The Closet, starring Gerard Depardieu, will close the festival

Raindance introduced UK audiences to films including Pulp Fiction, The Blair Witch Project and Memento and prides itself on screening films not backed by major studios.

"A large number of our films are made by first time directors from Britain and worldwide," said founding director Elliot Grove.

"They represent new voices in independent cinema, some of which will undoubtedly go on to influence the mainstream."

Ghost World, directed by Terry Zwigoff, is based on the comic book by Daniel Clowes, and won the Jury Special Prize at this year's Deauville Film Festival.

Controversial

It is the first of more than 60 films that will be screened at venues across London during the festival.

There is also to be a special section for Asian films - Raindance East - for the first time as well as sections focusing on digital cinema and films made for and by children.

Other highlights include a first showing of Trouble Every Day, a controversial French film featuring sex and cannibalism, and Christie Malry's Own Double Entry, starring Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran.

Figgis won plaudits for Time Code 2000

The Alexander Mackendrick Lecture will feature Shekhar Kapur in conversation with Derek Malcolm, while an exploration of the work of the festival's filmmaker in residence and digital pioneer Mike Figgis will be held.

Also included are documentaries and more than 220 short films.

Last year, more than half the feature and short films were sold to distributors after being shown at the festival.

The first Raindance was held in 1993 by a group of independent film-makers who got together to provide information and advice to others in the then struggling UK independent film community.

The organisers are also behind the British Independent Film Awards and Raindance Training, which provides year-round courses and resources for up-and-coming film-makers.