FESTIVALS

RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL
1st – 12th October 2008

The Raindance Film Festival is the UK's largest independent film festival. It was established in 1992 by Elliot Grove to extend the normal film school activities of Raindance and to celebrate and support independent filmmaking - it runs in the autumn each year in London's West End and always features an eclectic mix of genres with films from all over the world. Raindance does indeed allow various submissions to it from outside writers and filmmakers, one if its most famous aspects. In addition, the good news is you do not need an agent.

Submissions are closed for this year, but that’s good because you can go this year and see just what it’s all about in time to prepare some great stuff for next years festival.

THE TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL
4th – 13th September 2008

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Between 300-400 films are screened at approximately 23 screens in downtown Toronto venues. Annual attendance at TIFF exceeds 300,000 from public and industry audiences. The festival is centered on the Yorkville, Toronto neighborhood, a part of town with several luxury hotels and movie theatres. Although the Festival has begun to give more attention to mainstream Hollywood films, it still maintains its independent roots. It features retrospectives of national cinemas and individual directors, highlights of Canadian cinema, and a variety of African, South American, and Asian films.

THE 65TH VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
27th August – 6th September 2008

The 65th Venice International Film Festival, organised by the Venice Biennale. The aim of the Festival is to encourage the awareness and the promotion of all the various aspects of international cinema as art, entertainment and industry, in a spirit of freedom and tolerance. Marco Müller will be the director of the upcoming edition, continuing the work he began in 2004. Screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema on the Lungomare Marconi.

It is one of the world's most prestigious film festivals and is part of the Venice Biennale, a major biennial exhibition and festival for contemporary art. The film festival will open with the Coen brother's Burn After Reading.