What we’re about
Calling all independent filmmakers and film lovers! Raindance's Boozin' & Schmoozin' is a monthly meetup for those who make films and love films - whether it's your career or your hobby; whether you're thinking about making your first or you've made 20; whether you're a director, writer, producer, actor, cinematographer, production designer, composer, film blogger, gaffer, best boy, first AD, runner, editor, Netflix addict, camera person or student - you're welcome at Raindance! Come along to find your next collaborators, volunteer your services for some set time, get tips and advice, or just to chat film with other passionate film buffs.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Live! Ammunition! Pitching CompetitionRaindance Film Centre, London£15.00
Have you got a great idea for a movie?
The Live!Ammunition! pitching competition returns to Raindance.
Your chance to pitch your movie idea directly to a panel of film industry executives and the toughest critics of all, a Live Audience.
The people on our Panel are the people who matter. They decide what gets made.
Pitching skills are the one skill often overlooked by writers, directors and producers. Learn how it’s done by watching the rest. Hone your pitching skills by getting instant feedback. Your pitch could be taken up by one of our panel. Past Pitches that have gone into production include Meet The Parents (1994), 51st State (1995), Siamese Cop (1996) and White Bhaji (2001).
Registrations to pitch are taken on a first come, first served basis in reply to an email which will be sent at a predetermined time on the day of the event. There are twenty places guaranteed to pitch. Once the first 20 places have been filled we will keep a waiting list.
The demand to pitch is high and admission does not guarantee you a slot to pitch. However, we will accommodate as many pitches as possible and if you’re on the waiting list this does not necessarily mean you won’t get the opportunity.
Not ready to pitch? Then just come, watch, learn and network.
*Verbal pitches only, no visuals
*Panelists subject to change
## Panellists include:
Jurgen Wolff is a writer, teacher, and creativity consultant. He wrote for sitcoms including Benson and Family Ties. He wrote the feature film, The Real Howard Spitz. He was a script doctor on the hit film, Mannequin and others starring Michael Caine, Walter Matthau, and Eddie Murphy. For Germany, he co-created the comedy series, Lukas, and an original comedy series called Krista. He wrote nine episodes of the series, Relic Hunter. He wrote two TV movies for the Olsen Twins, and several German TV movies including, On Top of the Volcano, and Koch (2007). His play, Killing Mother, was produced at the Gorky Theatre in Berlin, and he’s also had plays produced in New York, Los Angeles, and London.
He has written for many publications including the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Broadcast Magazine, and he is the editor of
Brainstorm, the creativity ebulletin.
Charles Dean is Development Executive for Raindance.
Charlie has a deep-rooted love for the world of film and has experience working closely with filmmakers, production teams, and industry professionals.
Kira-Anne Pelican has with 25 years experience working in the British, American and Chinese film and TV industries. She has written The Science of Writing Characters: Using Psychology to Create Compelling Fictional Characters.
Kira-Anne began her career assisting director Stanley Kubrick in the production of Eyes Wide Shut (1999). After assisting in the production of The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), Catwoman (2004) and The Ladykillers (2004), Kira-Anne retrained in screenwriting at UCLA. She wrote two original TV series which were developed by the BBC and ITV. In 2006 she founded her screenplay consultancy.
Few have worked on more movies than veteran Storyboard, Illustrator and Concept Artist, Brian McGee.
Brian was accepted into New York’s High School of Art & Design, then continued his education at the School of Visual Arts in New York. In 1996, Brian was hired as a character artist by the Walt Disney Company.
Brian has a stellar 25 year plus resume working within the film, television and entertainment industry.
Sonita Gale's debut feature documentary as director, HOSTILE, is an award-winning and BAFTA and BIFA-longlisted film. Hostile has screened across the country at Picturehouse and independent cinemas, and has been selected for a number of international film festivals. In 2021, the film debuted at Raindance Film Festival.
Since then, Hostile was a finalist in the 2022 Melbourne Documentary Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 2022 British Urban Film Festival. The film won Best Documentary Feature at the 2021 South London Film Festival, at Filmocracy Fest 2022 and the Roxbury International Film Festival 2022.
