Raindance New York

10/26/2026

Got a scary story to tell? A twist nobody will see coming? The Raindance Halloween Short Film Competition ends tomorrow.

⏳ The clock is ticking… send us your most unexpected twist 🩸

Enter now:

Our horror challenge is back, and we’re ready to shake things up with a sixty second film: “An Unexpected Twist”.

10/24/2026

Raindance’s Halloween Short Film Competition ends in 3 days, and we want to see your most creative, creepy and unexpected twists!

👻 The challenge: Create an original horror short film in just 60 seconds
🏆 The prize: A free Raindance Film Festival pass and a screening of your film at Raindance 2027
⏰ Deadline: 27 October 2026

Find out more:

Our horror challenge is back, and we’re ready to shake things up with a sixty second film: “An Unexpected Twist”.

10/23/2026

Most people don’t fail in film because they lack talent. They fail because they don’t know what to do next.

The 99 Minute Film School is your entry point into the creative industry. Learn everything you need to get your film seen, marketed and distributed.

📍Tues, 3 Nov, 19:00-20:30 GMT in person or live online.

Book now:

99 Minute Film School runs through core essentials you will need to make a film. Create a strategic plan to launch your filmmaking career

10/22/2026

Ready to bring your creative vision to life?

Great cinematography is about more than just pointing a camera. It’s about mastering light, composition and the visual language of film. Explore lighting, lenses, framing, exposure and more, with practical, hands-on experience.

📍Starts 27 Oct in person in London

Book now:

Cinematography Part 1 - Learn the fundamentals of cinematography under the guidance of a pro cinematographer with 30 years experience at Raindance London.

10/21/2026

Contained horror is nothing new. Take one location, a small cast and a situation that gets worse every time somebody tries to fix it. Suddenly, your limited resources become part of the storytelling.

The audience doesn’t care how many trucks you hired. They care what’s behind that locked door and whether your character is foolish enough to open it.

Read more about why contained horror is the smartest first feature strategy:

I’ve met filmmakers with a first feature script they can’t afford to shoot. Contained horror is simply, a bright first feature choice.

10/20/2026

One more week till our horror short film competition closes! 🕷️

If you've got a scary idea lurking in the back of your mind, then this is your chance to unleash your scariest 60 second stories with An Unexpected Twist.

⏰ Submissions close on 27 Oct 2026:

Our horror challenge is back, and we’re ready to shake things up with a sixty second film: “An Unexpected Twist”.

10/19/2026

Presenting the longlist for the BIFA Raindance Maverick Award 2026 🩷

The Raindance Maverick Award champions filmmakers with the nerve to follow their own instincts and the determination to get their films made. This BIFA longlist celebrates that independent spirit. Congratulations to every longlisted filmmaker: you remind us why discovering new voices matters.

Full longlist:
ACT 3
AT NIGHT
CHATLINES
CONSCIOUS
EVERYBODY TO KENMURE STREET
MASC
MISPER
MORE LIFE
THE PERIL AT PINCER POINT
SNAPSHOT
SOMETHING FAMILIAR
SUNLIGHT
TOMORROW'S TOO LATE
ULTIMATE THUNDER
WE, THE HATED

The nominations will be announced on Tuesday, 3 Nov. Winners will be revealed at the BIFA ceremony on Sunday, 6 Dec.

10/18/2026

Horror will always be indie. In this article, Elliot Grove discusses why horror is the best genre for independent filmmakers, keeping it low budget and easy to market.

Read the full article: https://elliotgrove.substack.com/p/why-horror-has-always-been-the-best?utm_source=publication-search

10/16/2026

We are proud to announce Raindance Vertical, the UK’s first major vertical festival and market.

The one-day festival and financing market for Vertical Short Films and Vertical Series will take place on 4 Dec in London.

Raindance Vertical celebrates bold, original storytelling created for the vertical screen. We welcome filmmakers from around the world who are exploring the creative possibilities of vertical filmmaking, from standalone short films to episodic storytelling.

💙 Submissions are now open via FilmFreeway: https://filmfreeway.com/raindancevertical

10/14/2026

If you want to make a good looking film, then you need to understand the basics of cinematography.

In Hands-on Cinematography Masterclass Part 1 you will learn how to successfully transfer the visuals of the film from your head onto the screen using lighting, lenses, filters, framing and much more.

📍Starts Tues, 27 Oct, in person at EC1R 0AZ

Book now:

Cinematography Part 1 - Learn the fundamentals of cinematography under the guidance of a pro cinematographer with 30 years experience at Raindance London.