Raindance returns

The Raindance Film Festival is returning to central London this year with its largest programme since 2019. Now in its 33rd edition, the festival will screen 70 narrative and documentary features – a 90% increase on last year – as well as 113 short films and 32 immersive projects.

This edition marks the festival’s return to Vue Piccadilly in the West End, where all screenings will take place across the full duration of the event. The festival opens with a gala at Vue Leicester Square, followed by a reception at the Palm Court of the Waldorf Hilton.

After five years of scaled-down editions shaped by the aftermath of the pandemic, organisers say the expanded line-up reflects a renewed ambition. While Raindance continues to focus on emerging filmmakers – 40 of the selected features are debut works – the larger programme also includes new films by more established independent directors.

The festival is supported by main sponsor Canon Europe, which will also host a Canon Lounge at One Ninetyfour, the festival’s industry hub. A Cinematography Day presented by Canon is among the key industry events.

This year also marks the 10th edition of Raindance Immersive, the festival’s XR strand. The programme includes an in-person Immersive Showcase and Summit at Vue Piccadilly, as well as a month-long virtual reality festival on VRChat from 6 to 29 June.

Festival founder Elliot Grove said the decision to open with the world premiere of a British debut feature about a boxer reflects Raindance’s commitment to new voices and underrepresented stories. “We’re also celebrating a decade of XR innovation at Raindance,” he added, “proving that being a wildcard often means being ahead of the curve.”