Raindance, a prominent British independent film organization, has announced the creation of Raindance Vertical, described as the U.K.’s first major festival and financing market dedicated to vertical film and series content. The event will take place on December 4 at Soho’s Karma Sanctum Hotel in London, positioned strategically between Content London and the British Independent Film Awards.
The festival will operate across a single day and feature two competitive categories: Vertical Short Film and Vertical Series. Submissions opened on the announcement date via FilmFreeway and will remain open to both U.K. and international filmmakers through November. The competitions will be evaluated by a jury of filmmakers working in the vertical format.
Beyond the competitions, the festival will include panel discussions, workshops, and what organizers are calling a “vertical mini-market.” This market component, developed in partnership with Creative HQ, aims to connect pre-vetted producers with potential financiers, streaming platforms, commissioners, and brands. According to Raindance, while U.K. filmmakers are already producing vertical content to professional standards, they lack established pathways to the investors and platforms capable of backing their work.
The festival’s advisory group comprises industry figures including director Dan Löwenstein of House of Create, vertical drama critic Jen Cooper of Vertical Drama Love, and Christine Hartland, co-founder and chief operating officer of My Smash Media. Raindance founder Elliot Grove characterized the festival as extending the organization’s longstanding mission to support filmmakers outside traditional industry structures, now focused on the vertical media format. All work will be screened in 9:16 aspect ratio throughout the day.
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