Fostering, promoting and celebrating independent filmmaking in the UK
Supporting the British Independent Film Awards and the Raindance Film Festival

"Raindance Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards make a unique and very special contribution to independent film in the UK. They should be taken extremely seriously."

Mike Leigh
Director - Topsy Turvy, Secrets and Lies, Naked

"We have in the UK so many talented, established and perhaps most importantly emerging young filmmakers. It is towards the latter that the Independent Film Trust is perhaps of most use. It is the independent sector on which we all need to concentrate and, therefore, I wish the IFT every possible success and I offer them my full support."

David Suchet
Actor - The Queen, The Bank Job, Flood, Maxwell, Agatha Christie’s Poirot  

“I am sure that Raindance Training scholarships will benefit those lucky enough to receive one. The festival and the independent film awards have established themselves as an important part of the film year and I hope this training scheme is equally successful. It’s always good to learn from the mistakes of the old guard!”

Ken Loach
Director - The Wind that Shakes the Barley, Sweet Sixteen, My Name is Joe

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BIFA Patrons:
Mike Figgis, Tom Hollander, Adrian Lester, Ken Loach, Ewan McGregor, Samantha Morton, Bill Nighy, Trudie Styler, Tilda Swinton, Meera Syal, Ray Winstone, Michael Winterbottom

Raindance Film Festival Patrons:
Nick Broomfield, Jonathan Caouette, Henrik Danstrup, Mike Figgis, Terry Gilliam, Ken Loach, Dave McKean, Martin Myers, Alan Parker, Jonathan Pryce, Marky Ramone, Vanessa Redgrave, Mark Shivas