Raindance

Raindance was founded in 1992 by Elliot Grove, a Canadian-born filmmaker and educator who moved to London and established the organization as both a film festival and training school dedicated to independent cinema. Over more than three decades, Raindance has grown into the UK's largest independent film festival and one of Europe's most respected film training organizations, with a mission encapsulated in its tagline: 'We don't teach filmmaking. We make filmmakers.' The festival has served as a launchpad for some of the most significant independent filmmaking careers of the past 30 years — Christopher Nolan premiered 'Memento' at Raindance in 2000 and later received the organization's Filmmaker in Residence Award, while other alumni include Guy Ritchie (2017 Auteur Award recipient) and numerous filmmakers who went on to festival success at Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto. Raindance also founded the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), one of the UK's most prestigious film awards ceremonies, further cementing its central role in the British independent film ecosystem. The organization now operates through 10 international hubs and offers accredited degree programs through DeMontfort University alongside its short course catalog.

In 2025, Raindance offers a comprehensive range of training options spanning short courses, workshops, and accredited degree programs in filmmaking, screenwriting, and acting — delivered both in-person at its London headquarters and online to a global student body. The acting-specific course catalog covers screen acting fundamentals, audition technique for film and television, working with directors, understanding the filmmaking process from an actor's perspective, and the specific performance demands of independent cinema where budgets are tight and creative collaboration is intensive. Broader courses in directing, screenwriting, producing, and cinematography are equally valuable for actors who want to understand the collaborative nature of film production — knowing how directors think, how editors shape performances, how screenwriters construct scenes, and how producers make casting decisions provides a professional advantage that actor-only training programs cannot match. Raindance's accredited programs include an MA in Filmmaking and an MA in Screenwriting (both validated by DeMontfort University), alongside HND programs and the popular '99 Minute Film School' intensive taught by founder Elliot Grove himself. The organization's deep connections to the independent film industry mean that training is continuously informed by current market conditions, festival trends, and the evolving landscape of independent film distribution.

Getting started with Raindance involves browsing the course catalog on raindance.org and selecting from short courses, intensive workshops, or longer programs based on your goals and budget. Short courses and workshops are available for immediate enrollment without prerequisites or auditions — you can sign up online, pay the course fee, and begin attending classes either in person in London or through the online delivery platform. Online courses are conducted through live virtual sessions that maintain interactive elements including group exercises, scene work, and instructor feedback, rather than passive pre-recorded videos. For the accredited degree programs (MA in Filmmaking at £11,950 for UK students or £14,950 for international students, MA in Screenwriting at similar pricing), formal application and admission processes apply, with UK students eligible for Student Finance England support. Evening and weekend scheduling options are available for many courses, designed to accommodate working professionals who cannot attend during standard business hours. Raindance also offers its '99 Minute Film School' as a condensed introductory experience that provides a rapid overview of independent filmmaking fundamentals.

The Raindance educational experience is distinguished by its immersion in the independent filmmaking world rather than the institutional academic environment of traditional drama schools. Courses are taught by working industry professionals — directors, producers, casting directors, editors, and actors who are actively making films and can speak to current market conditions, creative trends, and practical realities. The acting courses emphasize the specific demands of screen performance in independent productions: working with limited takes, adapting to practical locations, collaborating closely with directors who may have less experience guiding actors than studio filmmakers, and delivering truthful performances under the time and budget constraints that define indie filmmaking. The broader filmmaking courses give actors an invaluable understanding of the production process that transforms them from passive participants in the filmmaking machine into informed collaborators who understand camera angles, lighting setups, editing rhythms, and the technical language that directors and crew use on set. Raindance's festival connections create opportunities for students to attend screenings, industry events, and networking functions where they can connect with filmmakers, producers, and fellow actors — these connections often lead to casting opportunities in independent productions.

Raindance's student body is notably diverse in both geography and career stage — the organization attracts aspiring filmmakers and actors from across the UK and Europe, established professionals seeking to expand their skills into new areas, career changers exploring creative fields, and international students drawn by Raindance's global reputation and the opportunity to connect with the UK and European film industries. For actors specifically, the students tend to be those who recognize that understanding the broader filmmaking process makes them more effective and employable performers — these are actors who want to collaborate with independent filmmakers, potentially produce their own content, or simply develop the comprehensive industry knowledge that distinguishes a working professional from a trained performer. The festival connection means that Raindance students and alumni circulate within the independent film community at a level that most training programs cannot facilitate — attending festival events, connecting with filmmakers whose work is being screened, and building relationships that can lead to roles in upcoming productions. Notable festival alumni and award recipients span three decades of independent British cinema.

Raindance's pricing structure spans a wide range depending on the program type and duration. Short courses and workshops typically range from £50 to £300, making them accessible entry points for actors who want to explore independent filmmaking education without a major financial commitment. The '99 Minute Film School' intensive is priced at the lower end of this range and provides a concentrated overview suitable for beginners or those evaluating whether Raindance's approach aligns with their goals. Multi-week courses and intensive programs fall in the £200 to £500 range. The accredited degree programs represent a significantly larger investment — the MA in Filmmaking and MA in Screenwriting are both priced at £11,950 for UK students and £14,950 for international students, with payment plans available and UK students eligible for government student finance. Compared to traditional UK drama school fees (which can exceed £20,000 per year for full-time programs), Raindance's short course pricing offers exceptional value for targeted skill development, while the MA programs are competitively priced against comparable postgraduate courses at other UK institutions.

Raindance is an excellent choice for actors who are interested in independent filmmaking, want to understand the complete production process, or are targeting the UK and European film markets. If you plan to work with independent filmmakers, produce your own content, or collaborate on projects where everyone wears multiple hats, Raindance's holistic filmmaking education will serve you far better than additional acting-only training. Start with a short course or workshop to evaluate the teaching approach and instructor quality before committing to a longer program. If your primary need is core acting craft development — technique, emotional range, scene study — you should prioritize dedicated acting training from conservatory programs or acting-focused platforms and use Raindance to supplement with filmmaking knowledge. For actors based in London, the in-person experience is strongly recommended over online delivery due to the networking and community benefits. If you are an international student considering the accredited MA programs, carefully evaluate whether the investment is justified by your career goals and the relevance of UK industry connections to your target market.

Start with the '99 Minute Film School' or a single short workshop before investing in longer courses — these low-cost entry points let you experience Raindance's teaching philosophy and assess instructor quality with minimal financial risk. Take at least one course outside your primary discipline — if you are an actor, enroll in a directing or screenwriting workshop to develop the cross-disciplinary understanding that distinguishes informed collaborators from passive performers on set. Attend Raindance Film Festival events whenever possible, even if you are only enrolled in a short course — the festival is where the organization's industry connections become tangible, and the screenings, panels, and networking events create opportunities to meet filmmakers, producers, and fellow actors working in independent cinema. Ask instructors about upcoming independent productions that might be casting — Raindance's network of filmmakers is constantly developing new projects, and personal connections made through training can lead to audition opportunities that never appear on conventional casting platforms. If you are considering the accredited MA programs, request to audit or observe a class session before applying to ensure the program's approach and pace align with your learning style and career goals.