Raindance secures new partners

The BFI, Telegraph Media Group and The May Fair Hotel have become partners of the Raindance Film Festival (Sept 24 – Oct 5) for its 22nd edition.

The BFI will back the festival through its Film Festival Fund; The May Fair Hotel will host the event’s awards ceremony, and The Telegraph will host Raindance content on its website.

Raindance, which will open with Mike Cahill’s Sundance title I Origins, will continue its collaboration with cinema chain Vue, with opening and closing films showing at Vue West End and other screenings at Vue Piccadilly.

Elliot Grove, Raindance founder, commented: “Raindance seeks to support and celebrate the work of independent, new and alternative filmmakers - giving audiences the chance to discover something new and filmmakers the opportunity to be discovered.

“It’s great to have the backing of the BFI, Telegraph Media Group and The May Fair Hotel to help us continue to achieve this.”

Sarah-Jane Meredith, UK wide manager, BFI said: “The panel supported Raindance for a number of reasons, not least its commitment to celebrating the best of British film and independent film-making from around the world, programming screenings which are enjoyed by a growing numbers of audiences year on year, from right across the UK.

Judith West, director of partnerships, Edwardian Group, London added: “The May Fair Hotel has the film industry in its DNA , having been formerly owned by the founders of the famous New Elstree Studios. Today, The May Fair is still synonymous with the film and entertainment industry.

“Proud to hold the status of Official Hotel of the BFI’s London Film Festival and be the host to many major London film premieres, it was a natural progression for us to support the Raindance Film Festival, based as it is in the heart of London and dedicated to fostering and promoting the independent film industry, which we proudly do for the first time in 2014.”