Raindance Film Festival expands its commitment to genre cinema with the launch of its dedicated horror programming slate and inaugural Best Horror Feature Award, actor, writer, producer and lifelong independent cinema advocate Catherine Corcoran has been named the festival’s Official Horror Ambassador in partnership with her production company, FareStream Pictures to help champion the initiative.
Best known for her breakout performance in RETURN TO NUKE EM HIGH (Cannes Film Festival) and her starring role in the TERRIFIER franchise, Corcoran has spent more than a decade building a reputation as one of independent horror’s most visible advocates. Through FareStream Pictures, she develops filmmaker-driven projects with a focus on under-represented voices while actively supporting emerging creatives across the horror community.
Working alongside Raindance, Corcoran and FareStream Pictures will help spotlight the festival’s growing horror initiative to amplify the festival’s genre presence through filmmaker advocacy, industry conversations, editorial initiatives and audience engagement, further strengthening Raindance’s position as a home for bold independent genre storytelling.
“Independent horror has always thrived by creating community first,” says Corcoran. “Raindance has spent decades championing fearless filmmakers and queer artists and I’m honored to help expand a platform that celebrates voices redefining the genre.”
The appointment comes as Raindance continues to expand its horror presence, introducing the Roger Corman Award for Best Horror Feature, showcasing an international lineup of boundary-pushing genre films alongside Raindance’s Icon Awards which will be presented to acclaimed actress Miriam Margolyes, SUCCESSION star Brian Cox, and iconic director Lloyd Kaufman, as part of its 34th edition.
With Corcoran and FareStream Pictures joining the initiative, Raindance’s new horror programming aims to foster greater collaboration between filmmakers, fans, and the global independent horror community while continuing to champion the next generation of genre voices. Raindance runs June 17-26, 2026 in central London.
More about Catherine Corcoran:
Catherine Corcoran is an actor, writer and filmmaker with credits spanning major festival premieres (Cannes, TriBeCa, Sitges, SXSW), independent features, and internationally released genre films. Best known for her starring roles in the Terrifier and Return to Nuke Em High (STARZ) franchises, her decade plus experience working both in front of and behind the camera has developed a strong understanding of the entertainment business and shaped her commitment to championing diverse storytelling alongside safer, more ethical production practices. Corcoran is actively involved in multiple film and TV projects both independently and through FareStream. Next up, she’ll appear and serve as executive producer on BEST FRIENDS FOREVER (Tribeca Film Festival Creators Market). She is developing The Writing Retreat, a feature adaptation of Julia Bartz’s acclaimed novel, in collaboration with Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy-Award Nominated Veritas Entertainment (A Complete Unknown, Vikings) and serves as a co-producer for an upcoming anthology feature, co-written by Luke Piotrowski (Hellraiser, The Night
House), and produced by Jonathan Craven (Stone Cold Fox), son of legendary filmmaker Wes Craven. Additionally, Corcoran has partnered with Adam Schlagman and Kris Longo (both formerly with DC Comics) of PANICK Entertainment, in writing three highly anticipated anthology comics.
More About Raindance: Raindance Film Festival is the largest independent film festival in the UK and it has been recognised by Variety as “one of the world’s top 50 unmissable film festivals”. Raindance showcases the boldest, freshest content from British and international filmmakers. Industry and the public attend cutting-edge panels, talks and workshops. Raindance is a qualifying festival for Oscars®, BAFTA and BIFA. Raindance is dedicated to fostering and promoting independent film around the world. Founded in 1992, it combines the Raindance Film Festival, film training courses, and Raindance Higher Education. Training courses are at the heart of the Raindance structure, aiming to give individuals the tools to start shooting their film, and covering screenwriting, production, directing, and virtual reality. Moreover, Raindance has developed three fully accredited Higher Education Film Programmes, becoming the only major film festival in the world to offer higher education. www.raindance.org
Photo credit: Chris Montgomery