Photocredits: David Reiss/Rachell Smith
Acclaimed British actors Celia Imrie and Jason Isaacs are the recipients of this year’s Raindance Icon Awards, presented as part of the festival’s 33rd edition (18-27 June).
Both will receive their Icon Award at the Opening Gala on 18 June, the World Premiere of Christopher M. Anthony’s debut feature HEAVYWEIGHT. Starring Nicholas Pinnock (Top Boy, Marcella, For Life), Jordan Bolger (Peaky Blinders, The Woman King), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter series, Death of Stalin) and cast including Jamie Bamber, Sienna Guillory, Blake Harrison and Joplin Sibtain, it follows wildcard boxing contender ‘Diamond’ Derek Douglas and his support team ahead of a title fight he doubts he can win. The pressure escalates in realtime, as dirty tricks and revelations are revealed. An intense and visceral experience exploring a side of elite sport rarely seen.
“As part of the 33rd Raindance, it’s an honour for us to celebrate this year’s Raindance Icon Award recipients,” Raindance founder Elliot Grove says. “Both are the epitome of our industry with careers that include iconic film and television roles – and both remain champions of independent cinema here in the UK and internationally. Celia Imrie graced Raindance’s jury in 2017 and Jason Isaacs co stars in this year’s opening film Heavyweight. We are proud to recognise and honour their achievements with this award.”
Raindance Icon Award 2025: Celia Imrie
CELIA IMRIE CBE is an Olivier and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actress, soon to be seen in the film adaptation of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, starring alongside Dame Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, and Sir Ben Kingsley, and directed by Chris Columbus.
Her celebrated film work includes THE BEST and THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, CALENDAR GIRLS, MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN, the BRIDGET JONES’S DIARY series, FINDING YOUR FEET, LOVE SARAH and GOOD GRIEF. Her other screen roles include STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE, HIGHLANDER, NANNY McPHEE, and ST TRINIAN’S.
On television, she starred in Netflix’s THE DIPLOMAT and all five seasons of the critically acclaimed US series BETTER THINGS.
Celia recently returned to the West End in the Donmar Warehouse’s BACKSTROKE. She is also the author of five novels, all of which have appeared on the Sunday Times bestseller list.
This autumn, she will appear in the upcoming series of BBC’s THE CELEBRITY TRAITORS.
Celia Imrie says: “What an absolute thrill to be accepting the honour of this year’s Raindance Icon Award. I adore films and the Raindance Festival gives fabulous chances to new and international writers and directors. Keeping fresh our ever-lasting passion for cinema. I also love dancing, especially in the rain.”
Raindance Icon Award 2025: Jason Isaacs
JASON ISAACS is a multi-award-winning British actor with a wide range of film credits across various genres: Fantasy – Lucius Malfoy in the HARRY POTTER series; Comedy – THE DEATH OF STALIN and FRIENDS WITH MONEY; War – THE PATRIOT, BLACK HAWK DOWN, FURY, GREEN ZONE, OPERATION MINCEMEAT; Horror – A CURE FOR WELLNESS, EVENT HORIZON, LOOK AWAY; Action-Adventure – ARMAGEDDON, ABDUCTION, SKYFIRE, THE TUXEDO; Drama – HOTEL MUMBAI, GOOD, SWEET NOVEMBER, THE END OF THE AFFAIR; Children’s Films – PETER PAN, DRAGONHEART. In 2021, he starred in MASS, earning multiple awards, including the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award.
This year, he can be seen in THE SALT PATH with Gillian Anderson, WORDS OF WAR, JULIET & ROMEO as Lord Montague, and Canadian horror HONEY BUNCH. It has recently been announced that he will be starring in psychological-horror, VICTORIAN PSYCHO, MISTLETOE & WINE, and HEAVYWEIGHT with Nicholas Pinnock.
Jason can currently be seen in the third season of HBO’s THE WHITE LOTUS, and has appeared in ARCHIE, THE CROWDED ROOM, THE OA, SEX EDUCATION, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY, GOOD SAM, THE GREAT, and more.
His voice work includes STAR WARS REBELS, BALDURS GATE 3, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, SCOOB, CARS 2, SUPERMAN: RED SON, and more. He has also been cast in PIERRE THE PIGEON HAWK and WHAT IF…?.
On stage, he has performed in ANGELS IN AMERICA, THE DUMB WAITER, and WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT in 2024.
Jason has earned nominations and wins from the Golden Globes, BAFTA, International Emmys, SAG, among others.
Jason Isaacs says: “”Raindance has always championed people making films who believe in the power of stories, and who are telling them with few resources other than imagination and determination. Those are my people and those are my stories, so I’m thrilled to be receiving their Icon award (even if I still feel like I’m just getting started).”
About the Raindance Icon Award
The Raindance Icon Award is the festival’s signature award, honouring and celebrating the icons of independent cinema in the UK and internationally: those who make an authentic and iconic impression via the medium of film. Previous Raindance Icon Award recipients: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Winterbottom, David Yates, Vanessa Redgrave, Jonathan Pryce, Gemma Arterton, Sir Michael Caine, Sally Hawkins, Jude Law, Olivia Colman, Terry Gilliam, Guy Richie, Ken Loach.
Raindance promotes and supports independent filmmaking and filmmakers.
From new and emerging to industry pros, Raindance connects, trains, supports, and promotes visual storytellers through every step of their career.
The Raindance Film Festival runs each Autumn in London’s Leicester Square.
Raindance has been delivering film training since 1992. A wide range of Open Classes to a 2 year HND Level 5 BTEC in Moving Images to a Postgraduate Film Degree are delivered to students on five continents, both in person and online.