Films to rock your world

Only film fans with staying power need apply for the whole 14th annual Raindance Film Festival: it promises 90 screenings of movies, shorts and documentaries in just 12 days.

As the self-proclaimed "voice of indie film", Raindance prides itself on supporting first-time film-makers, touting independent films and digging up the cream of budget movies: the premiere of The Blair Witch Project and the discovery of Memento are just two of the feathers in its cap.

This year looks to be an equally enlightening programme, kicking off with a screening of the Edinburgh Film Festival winner Brothers Of The Head, a fictional account of a 1970s music promoter who pushes conjoined twins into rock'n'roll stardom.

The opening week also includes a screening of A Clockwork Orange to mark the 35th anniversary of the release of Stanley Kubrick's notorious film and Mark Hammond's Johnny Was, starring Vinnie Jones; week two features the world premiere of British budget comedy Scenes Of A Sexual Nature.

This year's festival leans toward the rockumentary, with Neil Young: Heart Of Gold, and Too Tough To Die: A Tribute To Johnny Ramone among several films that offer exclusive footage of live gigs and explore the onstage persona of musicians.

The best thing about this British festival is that, unlike Cannes and its ilk, it's open to the public and, though there is a jury (including the venerable Lou Reed, Judi Dench and Marky Ramone), the emphasis is firmly on fostering unknown talent, rather than celebrating glamour.

Tonight until Oct 8, opening and closing nights at Cineworld Haymarket, 63-65 Haymarket SW1, otherwise Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, The Trocadero, 7-14 Coventry Street W1, various times, £6 to £8.90. Tel: 0871 200 2000. www.raindancefilmfestival.org Tube: Piccadilly Circus