Raindance Film Festival Sets June Dates with Sci-Fi Thriller and Gorillaz Short to Open
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The 34th Raindance Film Festival will run in London from June 17 to 26, opening with the U.K. premiere of the sci-fi thriller 'April X'. The opening night will also feature an exclusive screening of a new Gorillaz animated short. The festival will close with the European premiere of a documentary about rock and roll icon Eddie Cochran, who will receive a posthumous Raindance Icon Award.
Facts First
- The festival runs from June 17 to 26 in London.
- Opens with the U.K. premiere of sci-fi thriller 'April X', starring Connor Storrie and Lilly Krug.
- Opening night includes an exclusive Gorillaz animated short directed by Jamie Hewlett and others.
- Closes with the European premiere of 'Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me', the first official biography of the rock and roll icon.
- Eddie Cochran will receive a posthumous Raindance Icon Award; his trophies are displayed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
What Happened
The 34th Raindance Film Festival is scheduled for June 17–26 in London. It will open with the U.K. premiere of Michel K. Parandi’s sci-fi thriller 'April X', which stars Connor Storrie and Lilly Krug as twins. The opening night event at Vue West End in Leicester Square will also feature the first festival screening of the Gorillaz animated short 'The Mountain, the Moon Cave and the Sad God'. The festival will close with the European premiere of Kirsty Bell’s documentary 'Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me', produced with the blessing of the Cochran family estate. Eddie Cochran will receive a posthumous Raindance Icon Award.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a fan of independent cinema, new music visuals, or rock and roll history, the festival offers a concentrated lineup of premieres and exclusive content. You may have the opportunity to see the U.K. debut of a new sci-fi thriller and an animated short from a major virtual band before wider release. The documentary premiere provides a deep look at a foundational music figure. For filmmakers and industry professionals, the festival serves as a key platform for new work, with additional highlights to be revealed soon.
What's Next
Vertigo Releasing is scheduled to distribute the opening film, 'April X', across the U.K. and Ireland in September. Additional program highlights for the Raindance Film Festival will be revealed at a Cannes event on May 17, with the full festival lineup announced on May 18.