It's Raindance Film Festival time again, with Opening Night less than 2 weeks away.

It's been a difficult year on nearly every front. Our programmers were tormented over their selections - we had so much excellent work submitted.

The closure of the UK Film Council focused everyone's attention on how critical public funding of the arts, and film in particular is.

Of course, we don't get any.

And then the usual mundane problems asssociated with getting nearly 250 shorts features and documentaries into our offices, and down to the cinema in time for the screenings.

People always ask me what a Raindance film is. I say "It's extreme. Extreme storytelling, extreme topics, extreme filmmaking techniques. And extremely good."

Our programme this year includes 5 films that have been banned in other countries - by politicians, by censors, by foreign governments, and by pressure groups of both the left and right wing persuasion.

I figure - you're 18? we are now 18 years old. I think we all deserve the chance to choose for ourselves what films you want to see.

I will be blunt: we need your help.

It doesn't matter where you live, or what you do - if you are reading this newsletter, please tell at least one friend about Raindance.

It's you we are counting on to make this year's festival the best ever.