, and screenwriting. Film history courses and hands-on technical training ...

that operates in major cities including London, Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Budapest, Berlin, and Brussels. The festival was established in 1992 by Elliot Grove to be the voice of British filmmaking, and it showcases features and

short Short may refer to: Places * Short (crater), a lunar impact crater on the near side of the Moon * Short, Mississippi, an unincorporated community * Short, Oklahoma, a census-designated place People * Short (surname) * List of people known as ...

s by filmmakers from around the world to an audience of film executives and buyers, journalists, film fans and filmmakers. In 2013, the festival was listed by ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' as one of the world's top 50 "unmissable film festivals".

Timeline

*1992 – Raindance is founded. Film training courses are offered. *1993 – The Raindance Film Festival is launched, World premiere of ''

What's Eating Gilbert Grape ''What's Eating Gilbert Grape'' is a 1993 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis and Darlene Cates. It follows 25-year-old Gilbert (Depp), a grocery store cler ...

.'' *1994 – ''

Pulp Fiction ''Pulp Fiction'' is a 1994 American crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino, who conceived it with Roger Avary.See, e.g., King (2002), pp. 185–7; ; Starring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Tim Roth, Ving Rhame ...

'' makes its UK debut at Raindance. *1998 – Raindance creates the

British Independent Film Awards The British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) is an organisation that celebrates, supports and promotes British independent cinema and filmmaking talent in United Kingdom. Nominations for the annual awards ceremony are announced in early November, ...

which celebrate the achievements of independent British filmmaking. *2000 – Christopher Nolan's '' Memento'' has its UK premiere at Raindance. *2003 – Raindance launches the world's first 15 Second Shorts Competition with Nokia. *2004 – The Independent Film Trust is launched by Raindance: a charity that supports independent filmmaking and provides bursaries and training for the disadvantaged, from children in inner-city schools to refugees and the mentally ill. *2008 – Raindance Screens ''Once'', which goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Song. *2009 – ''Down Terrace'',

Ben Wheatley Benjamin Wheatley (born 7 May 1972) is an English filmmaker and screenwriter. Beginning his career in advertising, Wheatley first gained recognition and acclaim for his commercials and short films, before transitioning into feature films and tel ...

's first film, debuts at Raindance. *2012 – Short films which play at Raindance become eligible for Oscar nominations. *2013 – Raindance launches Raw Talent and produces its film ''Love.Honour.Obey''. *2015 – Raindance launches 360/VR Storytelling training. *2016 – Raindance launches the Auteur Award and presents the inaugural prize to

Ken Loach Kenneth Charles Loach (born 17 June 1936) is a British film director and screenwriter. His socially critical directing style and socialist ideals are evident in his film treatment of social issues such as poverty (''Poor Cow'', 1967), homelessne ...

. *2016 – Raindance launches the VRX Awards and Showcase. *2017 – Raindance hands the 2nd Annual Auteur Award to

Guy Ritchie Guy Stuart Ritchie (born 10 September 1968) is an English film director, producer and screenwriter. His work includes British gangster films, and the ''Sherlock Holmes'' films starring Robert Downey Jr. Ritchie left school at age 15 and wor ...

, describing him as a "prominent figure" who breathed "new life into the British film industry" with his "cult crime comedies." *2017 – Raindance celebrated its 25th anniversary. *2018 – Raindance hands the 3rd Annual Auteur Award to

Terry Gilliam Terrence Vance Gilliam (; born 22 November 1940) is an American-born British filmmaker, comedian, animator, actor and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe. Gilliam has directed 13 feature films, including ''Time Bandits'' (1981), ''B ...

, saying that for four decades, he's been "magicking amazing visual stories from practically nowhere."

References

External links

* * {{twitter , id=Raindance Film festivals in England Film festivals established in 1992 Film schools in England