U.K. independent film showcase, the Raindance Film Festival, has partnered with international legal firm Guernica 37 Group (G37) to develop films based on human rights cases.
This collaboration aims to produce up to six documentary and fact-based features, using G37’s archive of justice and accountability cases. Raindance will manage the filmmaking process from script development through production and exhibition, utilizing its experience in independent cinema.
The venture plans to create a joint production company and documentary film fund, targeting £3 million ($3.8 million) through a philanthropic capital fundraising model. This approach allows donors such as foundations, high net worth individuals, and family offices to increase their social impact in a tax-efficient manner.
Raindance, which is a qualifying festival for Oscar, BAFTA and BIFA consideration, has a track record of showcasing films that address social issues. Recent festival selections have covered topics including wildlife conservation, gun culture and the impact of big tech on democracy.
The partnership represents a new direction for both organizations, connecting legal experts and filmmakers to present untold stories. It aims to highlight injustice and showcase the efforts of activists and campaigners working for equality.
G37, with offices in London, Madrid, The Hague and San Francisco, brings 30 years of experience in international human rights law. This collaboration between a film festival and a legal group presents a new model for creating socially relevant content. By combining G37’s legal knowledge with Raindance’s filmmaking resources, the partnership aims to create narratives that inform and encourage action on human rights issues.
Almudena Bernabeu, G37 Group’s co-founder and joint head of chambers and CEO, said: “We have seen in our work the importance of culture and media in advancing the aims of justice and accountability.”
Elliot Grove, Raindance founder, added: “It has always been Raindance’s goal to support creators to allow them to tell important and often-untold stories.”
Olly Hermon-Taylor, Raindance interim CEO, said: “Raindance will oversee the filmmaking side from the grassroots up: from developing cases into scripts and stories, to boarding producers and directors, ultimately providing a platform to exhibit the completed films.”
Pictured L-R from top: Byron Rose (co-chair of Raindance), Elliot Grove (founder of Raindance), Toby Cadman (G37) and Almudena Bernabeu (G37)
Source Agencies