Instagram and Twitter: @hostiledoc
Tickets available for upcoming screenings and Q&As at www.hostiledocumentary.com/tickets
An NFTS graduate, Eleonora Pesci is a film distribution executive currently working as Acquisitions Manager at Curzon Film (Triangle of Sadness, The Quiet Girl, Flee, Parasite).
Additional resources:
Pitching essentials for screenwriters and filmmakers
https://www.raindance.org/pitching-essentials-for-filmmakers-and-screenwriters/
Did you know?
Raindance members attend this event for FREE? Join online here
https://www.raindance.org/membership/
- How to Fund Your FilmRaindance Film Centre, London£29.99
Learn about the financing tools that experienced filmmakers and film producers use. Ask questions and learn how to use these powerful tools to fund your film.
When you have finally got your script together, the challenge is to get the money. Right?
Wrong!
Funding your film can start when you have a great idea for a film. As you develop the idea and learn how to approach both top public funders and top private investors you can develop your film funding package even BEFORE your script is written.
This class focuses on two of the most obvious and least understood primary routes independent filmmakers use to fund films.
## Filmmaking Co-Production
Navigate the landscape of international co-production through government subsidised tax initiatives or international production companies.
- how to find the right co-production partner
- which countries offer best opportunities for co-pros
- which projects are best suited for co-pros and how to manufacture them
## Government grants and tax rebates
Alternative ways to fund a project through government grants, tax rebates and subsidization
- understand the complex nuances of the grant application process
- find out which regions offer the best perks
- know who to team up with to increase your odds of getting a grant
## Who should attend
Filmmakers and screenwriters interested in securing production finance.
## What they are saying
This class gets five star reviews in Ali Mashayekhi’s home in Toronto. This is the very first time that this class has been presented in Europe. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet one of North America’s most happening young producers.
## Your host is Ali Mashayekhi
Ali is the president of Landed Entertainments, a Canadian based film production company. Ali has produced over 90 films around the world since 2003 including; Japan, Indonesia, USA, Netherlands and France.
Ali is also the Executive Director of the Ethnically Diverse Artists (EDA) Foundation, a non-profit and charitable organization founded by Mena Massoud (Aladdin), which aims to inspire inclusivity and diversity in the arts. Ali is also an ambassador for Inara, a non-profit charity that helps war wounded children around the world, created by former CNN’s Senior International correspondent Arwa Damon.
Ali just finished a Stephen King short story adaptation based on Sherlock Holmes, The Last King, entirely in the Farsi language. This Farsi adaptation stars Maz Jobrani (A Simple Wedding), Navid Negahban (Homeland) and Shiva Negar (American Assassin). Most recently, Ali is the Executive Producer on a Crave TV travel food series (Evolving Vegan) and produced a horror feature film starring Raindance alumni, Cristo Fernandez (Ted Lasso).
## With Gillian Fortin
Gillian Fortin is a multi-award winning producer, grant writer and screenwriter at Landed Entertainments Inc. She has been producing for over 5 years and has collaborated on over 15 projects across North America including the first ever Iranian adaptation of a Stephen King screenplay in Los Angeles called The Last King.
Gillian is developing a crime-drama feature entitled Snow by writer/director Peter Sreckovic (Hot Local Singles Are In Your Area) starring Ramona Milano (Degrassi the Next Generation) and Matt Murray (Snow Piercer). Gillian is also a writer. Her first screenplay The Overkill (2022) was filmed in the fall of 2021.
Gillian's latest screenplay called Fathers Paradox is a feminist sci-fi that explores the world of women and AI relationships. Gillian also wrote, produced and starred in her directorial debut film Portrait of Consumption which is a societal critique on the effects of social media expressed in the style of a silent film.
Gillian will be taking a leading role as a producer on a sci-fi feature screenplay expected to begin pre-production in early 2024.
## And with Zeus Kontoyannis
Zeus Kontoyannis is a producer and writer with more than a decade of experience in the film industry. He’s worked at Cinetic Media on the Banksy documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” and continued his career under veteran Hollywood and Broadway producer Scott Rudin, working on films including “The Social Network,” “True Grit,” “The Dictator,” “Moonrise Kingdom,” and the original theatre production of “Book of Mormon.” He has also worked on projects produced by Terry Leonard, Mynette Louie, Peter Berg, and Academy Award Winning director Ross Kauffman.
