Opps. How quick the time flies. 11th Festival is now over. As a part of 11th Rainbow Film Festival, a special session is left which will starts on Saturday 17th July 2010. Please see details in programme page.

This year, whole festival took place at Rich Mix Centre in Bethnal Green Road, London E1. We are grateful to Rich Mix for their co-operation. We hope this co-operation will increase day by day.

There was total 13 screening and films were included from Bangladesh, India, Srilanka, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia and UK.

After a careful consideration, following prizes were announced.

Best Film :  Super Star from Iran.
Best Director : Yasmin Ahnad , film Tale n Time from Malaysia.
Best audience award : Angshumaner Chobi from India
Special mention : Dark Resonance (Gahine Shobdo) from Bangladesh.
Special 11th festival award : Faridur Reza Sagor for Chanel I, Bangladesh
( for co-operation with Rainbow Film Festival over 10 year).

Looking forward for 12th Festival which will take place probably 27th May to 2nd June 2011.

Keep watching in this page regularly.

In the mean time to not forget to attend our special Bangladesh  Independence  Film Session from 17th July 2010.

Organisers

The annual Rainbow Film Festival is organised by the Rainbow Film Society, a non-profit making enterprise with the objective of advancing the education of the arts, particularly in film and allied visual techniques. The organisation also promotes the study and appreciation of cinema by means of lectures, discussions and exhibitions. Rainbow Film Society’s activities include organising regular film screenings, provide training courses and seminars on film making related matters, and producing videos and films.

Our supporters

The annual Rainbow Film Festival has been funded by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Film London, Cultural Industries Development Agency, Cityside Regeneration, Tower Hamlets College, Peabody Trust, and the Spitalfields Market Community Trust, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Oxford House in Bethnal Green, and Dockland Museum.

11th Rainbow Film Festival

After successfully running ten consecutive festivals we have involved many personalities and gain experience running a festival.

The main festival will take place at the Rich Mix Centre and other venues including Brady Arts Centre, five different school’s in Tower Hamlets. The festival will screen films from Asian countries including short, documentary and features. All of the films are with English sub-title.

A key target group of the festival is the local Asian population that otherwise would have no access to most Asian films. A number of films screened are particularly appropriate for families to enjoy, and provides a safe environment for some to come out and enjoy such cultural opportunities. However, the festival also aims to attract all audiences interested in discovering foreign film, and will provide English sub-titles and market the festival to these audiences.

Our main aim is to explore the history and the culture of other countries and their traditions and through a better understanding of cultural diversity, promote racial harmony and community cohesion.

Target audience

The Rainbow Film Festival aims to bring 3 different audience groups to cinemas.

I. Asian families

The average Asian family does not go to the cinema as a family because of cultural reasons and also most Western films are thought to contain too much nudity and sex.  The Rainbow Film Festival will screen family orientated films encouraging families to attend together.  Many Asian people who used to attend cinemas regularly lose touch with the cinema when arriving in the UK because of language barriers.  This will be an opportunity to re-engage them.  Also spreading the festival across Tower Hamlets will increase new audiences.  There will be some screenings in other London boroughs as well.  Local Asians are not keen on travelling but screenings on their doorstep will encourage them to come to the festival.

II. Asian Young People

Asian young people growing up in the UK are very keen to learn about their history and culture and films are a great medium from them. However, many are unable to access Asian films (accept commercial Bollywood films) because there are no English subtitles.  The festival will screen films covering issues faced by young Asians.  There will be films and documentaries on Asian history and culture, all  with subtitles.

III. Other Audiences

People interested in World Cinema will have access to films from other countries.  Audiences fed up of Hollywood and Bollywood movies will have the opportunity to watch films which are different and cover different cultures.

Special events :

• Bangladesh Panorama
• Question answer Session with Film makers
• Special preview of “GHEYAGHAT”