Do a RainDance at Choochokam

Couldn’t make it to Sundance? Can’t sit through epic movies? Then the RainDance Short Film Festival July 10 & 11 during Choochokam, Langley’s festival of the arts, may be just the thing for you. RainDance features the winners and most promising entries into the Second Annual RainDance Short Film Contest, and no film is more than 15 minutes long.

The rules for the contest are fairly simple: Anyone who lives on Whidbey Island or whose parents live on Whidbey (or anyone who can make a good argument for a strong Whidbey connection) can submit on DVD as many short films as they want, short being defined as under 15 minutes each. A Grand Prize of $200 or a one-year pass to The Clyde will be awarded, as well as several category prizes.

In late June Clyde owners Blake and Lynn Willeford will screen the entries. They’ll be looking not just for Grand Prize Winner, but also for the best digital films in other categories as well. These top films will show for free at The Clyde during the day on both Saturday and Sunday of Choochokam. The final prize, the People’s Choice Award, will be decided by the votes of the people attending RainDance.

Last year was the first time film had been a part of Langley’s festival of the arts, and the response was tremendous. Over 60 films were entered, and an estimated 500 people stopped by to view some or all of the films during the two-day festival.

The latest information and scheduling for RainDance will be posted here as it becomes available.

Q&A About the RainDance Short Film Festival

July 10 & 11 at The Clyde

What is RainDance?

The RainDance Short Film Festival is the new cinematic element to Choochokam, Langley’s Festival of the Arts. It’s sponsored by The Clyde Theatre, on First Street, and takes place there during the day at Choochokam, July 10 & 11.

What’s its purpose?

RainDance is a showcase for short digital films created by talented folks who live on Whidbey Island, grew up on Whidbey Island, or can make a good case for a strong connection to Whidbey Island. Its goals are to celebrate the energy and imagination that are essential elements of our rich cultural life here, share our work with each other, and to inspire creativity in others.

How much does it cost to attend?

In the spirit of Choochokam, admission to RainDance is free.

How are the films for RainDance chosen?

The films shown at RainDance were all submitted to the RainDance Short Film Contest and judged to have been the best of the bunch. Last year 25 of the 60 films submitted played twice a day during Choochokam.

Having seen more than 4,000 films in their 37 years of running The Clyde—most of them multiple times--owners Blake and Lynn Willeford felt qualified to choose the prizewinners. (In case of a tie they will consult a guest judge.) The Willefords will choose the overall winner of the Grand Prize of $200 or a one-year pass to The Clyde, as well as the winners of smaller prizes for best student film, best animated film, and other categories of the judges’ choice. Additionally, the folks who come to RainDance will vote for their favorite for the People’s Choice Award.

What kind of films will I see at RainDance?

Judging by last year, you’ll see a little bit of everything--comedy, suspense, drama, animated films, cinematic poems, documentaries, music videos, and experiential films. Student films have been clustered together, but the rest are mixed for greater variety. If there’s a particular film or kind of film you want to see, you’ll be able to consult a schedule that allows you to estimate when it will play each day.

What’s the format for RainDance?

The Clyde will be running the films chosen for RainDance on a continuous loop on Saturday, July 10th, from noon till 4:00 and on Sunday, July 11th, from 11:30 till 3:30. A schedule of films will be posted here the week before and at the theater that day, so you can see when to catch the films that interest you most.

There will be a brief ceremony at The Clyde on Sunday at 3:30 to award prizes to the creators of the films chosen by the judges and also to a People’s Choice film voted on by audiences during the festival.

How can I get involved in RainDance?

Make your own digital film under 15 minutes and submit it to The RainDance Short Film Contest by June 15th (see below for entry forms). You may be a winner, but if not, you’ll have had a good time scratching your creative itch. Films too long for the contest but no more than 30 minutes can also be submitted for possible showing at RainDance.

Not a movie-maker yet? Then come to The Clyde during Choochokam and be entertained by the wonderful work of your friends and neighbors. And don’t forget to vote for your favorite film. You’ll find ballots for the People’s Choice Award in the lobby of The Clyde during the festival.

To download the application, right-click on the PDF link and choose "Save As".

Clyde Digital Film Contest Application (PDF, 12KB)