Raindance Film Festival 2021
FOR THOSE WITH AN INTEREST IN FILM – A SATURN HERALD ANNOUNCEMENT.
Raindance accepts feature films (over 45 minutes) short films (Under 45 mins) music videos (under 6 minutes) 360/180 films and VR/AR/MR experiences (6 Dof interactive or linear, CG or live action (under 120 min) and web series.
Concluded with the UK Premiere of Horror – Musical- “Medusa” by Brazilian DIRECTOR Anita Rocha da Silveira accompanied by drag shows and a “party like there’s no tomorrow” on 6 Novmber.
Screened across London including The Curzon Soho,Hoxton and Mayfair, Genesis Regent Street Cinema and the Bertha Doc House.
Closing Day of the 29th Raindance Film Festival London.
Independent film covers many genres, many cultures and a huge array of techniques at telling each individual’s chosen story with a cast of enchanting, mesmerising or even frightening characters. Independent filmmakers can make a name for themselves at Raindance and have people judge and then view their films. I personally hope, having viewed some truly enchanting and engrossing films covering documentaries on subjects that affect us all to see them come to our television screens with due remuneration to the brains and people behind them. As a writer I have a note in my notebook to find out where some of these wonderful films can be seen in future by a wider audience.
FEATURE NOMINEES
A Bird Flew In
Examines dynamics caused by Covid to cast and crew of a feature film
The Drowning of Arthur Braxton
Enchanted water house – fact combined with fiction. Love involved.
In The Mirror
Stepmother who is nasty involved in this story. Compared with the legend of Snow White in part.
Medusa
The final film of the festival shown on 6/1/21. The UK Premiere of this horror musical, comedy. Medusa by Brazilian director Anita Rocha da Silveira accompanied by drag shows and a “party like there is no tomorrow” on 6 November 2021.
My Sunny Maad
A Czech woman marries an Afghan man and the story shows the differences in cultures which ensue when she lives with him in Kabul.
Soros
Billionaire activist George Soros is one of the most influential and controversial figures of our time. With unprecedented access to the man and his inner circle, American director Jesse Dylan follows Soros across the globe and pulls back the curtain on his personal history, private, wealth and public activism.
As Far as I Know
After the wife in a newly married couple is raped by a stranger, this story examines the aftermath of its effect on them both.
The Hill Where Lionesses Roar
Ask more about Virtual Reality films which will be shown until 21 November. Contact Raindance.
Listen
Drama about social services getting involved with a Portuguese couple who have a deaf daughter.
Miguel’s War
Lebanese gay man struggles to find love and return to his home from exile in Spain.
Shadow
Child Trafficking and sexual abuse in this story of a child’s disappearance. Viewer discretion advised.
White Noise
Revolves around racism in America. “Populist and racist ideologies are refined and weaponised”.
SOME OF THE SHORT FILMS AT 29TH RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL LONDON 6 NOV 2021
On 6th November 2021 at The Curzon Soho there was a long sitting from 2.30 pm onwards of very many shorts which have won their way into the festival for their fiestyness, love story value, transgender addresses, gay rights issues, details of skills in dancing and music as well as erotic and eyebrow raising passion. You need to contact the company of Raindance if you want to see any of these films which provided an alternative to watching non independent films at oh so many cinemas which permeate the show.
Here is a short selection of what I saw…. enjoy….
BABA
A young gay man in Tripoli Libya yearns to get freedom in England allowed there for his gayness. An entrancing story with no really positive ending but awesome drama and acting. Loads of intrigue.
BETTER
A worrying story about Max – a transgender schoolboy who is bullied as he seems to want to do girly things with his life. Mother and Granny want to see Max sorted though they don’t agree on the way forward. Upsetting in one way but we know it goes on so watch it. Nice for some of us to know that mother and daughter don’t agree. We don’t all have “perfect parents” do we?
FRANKIE
Frankie, days after coming out as a non binary trans person, crashes their ex-partner’s men only Twelve Steps meeting. We are, I believe, intentionally led on a tortuous path about the gender identity of Frankie and her or his ultimate goal in being at the meeting. This story could develop into a feature and make a lovely story. Who knows? Anybody out there taking notice?
CHOCOLATE MIX
A rather upsetting story about a girl with darker skin colour than her two gay mothers wanting to morph them both into her skin colour thinking that drinking chocolate milkshakes would help. Surprising that neither mother, both cajoled by their adopted black daughter Tisha, do not volunteer to put on a bit of nice strong fake tan. Gay background to two ladies with adopted girl. Handled in a light hearted and quite sensitive manner.
I AM LOVE
A lovely little story about talented musicians and love triangle involving both men and women…peppered by the genius of learning specialised classical instruments.
THE COST OF LIVING
A dark and devious dramatic story with loads of stage make up and attempted and achieved seductions…see if you like it and whether it appeals to you. Strong gay implications with a nubile blonde lady being seduced by a devilishly made and dressed up other who is also female.
SPLIT SOLE
Two guys from a rough background in a council estate learn how to get closer through dance moves but not without being targeted. Enjoy.
THE NIGHT MANIFESTO
A four part ecstatically fun piece of film shadowing the alternative life and nightstyle of super glamorous and liberated individuals who want o express their identity in any way they see fit. The costumes are mind bendingly awesome…some people behind the scenes must have been working overtime to complete and make them. A must see. Groovy!!
IMPERFECTLY COMPLETE
Lucy and Owen are the perfect couple. Owen is blind but writes songs and plays guitar. Lucy films him and also tends to all his needs. Owen is offered an operation to cure his blindness. Lucy knows he will be shocked to discover she is transgender. What a heart rending story to see how they both come together over Lucy’s situation rather than Owen’s. A foreign film. USA and Myanmar. 14 mins.
All films reviewed on this article are shorts. Please get in touch with Raindance in London for more details.
ENJOY.
PENNY NAIR PRICE.