Want to do the Raindance?

If the title Sundance can seem something of a misnomer to those of who brave the icy streets of Utah each January for an injection of indie film, then surely after one of the wettest summers for year's Raindance seems an apt title for the UK's festival celebrating independent spirit.

Although the festivals are entirely independent of one another, both share similar goals - to support independent filmmaking.

Announcing its line-up, Raindance - now in its 16th year - continues to present some of the most independent voices from home and abroad. Brushing aside issues we have with the poster image this year - you can take a look at it here - which seems to be aimed squarely at the lad's mag end of the market (what were they thinking?) - there is, in fact, plenty on offer for independently minded spirits of both genders.

Opening this year's fest is the UK Premiere of Chuck Palahniuk adaptation Choke. Though sadly nowhere near as entertaining as David Fincher's Fight Club adaptation, it scores as a surprisingly gentle indie comedy. The story of a man who makes cash to pay his Alzheimer's suffering mum's hospital bills by pretending to choke and letting other people 'save' him before tapping them for money with sob stories also gets points for featuring the much-underrated Sam Rockwell in the lead.

If Choke is enjoyable but not awe-inspiring, there are certainly plenty of other films to look out for, many of which are home grown. Here's the five films we're most looking forward to seeing:

Basketball doc Midnight Madness

Midnight Madness - Dir: Charles Henri Belleville. The director's follow-up to last year's Raindance-award winning fiction feature The Inheritance, is a basketball documentary. It tells the story of a tournament which runs from 12am to 6am and was set up as a way to help tackle crime in London. Ten years on from its inception it is one of the largest basketball tournaments in Europe. Given the vigour that marked Belleville's debut, it will be interesting to see how his energy levels match that of the players in his documentary.

Senseless is the feature debut of Simon Hynd

Senseless - Dir: Simon Hynd. After plying his trade for years on the short film circuit for years, tackling everything from comedy (Tumshie McFadgen's Bid For Ultimate Bliss) to documentary (Arts: The Catalyst) to horror (Virus), it's great to see him have a go at something full length. Starring Jason Behr (Skinwalkers) and Emma Catherwood (also appearing at the festival in Dummy), it tells the story of a businessman who is kidnapped and tortured, with the footage being screened across the internet for paying viewers who get to decide his fate. Not a lot of laughs, then, but Hynd has proved he has a knack for creating an atmosphere of dread which should pay off in spades here.

80s set Clubbed

Clubbed - Dir: Neil Thomspon. Like Olly Blackburn, who directed the slick Donkey Punch earlier this year, Thomspon is a veteran of adverts and pop videos (also finding time along the way to notch up a couple of short films). The programme says: "Set in the world of 80s clubland. A lonely factory worker becomes involved with a group of doormen building to a frightening and brutal climax," which puts us in mind of the rather underrated Dead Man's Cards from a couple of years ago. If it has similar wit and grit to that, we're in for a treat.

Stateside buzz is very positive for KK Downey

Who Is KK Downey? Dir: Darren Curtis, Pat Kiely. Reminding us that independent filmmakers can also produce comedy is this interesting sounding film from Canada. This has been picking up awards at festivals on the other side of the Pond and sounds just about crazy enough to work. It's the story of a loser writer whose sleaze fest of a book Truck Stop Hustler - about a transgendered, drug-addled prostitute - is rejected by publishers because he's too squeaky clean. Desperate, he and his partner-in-loserville buddy, Terrence, hatch a plan that Terrence will pose as the author with the result that the book, naturally, becomes a hit. Reviews from the States suggest the comedy is on the money and the cast show huge potential. If nothing else, it'll make a change from indie romcoms.

Second World War doc Wings Of Defeat

Wings Of Defeat - Dir: Risa Morimoto. Despite the glut of Second World War documentaries that have graced our TV screens lately, one aspect that we can't recall seeing much off is the Japanese kamikaze pilots. Drawing parallels with more recent suicide bombers Morimoto travels to Japan to try to find out about the motivations and legacy of the pilots. Featuring testimony from survivors of a US destroyer sunk by kamikaze pilots, it sounds as though it should be a balanced and detailed exploration.

This list is by no means exhaustive and its fair to say that with 75 features and more than 100 shorts, there is enough to keep any indie film buff out of mischief between October 1 and 12. We'll be bringing you more reviews nearer the time, watch this space.