‘Grand Theft Hamlet,’ ‘Strike’ Among Raindance Maverick Contenders

MAVERICK MINDS

London’s Raindance Film Festival has unveiled its 13-title longlist for the BIFA (British Independent Film Awards) Raindance Maverick Award, recognizing independent films made with budgets under £1 million ($1.3 million).

The lineup includes “Grand Theft Hamlet,” shot entirely within “Grand Theft Auto,” following two unemployed actors staging Shakespeare in the game’s virtual world, and “Strike: An Uncivil War,” which won Sheffield DocFest’s best documentary audience award for its examination of the 1984/85 miners’ strike.

Raindance founder Elliot Grove said: “The Raindance Maverick Award longlist captures the essence of independent cinema at its purest, rebellious and unapologetic best.”

Full longlist:
“The Ceremony” (Jack King, Hollie Bryan, Lucy Meer)
“The Flight of Bryan” (James Erskine, Victoria Gregory, Philipp Manderla)
“Grand Theft Hamlet” (Pinny Grylls, Sam Crane, Julia Ton, Rebecca Wolff)
“King Baby” (Arran Shearing, Kit Redstone)
“Reawakening” (Virginia Gilbert, Barry Castagnola)
“Restless” (Jed Hart, Benedict Turnbull)
“Satu – Year of the Rabbit” (Joshua Trigg)
“Silent Men” (Duncan Cowles)
“The Stimming Pool” (Robin Elliot Knowles, Sam Chown Ahern, Benjamin Brown, Steven Eastwood, Georgia Bradburn, Lucy Walker, Chloe White)
“Strike: An Uncivil War” (Daniel Gordon, Nick Taussig, Fjolla Iberhysaj)
“Tops” (Ames Pennington, Archie Sinclair)
“Treading Water” (Gino Evans, Ben Toye)
“Witches” (Elizabeth Sankey, Jeremy Warmsley, Chiara Ventura, Manon Ardisson)

The nominations will be announced Nov. 5, with winners revealed at the BIFA ceremony on Dec. 8. Last year’s award went to “If the Streets Were on Fire” by Alice Russell and Gannesh Rajah.

CONTINENTAL CINEMA

The European Union Film Festival readies its three-city India tour, with New Delhi first to unspool Nov. 7-16, followed by stops in Kolkata and Hyderabad. The fest’s 29th edition showcases 26 pics from EU member states in 31 languages at Delhi’s India Habitat Centre, Instituto Cervantes and Goethe-Institut venues.

The slate includes India premieres of “What A Feeling,” “Because I Love Bad Weather,” “Stairway To Heaven,” “Death is a Problem for the Living,” “Jim’s Story,” “Without Air,” “Black Velvet,” “The Last Ashes,” “Blood on the Crown,” “Baan,” “Horia” and “The Man Without Guilt.”

“La Chimera” lead Yile Yara Vianello, “Five & A Half Love Stories” helmer Tomas Vengris, and “Blood on the Crown” producer Pedja Miletic will attend the Delhi leg. The fest is mounted by the EU Delegation to India with support from EU member embassies and local partners.

STREAMING STALWART

Archana Anand is stepping down from her post as chief business officer at ZEE5 Global to pursue personal ventures. During her decade-long tenure, Anand spearheaded ZEE5’s launch in India and its expansion into international markets, establishing it as a leading streaming platform for South Asian content.

“It’s been such a fun ride and alongside some of the brightest and smartest people across the globe,” said Anand in her departure announcement. She plans to “relocate and recalibrate” while pursuing “long pending adventures.”

PRABHAS POWER

Indian star Prabhas dropped the motion poster for “The Raja Saab” on his birthday, marking his first foray into horror-comedy. The two-minute teaser shows the actor enthroned in a vintage palace, sporting black attire and a cigar, set to a piano rendition of “Happy Birthday.”

Pic is helmed by Maruthi and produced by People Media Factory’s Viswa Prasad, with Thaman S scoring. Malvika Mohanan, Nidhhi Agerwal and Riddhi Kumar co-star.

“Raja Saab” hits theaters April 10, 2025, with a pan-Indian release in the Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam languages.