by Dr Olga Roh
The only thing better than dancing is more dancing – in the rain. Oh! Did I mention the rain? How delightfully misleading. This was a Raindancing festival, yet the rain politely took the evening off. Instead, we enjoyed a flawless night at a marvellous villa, surrounded by people who know exactly how to hold a camera and a cocktail without missing a beat.
And the best time for new beginnings? Obviously now… preferably at Villa Mystique in Cannes, among dangerously talented people with impeccable style.
Raindance Film Festival’s Villa Mystique bash with cannon was a full success – picture auteurs on the terrace, actors in vintage sunglasses pretending not to act, and one suspiciously convincing screenwriter claiming their film is “like Fellini meets Tarantino.” It was glamorous, yes. But it was also electric: here begin stories, deals are whispered, and indie dreams catch fire (possibly quite literally near the red glass rosé station).
The big news? Britain’s boldest indie film fest just got a serious upgrade. Canon Europe has been announced as the Main Sponsor for the 33rd Raindance Film Festival. That’s right – Canon and Raindance are now officially in a cinematic love affair. Expect lenses, masterclasses, and maybe even a photobooth that sees right into your auteur soul.
Elliot Grove, the godfather of grit and celluloid dreams, said it best: “In film as in life, it can be arduous without a partner, but having the wrong partner can also be challenging.” Thankfully, Canon’s the real deal – not just another camera in the speed-dating room of cinema tech.
So if you’ve got a story to tell, scribbled on a napkin or buried in a half-finished Google Doc – this is your sign. Raindance is where stories become screenplays, and screenplays become films. Or at the very least, really good party anecdotes.
See you at Vue Piccadilly in June: just look for the dazzling chaos of 65 films, a VR explosion, and a Canon Lounge full of caffeinated visionaries.
Our FabUK Magazine Highlight?
“Hullo! Braw tae meet ye!” Behold Graham McTavish, Chef de Guerre du Clan MacKenzie – a true Highland icon and unforgettable force from the global hit Outlander. He graced the Raindance Film Festival as a VIP guest, commanding the room like a battlefield general and stealing the spotlight.
Tartan met cinema, charisma met legacy. A warrior on- and off-screen, proudly wearing his tartan and Scottish charm – a match made in heaven! Some stars don’t just walk the red carpet – they command it.
Lights. Camera. Canon. And… Raindance. And repeat!