Raindance Film Festival

Overview

The Raindance Film Festival, established in 1992, champions independent filmmakers from the UK and internationally. Its 35th edition will run from June 16 to June 25, 2027, in Central London, offering filmmakers a West End premiere and an authentic London experience. The festival attracts over 16,000 visitors annually, including industry professionals, press, and film enthusiasts. Raindance is officially recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, and the British Independent Film Awards. Winners of Best Animation Short, Best Documentary Short, and Short of the Festival categories will qualify for the Oscar®, and selected shorts may also be considered for BAFTA awards. The festival's programming focuses on first-time filmmakers, female filmmakers, LGBTQ+ stories, narratives on social injustice and environmental issues, horror, and music documentaries. The festival program includes a renowned showcase of UK and international indie films, masterclasses with special guests, the Raindance Industry Forum for talks and panels, a Script Competition, the Raindance Immersive strand, and networking events. It maintains a strong focus on supporting emerging filmmakers and showcasing diverse narratives. Past UK premieres at Raindance include notable titles such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Blair Witch Project, Memento, and Old Boy. The festival has hosted guests like Christopher Nolan and Quentin Tarantino, with international juries featuring figures such as Olivia Colman and Sean Bean.

What to build

Participants are invited to submit independent films (feature films, short films, documentaries, animated shorts) or unproduced screenplays (feature, short, TV comedy, TV drama) for consideration in the festival program and competition. Submissions for the Raindance Immersive strand are also accepted.

Prizes

Key dates

• Early Submission DeadlineDecember 7, 2026
• Regular Submission DeadlineJanuary 18, 2027
• Final Submission DeadlineMarch 8, 2027
• Notification DateMay 16, 2027
• Festival DatesJune 16-25, 2027

Eligibility

For films: Films must be completed on or after January 1, 2026. Feature films must be at least UK premieres, meaning they must not have been released in the UK in any format or screened publicly online prior to the festival. There is no premiere policy for short films. Work-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted. For the competition sections, Raindance prioritizes first- and second-time filmmakers. All films screened receive a blank 18 certificate, meaning individuals under 18 cannot attend screenings. For screenplays: Writers from all countries are eligible. Scripts must be in English or include a full English translation. Scripts must be original work, unproduced at the time of submission (scripts scheduled for production after the Awards Ceremony are eligible). Adaptations are permitted if legal rights are held. Raindance employees and their immediate family members are ineligible.

How to enter

1. Submit films or screenplays via the FilmFreeway platform.
2. Ensure all submission fees are paid through FilmFreeway. Fees are non-refundable.
3. For films, provide an online screener. Only one version of the film will be reviewed.
4. For screenplays, submit in PDF format, adhering to industry-standard screenplay formatting (12-point Courier font).
5. If submitting an adaptation, ensure legal rights to the underlying material are held.
6. If a script contains graphic or triggering content, provide an appropriate content or trigger warning.

Submission requirements

• Films must be completed on or after January 1, 2026.
• Feature films must be at least UK premieres.
• Films must be submitted via an online screener.
• If selected, films must provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) and a backup Blu-ray (PAL or NTSC).
• All foreign language films must include English subtitle files.
• Selected DCPs must be received no later than twenty days before the scheduled screening date.
• Screenplays must be submitted in English or with a full English translation.
• Screenplays must be in PDF format with 12-point Courier font.
• Screenplays must be unproduced at the time of submission.
• Series bibles or additional documents submitted with pilots will not be read.

Judging criteria

• Quality of narrative and production values (for films).
• Independent nature of the production (for films).
• Adherence to industry-standard screenplay formatting (for screenplays).
• Originality of work and legal ownership (for screenplays).

Resources

• Raindance Film Festival on FilmFreeway
• General Festival Information
• Raindance Membership Information