About us
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
- £15.00
Live!Ammunition! Pitching Competition
Raindance Film Centre, 10 Craven Street, London, GBHave 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
## The Panelists on 19th January 2026 were:
Deborah Sheppard is a highly experienced senior film and distribution marketing executive, who started her career in advertising.
Iheartcinema was set up in 2012, to consult on a bespoke basis for independent filmmakers and distributors in the UK and overseas advising on scripts, audiences, casting, distribution and marketing/awards campaigns.
From 2007-2012, she was Marketing Director for the UK and Ireland for Paramount Pictures, and presided over a multitude of releases from festival films and local acquisitions, such as Babel, Into the Wild, Revolutionary Road, True Grit, Made In Dagenham, Killing Bono to animated favourites, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Madagascar, Rango, and Tintin, to major franchise blockbusters, including Transformers, Star Trek, Mission Impossible among others.
Prior to that, she was Marketing Director for 10 years at United International Pictures (international distribution network set up by Universal, Paramount and MGM) which included such diverse films as Tomorrow Never Dies, The Thomas Crown Affair, Inside Man, Shrek, Bridget Jones’ Diary, Love Actually, The Ring, Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-rabbit, Jarhead, United 93, The Bourne Identity, Nanny McPhee,The Rugrats Movie and many more.## Jurgen Wolff
Jurgen Wolff is a writer, teacher, and creativity consultant. In the United States, he wrote for sitcoms including Benson and Family Ties. He wrote the feature film, The Real Howard Spitz, starring Kelsey Grammer and directed by Vadim Jean. 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, which ran for 65 episodes, and an original comedy series called Krista. He also wrote nine episodes of the series, Relic Hunter. He wrote two TV movies for the Olsen Twins, and several the German TV movies including, On Top of the Volcano, starring Maria Schrader and Sebastian 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.
As a writing and creativity teacher, his courses include Beyond Brainstorming, Create Your Future, The Creative Breakthrough Workshop and the ground-breaking Script Coach Series developed exclusively for Raindance. He has presented his courses at the University of Southern California, the University of Barcelona, the Skyros Institute, many films schools, and groups and organisations including The Academy for Chief Executives, Egmont, Grundy-UFA, and Columbia-Tri-Star. For eight years he was a visiting lecturer for the Pilots Program in Sitges.
Mark Christopher Lee is a British indie filmmaker, musician, and creative visionary best known for his bold, genre-blending work in the independent film scene. A Raindance Film Festival nominee for Best Director, Lee is celebrated for his innovative storytelling and his groundbreaking UFO documentaries.
Driven by a fiercely independent spirit, he has self-distributed over 20 films, building a global network of contacts among film agents, distributors, and major streaming platforms. His dedication to DIY filmmaking has enabled his work to reach international audiences, proving that creative resilience can thrive outside the traditional studio system. Lee credits Raindance being instrumental in his creative success.
Lee is also the frontman of the cult indie band The Pocket Gods, further showcasing his commitment to pushing boundaries across both film and music.
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/1 attendee - £25.00
99 Minute Film School: Introductory Filmmaking Class
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Why come to 99 Minute Film School
About 99 Minute Film School
Of course, we can’t teach you everything there is to know about filmmaking in 99 minutes, but you’d be surprised how much you can learn about making films and the film industry in just a single evening. The 99 minute film school will run through the core essentials you will need to make a film and create a plan to launch your career, with dozens of tangible tips on everything from sourcing your film crew, marketing your film and finding work on film sets.
What will it cover?
By the end of the class, you have an introductory understanding of:
Finding a viable script
Sourcing cast and crew
Shooting tips
Getting your film seen
Social media basics for filmmakers
The career ladder
Distribution and exhibition
Money and how to get paid
Who is it for?
99 Minute Film School is suitable for people new to filmmaking, as well as those with some knowledge and experience looking to gain a better understanding of working in the film industry.
About the tutor
Elliot Grove is the founder of Raindance Film Festival and the British Independent Film Awards. He has produced over hundreds of short films and also five feature films, including the multi-award-winning The Living and the Dead in 2006. He teaches screenwriting and producing in the UK, Europe, Asia and America. Elliot has written three books which have become industry standards: Raindance Writers’ Lab: Write + Sell the Hot Screenplay, now in its second edition (Focal Press 2008), Raindance Producers’ Lab: Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking (Focal Press 2013) and 130 Projects to Get You Into Filmmaking (Barrons 2009). In 2009 he was awarded a PhD for services to film education. Elliot also teaches the Screenwriters’ Foundation Certificate, Lo-To-No Budget Filmmaking and Write and Sell the HOT Script classes at Raindance.
What they’re saying
@RobSladden
Loved the #99minutefilmschool today @Raindance really insightful and inspiring! #filmmaker #raindance #film #director
- Robert Sladden
@altonletto
Interesting insights @Raindance last night. A great crash course in how the film industry works! #99minutefilmschool
- Alton Letto
@sweet_est_pea
@elliot_grove Elliot thank you for an an exciting and enlightening 99 minute film school just now. It was really excellent
- kayvan
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