31st RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW – ACTORS-TURNED-DIRECTORS!
As the Office Manager for the Raindance Film School, it is always exciting when the Raindance Film Festival is about to start. This year it runs from Wednesday 25 October 2023 to Saturday 4th November 2023 in Central London. All the amazing details can be found here: https://raindance.org/festival/
There are so many brilliant films to choose from, so it can be an impossibly difficult decision to narrow down one’s choice. If you have the time I recommend you buy a Festival Pass and go and watch everything. If you’re not fortunate enough to be able to do this you could thematically link your cinema choices.
I am always interested in following the careers of actors who become directors. The well-respected director, Dan Attias once said that,
“. . . the best training he had for directing was being an actor.” Indeed, there are many great actors who have become fine film directors, including: Clint Eastwood, Jordan Peele, Jodie Foster, George Clooney, Greta Gerwig, Denzel Washington and Ben Affleck. So, here are four brilliant actors-turned-directors who have films screening at the 31st Raindance Film Festival.
DAY OF THE FIGHT (2023)
The opening gala film is written directed by Jack Huston and promises to be an incendiary drama of power and redemption.
EMBERS (2023)
Directed by Christian Cooke, this film is a controversial and gripping drama about incarceration and sexual rehabilitation.
PARACHUTE (2023)
Pitch Perfect franchise actor, Brittany Snow, heads behind the camera with a gritty exploration of addiction and cathartic romance.
WARHOL (2023)
Okay, the ultra-talented Adam Ethan Crow was not specifically an actor. Yet, he was certainly a prominent presence on the stand-up comedy scene, before turning his abundant skills to filmmaking. His latest film, Warhol, is a multi-stranded drama that connects various characters to powerful effect.
Paul Laight is a screenwriter, filmmaker, and blogger. In 2005, he formed Fix Films and has written and produced many shorts and other promos. Many of his films have been screened all over the world at various film festivals. Paul is currently working on feature and short film scripts for future productions. His work can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/c/FixFilmsLtd