The 16th Raindance Film Festival kicks off in London today and, as media partners for the event, we’re proud to present our picks of the schedule.
Designed to celebrate true indie cinema, Raindance is the country’s largest independent film festival and boasts a programme full of cutting-edge, interesting work from new and experienced directors and a raft of interesting talent. This year’s festival will play host to the likes of Faye Dunaway, Alfonso Cuaron and Corey Feldman and events range from masterclass interviews to live pitching events.
As part of our partnership we’ve selected ten films from the festival that are of particular interest in two categories we call Editor’s Choice and Critics’ Select. They are:
Editor’s Choice
Crazy – Ali Larter stars in this take of a guitar player in America in the 50s which was inspired by the life of Hank Garland.
Screening Friday 3 October 18:00
Production Office – A hilarious look at life behind the scenes of film production, this comedy may be on a small scale but promises big laughs.
Screening Saturday 4 October 18:45
Little Ashes – Director Paul Morrison (Wondrous Oblivion) helms this account of Salvador Dali, Luis Bunuel and Garcia Lorca in their early days. Twilight star Robert Pattinson – who seems destined for greatness – appears as Dali.
Screening Tuesday 7 October 19:00
The Daisy Chain – There are shades of The Wicker Man in this odd yarn about a couple who move to a remote village after the death of their infant daughter. Samantha Morton and Steven Mackintosh star.
Screening Thursday 9 October 19:00
Año uña – Directed by Jonás Cuarón – son of Children of Men director Alfonso Cuarón – this film, told in still images, is the story of a Mexican teenager’s relationship with an older American woman. RT-UK editor Joe Utichi will be hosting a Q&A with Jonás and Alfonso Cuarón after the screening.
Screening Friday 10 October 21:00
Critics’ Select
Nightwatching – Another artist biopic, this time of Rembrandt, tells the tale of the controversy created by the identification of a murderer in the painting The Night Watch. Martin Freeman stars.
Screening Thursday 2 October 18:30
Wellness – A travelling salesman discovers he is working for a business that doesn’t exist.
Screening Tuesday 2 October 18:30
Senseless – Jason Behr stars as an American businessman kidnapped and held prisoner by terrorists.
Screening Saturday 4 October 21:30
Crawford – What happens to a small Texan town when George W. Bush decides to set up home? This documentary follows events.
Screening Wednesday 8 October 17:00
The Auteur – The mockumentary makes an appearance at Raindance as we follow renowned porn director Arturo Domingo (Requiem for a Wet Dream & Five Easy Nieces) as he receives a lifetime achievement award.
Screening Saturday 11 October 22:00
Also keep an eye out for:
Gardens of the Night – A star-studded cast emerge for this stunning, but quiet since Berlin, film about sex slavery and paedophilia. Tom Arnold delivers a career-best performance as you’ve never seen him before as a child trafficker and incredible turns from the young leads, a brother and sister subjected to years of abuse, make this a film not to miss. Followed by a Q&A with director Damian Harris by RT-UK editor Joe Utichi.
Screening Thursday 2 October 21:30
Live!Ammunition! – This great pitching event brings together any wannabe filmmakers willing to throw a fiver into a hat and deliver a story pitch and industry experts gathered together to critique and provide feedback on the pitches. Meet the Parents and The 51st State have both come from Raindance pitching events in years past and last year Ewan McGregor joined the panel.
Taking place Monday 6 October 19:00
Corey Feldman – Dinner and the Movies Live – It’s not just The Birthday that Feldman is coming to town to talk about; for the first time we’re taking our Rotten Tomatoes Dinner and the Movies interview series live as we spend 90 minutes chatting to the actor about his career. Relive the eighties as we share clips from Stand By Me, The Goonies and The Lost Boys and find out what he’s been up to recently.
Taking place Saturday 11 October 19:15
The Birthday – Corey Feldman stars as a young man who’s meeting the inlaws for the first time as a cult of demon worshipers plot to bring about the end of the world. As mad and wickedly funny as Lynch, the film is peppered with references to classic cinema and literature, has production design to die for and certainly defines unique. Followed by a Q&A with director Eugenio Mira and star Corey Feldman by RT-UK editor Joe Utichi.
Screening Saturday 11 October 21:45
Stay tuned to RT for more information on our live event with Corey Feldman as well as news and reviews fresh from the festival. If you’re in London, hop over to the Raindance website to book your tickets!
