The 34th Raindance Film Festival will take place from 17-26 June 2026.
1. Submission Deadlines
• Early deadline: Monday, 7 December 2026
• Regular deadline: Monday, 18 January 2027
• Final deadline: 8 March 2027
Early entries are encouraged, but do not guarantee acceptance.
2. Submission Format
Filmmakers must submit their films via an online screener. Please note that we do not accept subsequent cuts or more complete versions of submitted films. Our programmers will only review one version of your film.
3. Submission Eligibility
• All submissions must be completed after 1 January 2025.
• Raindance requires no public UK premiere prior to entry (private screenings are eligible).
• For the competition sections, we prioritize first- and second-time filmmakers but also consider other films for special off-competition screenings and galas.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.
• Work-in-progress and films with distribution are accepted.
4. Premiere Status
• Feature films must be at least UK premieres. They must not have been released in the UK in any format or screened publicly online.
• If, after you submit, your feature film's premiere status changes, rendering it ineligible for at least a UK premiere, please inform us immediately and withdraw your film from submissions.
• There is no premiere policy for short films.
5. Film Classification
All films screened during the Raindance Film Festival receive a blank 18 certificate from the relevant council in London. This means we cannot accept anyone under 18 during any screening of the festival. Please consider this when submitting to Raindance.
6. Submission Fee
All submissions for Raindance must be paid through the FilmFreeway platform. The submission fee is non-refundable.
7. Shipping - for selected films ONLY
If selected, your DCP should be sent to:
Raindance Film Festival
10a Craven Street
London WC2N 5PE
United Kingdom
If the film is selected for the festival, the submitting party must bear all shipping and postage costs for DCPs and additional materials sent to and returned from Raindance. Raindance will not accept Cash On Delivery shipments. Raindance will not cover any fees incurred in British customs. All charges must be pre-paid.
8. Selection of Films
Submissions are reviewed and selected based on the following criteria:
• Quality of narrative and production values.
• Independent nature of the production.
9. Notification
Raindance aims to complete all selection procedures by 16 May 2025 and inform all submitting parties in writing if their film has been selected after that date. Successful submissions will receive a Filmmaker Festival Pack that includes important information on shipping the DCP to the festival, press and publicity, guest accreditation, contact information, and how to maximize participation.
10. Festival Screenings - for selected films ONLY
Selected films MUST provide a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) for screening at the Raindance Film Festival, as well as a backup Blu-ray. The film title MUST be clearly labeled on both the DCP and Blu-ray. All foreign language films MUST include English subtitle files.
The Blu-ray will be used as a backup only. Please clearly indicate whether your film is PAL or NTSC. Our facilities do NOT support DVD, tape, 35mm, Super 16mm, 8mm, or double-head formats.
A selected DCP must be received at Raindance no later than TWENTY days before its scheduled screening date.
Our partner cinema uses pin-sharp Sony 4K Digital Cinema projection, ensuring DCP screenings look incredible. Raindance aims to provide the best projection quality possible but will not be held liable for any technical quality issues, nor will fees be refunded in such cases. Raindance assumes that the submitting filmmaker(s), entrant(s), or print source company have obtained insurance for damage and loss of the festival DCP.
11. Scheduling - for selected films ONLY
Screenings are scheduled at Raindance's discretion. While every effort will be made to adhere to the published schedule, Raindance reserves the right to make changes at any time for any reason. Raindance will not be liable for any costs claimed as a result of a schedule change. No film may be withdrawn from the festival program after selection.
12. Promotion - for selected films ONLY
Selected films must acknowledge that Raindance reserves the right to promote the films on its website and social media using both images and videos provided by you.
13. Festival Awards
Raindance Jury prizes for feature films, short films, and VR will be confirmed later.
If the film is shortlisted for a jury prize, the online screeners must be available for all jury members for the duration of the festival.
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Script Competition Guidelines:
Please read the following rules and guidelines carefully before submitting. Submissions that do not adhere to these regulations may be disqualified.
1. Writers from all countries are eligible to submit.
2. All scripts must be submitted in English, or include a full English translation. The English-language version will be used for judging purposes.
3. Raindance employees and their immediate family members are ineligible to enter the competition.
4. Scripts must be the original work of the writer(s). All writers must hold full legal ownership of the material and the right to submit it.
5. Adaptations are permitted, provided the submitting writer(s) hold the legal rights to adapt the underlying material.
6. Scripts must be unproduced at the time of submission. Scripts scheduled to enter production after the Raindance Film Festival Awards Ceremony remain eligible.
7. There is no limit to the number of scripts a writer may submit. Each submission requires a separate entry fee.
8. Resubmissions of the same material are permitted but require a new entry fee.
9. All submissions must be made electronically.
10. Scripts that placed in the top three of previous Raindance Script Competitions are not eligible for re-entry.
11. Entry fees are non-refundable once a submission has been made.
12. Written feedback is not provided unless selected and purchased at the time of submission.
13. All scripts must be submitted in PDF format and adhere to industry-standard screenplay formatting (12-point Courier font).
14. Co-written scripts are permitted. All writers must be credited at the time of submission.
Script registration (Raindance, WGA, copyright services, etc.) is recommended but not required.
15. All submission deadlines are 11:59pm GMT, without exception.
16. Series bibles or additional documents submitted alongside pilots will not be read and must not be included.
17. If a script contains graphic content or material that may be considered potentially triggering, the submitting writer must provide an appropriate content or trigger warning, either within the script or via a comment at the point of submission.
18. All judging decisions are final.
19. Prizes are awarded to the script. In the case of co-written entries, it is the responsibility of the writers to divide any prizes between themselves.
20. By submitting to the competition, writers grant Raindance permission to share their script internally with trusted industry partners for consideration purposes, regardless of whether the script is selected for the Discovery List.
21. By submitting, finalists and winners agree to the use of their name, script title, and image for promotional purposes by Raindance and its affiliates.
22. Raindance asserts no ownership or option rights over any submitted material. All rights remain with the original rights holders.
23. By entering, the submitter confirms they have obtained permission from all co-writers and any attached parties to submit the script.
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DISCLAIMER
By submitting a film to Raindance, you confirm that you are aware of no matter relating to the film, or to any individual or entity involved in its production, financing, distribution, or exploitation, which, if made public, may reasonably be expected to bring Raindance into disrepute.
Should Raindance become aware of information relating to the film or any associated individual or entity which may reasonably be considered capable of adversely affecting the reputation or integrity of Raindance, the Festival reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to withdraw, suspend, or revoke the film’s selection, screening, participation, nomination, or award status, and/or impose such conditions as it considers appropriate in the circumstances.
