Going to the cinema is expensive. Our aim is to break financial barriers and enable people from every background in London to enjoy the Festival. 

The arts contribute to mental wellbeing. A good story stops us from feeling alone. 

This campaign offers free tickets to those most deserving of them. By making a simple donation, you will enable someone to experience Raindance Film Festival.

Our goal and why we need you 

Two hundred Raindance tickets only cost £4,000. We will distribute these to charities working across London with the following groups:

• The LGBTQI+ community
• Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Older people suffering from isolation and loneliness
• BIPOC communities 
• Refugees

Raindance believes these groups should be included in the arts. Your donation will enable them to attend the Festival. The benefit is three-fold:

• People who might not otherwise afford it will be able to go to the cinema
• Raindance will build long-term relationships with these charities to continue valuable partnerships
• Anyone can help Raindance. Even £10 covers the cost of a film ticket at Genesis cinema and a return tube journey for one person. 

Below you can find information on the charities we are partnering with to achieve our goal.

Mission statement 

Culture should be accessible to everyone. The arts contribute to mental wellbeing and give people a place to engage with topics that matter to them. 

Although London is an incredibly artistically rich city with a range of creative activities, going to the cinema is expensive. There are several marginalised communities who, for many reasons, do not have access to the arts and are consequently excluded. 

Raindance Film Festival is the UK's largest independent film festival. Since 1993, we have provided a platform for independent filmmakers worldwide to showcase their work. We are officially recognised by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences USA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the British Independent Film Awards. 

This year, the Festival will take place from 27th October to the 6th November. We are in cinemas across London with a cutting-edge programme from the finest talent in indie filmmaking.

Our film strands include:

• Queer strand - films focusing on stories from the LGBTQ+ community

         Girl Like You, Against the Current

• Female Gaze strand - centering on female-identifying individuals and filmmakers

         Subjects of Desire, My Sunny Maad 

• Politico strand - stories focusing on current topical issues such as climate change and immigration

         Youth Vs Gov, Hostile 

Raindance cinemas are: Curzon Soho, Curzon Hoxton, Bertha DocHouse and Genesis. 

Who your donation will be supporting

The Cares Family - a charity that helps older and younger neighbours to reduce loneliness together, so they can feel part of a changing world rather than left behind by it

London Friend - London Friend is the UK’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans charity. We are here to support the health and mental wellbeing of the LGBT community in and around London.

Micro Rainbow - Micro Rainbow’s vision is to create a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people are free from discrimination, persecution and have equal opportunities in life

Octavia Foundation Kensington  - Octavia supports people affected by ill health, social isolation, low income or unemployment in central and west London.

Outcome - Islington Mind  - A client-led LGBTQ+ service that is one of the few LGBT mental health services in London

Outing in Arts Plus  - The aim of OiAPlus is to reduce loneliness and social isolation within LGBTQI+ community through shared cultural events and experiences. 

Total Arts - a fortnightly participation group for disabled young people aged 13-25. It offers opportunities to participate in exciting arts activities with professional artists.