RAINDANCE FESTIVAL 2009

On Wednesday  2nd September  Raindance film festival announce it’s 2009 programme. Now in its 17th year this is the UK’s top Independant Film Festival that showcases the best directoral debut  film shorts and showcases from around the globe,. Raindance  also hosts a number Q&A sessions, masterclasses and live performances with Billy Bragg and Wayne Kramer of MC5  2 confirmed artists, this has more of a rock’n’ roll suave to it than your average film festival.

There will be 75 features along with over 150 short movies and the opening night movie will be the American indie Bromance HUMPDAY directed and written by Lynn Shelton who will also be in attendance.  They festival highlights include THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE starring ex-porn star Sasha Gray as a high class call girl, From the reviews from USA many are calling this Steve Soderbergh most accomplished Indie flick in many years. Other movies on show are Homegrown talents from Jamie Thrave’s THE CRY OF THE OWL of a man who moves from his trouble in the big city and falls in love with a local girl only to see her previous boyfriend die, stars Julie Stiles (Bourne Trilogy) and Paddy consindine. There will also be a first look at Ben Wheatley’s DOWN TERRACE which stars  Spaced/Shaun of the Dead star Julia Deakin, if you missed it at the Frightfest you’ll even have a chance to see COLIN, the zombie flick that only cost £45!

Documentary lovers you will not be forgotten as there’s a wide selection of great documentaries to get your teeth into. UNTIL THE LIGHT TAKE US which is all about a Norweigan Black Metal band, this film went down a storm with the metal/rock press. PLAYING COLUMBINE which chronicles a game based on the Columbine school massacre and follows the protest of the game.  Who said been a hollywood actor and getting break was easy? MY BIG BREAK follows 5 friends staying together and shows the effects of fame has on them as as there attempts to break into the higher regions of hollywood stardom.

Along with all the features and shorts from the local and worldwide talent has to offer there will be a special focus on Japanese movies and especially movies directed by women. Sachi Hamano’s awarding winning LILY FESTIVAL , Momoko Ando’s directoral  debut KAKERA, LOVE EXPOSURE by Sion Sono, HOTARU by Naomi Kawase are just a few of the highlights.

Along with Momoko Ando on the panel Sitting on this year’s stellar jury is: Riz Ahmed (Shifty, The Road To Guantanamo), writer/director Armando Iannucci (The Day Today, I’m Alan Partridge, In The Loop), Peter Bradshaw, film critic, The Guardian; actress Kerry Fox (Bright Star, Shallow Grave), Billy Childish: artist, musician, poet, writer, filmmaker; Christine Langan, Creative Director, BBC Films; writer and documentary filmmaker Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats, Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes), Jamie Graham – Deputy Editor, Total Film; Julia Brown – Commercial Director, Apollo Cinemas; Producer Andy Williams and legendary musician/actor Tom Waits.

For the list of confirmed features as of 01.09.09

Raindance has always publicised its self as an edgy exciting Film Festival and this year the certainly are. This years tv advert was banned by the BBFC for “bringing advertising into disrepute”, nice! watch the trailer >>>>>>>>>>>

This year’s festival see’s the launch of RAINDANCE FILM  CAFE the creative hub in the basement of Vinyl Factory/Phonica Records. A great Place network, meet friends, drink, network and talk about independant cinema, a nice little base. All the majority of the movie will be screened at APOLLO WEST END in lowere Regent Street, London opening on September 30th with Humpday and closing the festival with award winners been announced before the screening of Girlfriend Experience.

For the full Festival programme and updates  please go to www.raindance.co.uk

Tickets can be booked online at www.raindance.co.uk or by telephone on: 0871 220 6000 from mid September.

Raindance.tv will host further exclusive material via www.raindance.tv with trailers and filmmaker interviews.

I will try post some shorts, trailers or any relevent information this week or next (will probably be on main page and Festivals page).