The Raindance Film Festival returns to London on the 18-29 September for its 27th edition and has now released the programme line-up.
The festival will include 90 feature films, with 13 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 9 European Premieres and 54 UK premieres. The programme also includes 108 short films, 19 music videos, and 30 VR experiences.
This year Raindance’s special guest continent is Europe, with an emphasis on strong and empowered European women. Key titles include A REGULAR WOMAN (dir: Sherry Hormann, Germany). Inspired by tragic real-life events, it tells the story of a vibrant Turkish woman living in Berlin who is murdered at 23 by her youngest brother in an ‘honour’ killing. Including director Q&A. A dark coming-of-age tale, LUNA (dir: Elas Diringer, France) follows a young French woman who, during a night of drunken revelry with her friends, helps them, gang, rape a male stranger – but must grapple with her conscience when she falls in love with him. Including director Q&A. A romantic, melancholy comedy, and AURORA (dir: Miia Tervo, Finland).
Gael García Bernal’s second feature as director, CHICUAROTES is also part of the festival alongside the World Premiere of EVERYBODY FLIES (dir: Tristan Loraine, Beth Moran, UK), the UK Premiere of post-modern comedy AREN’T YOU HAPPY? (dir: Susanne Heinrich) and a New horror strand SCREAMDANCE.
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British features include HURT BY PARADISE (dir: Greta Bellamacina, UK), SCHEMERS (dir: David McLean, UK) and THIRST FOR JUSTICE (dir: Leana Hosea, UK).
The Raindance Film Festival awards system honours features and documentaries in 8 categories: Best International Film, Best UK Film, Best Director, Best Performance, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Discovery, Best Documentary. Awards partner STAMP will provide over CAD $100,000 of post-production prizes for winning filmmakers in all categories.
This year’s 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), 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 (W1A, 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), Dan Smith from the band Bastille, and award-winning singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé.
To announce the programme, Raindance has released a trailer for the festival, set in 2023 and features an apocalyptic Central London.
For the full line-up head to Raindance Film Festival site here
