The 28th Raindance Film Festival takes place between 28 October and 7 November. This year’s showcase of some of the best of UK and international independent film will be a hybrid of select live events and an extensive virtual platform. The festival is a hotbed of creativity and talent, but as well as an industry programme there’s a mix of shorts, features, documentaries and VR from around the world.
Some of this year’s feature highlights are:
Nafi’s Father
A moderate imam in a small town in northern Senegal is fighting his extremely religious and powerful brother about the marriage of their children.
Eastern
A shocking vision of Poland. In this alternative, dystopian reality, a peculiar game takes place behind the gates of a closed estate, under the watchful eye of monitoring. We observe a world where weapons are legal, cartridges can be bought at a gas station, and people’s lives are regulated by a ruthless blood code imposed by the state.
Stardust
In 1971, a 24-year-old fledgling David Bowie (Johnny Flynn) is sent to America to promote his newest record, The Man Who Sold the World. Leaving behind his pregnant wife Angie (Jena Malone), Bowie and his band embark on a makeshift coast-to-coast promotional tour with struggling Mercury Records publicist Rob Oberman (Marc Maron).
Citizen Penn
Sean Penn and his team of volunteers land in Haiti just days after a 7.0 earthquake strikes. Citizen Penn chronicles the ten relentless years in which Penn and his team took over the management of the largest camp for displaced people in the country.
The Mystery of the Pink Flamingo
A square sound engineer employs unusual research efforts to reveal the secrets behind the quintessential icon of kitsch, the Pink Flamingo. His bizarre adventure will unexpectedly turn into a
creative journey to self-discovery.
Force of Habit
A film by seven directors shows us moments in women’s lives that usually remain hidden.
Thou Shalt Not Hate
A doctor of Jewish origin rescues a man who is the victim of a car accident, but when he discovers a Nazi tattoo on his chest, he leaves him to his fate.
For just £19.99 you can purchase a pass to access all the virtual films and talks. Alternatively, you can buy individual tickets for the in-person and online screenings. Visit the Raindance website for further details.
