The Raindance Film Festival has officially announced the recipients of its prestigious Icon Awards for the upcoming 34th edition, scheduled to run from June 17 to June 26, 2026. Acclaimed British actress and writer Miriam Margolyes will be honored alongside legendary American independent film director and Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman. Additionally, a special posthumous Icon Award will be presented to the late rock and roll pioneer Eddie Cochran.
Miriam Margolyes is scheduled to receive her accolade in person at the festival’s Opening Gala on June 17, following the UK premiere of April X. A veteran of stage and screen, the 85-year-old actress won a BAFTA in 1993 for Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence and famously portrayed Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film franchise. Margolyes recently starred in the short film A Friend of Dorothy, which premiered at Raindance last year before earning an Academy Award nomination. Reflecting on the honor, Margolyes expressed her gratitude, noting that she was thrilled to still be winning awards at this stage of her long career.
The second individual accolade goes to Lloyd Kaufman, who co-founded Troma Entertainment in 1974, establishing it as the longest-running independent film studio in the world. Renowned for cult classics such as The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet, Kaufman has been widely credited with making the international film industry more decentralized and accessible. His daughter, Lily Hayes Kaufman, will accept the trophy on his behalf on June 18, coinciding with the UK premiere of her own feature debut, Occupy Cannes.
The final honor celebrates the legacy of Eddie Cochran, the influential musical subject of the festival’s Closing Gala documentary, Eddie Cochran: Don’t Forget Me. The posthumous trophy will be presented directly to Cochran’s sister and mother before being transported to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, where it will be permanently displayed alongside his original Gretsch guitar. The signature Raindance accolade joins a historic roster of previous winners, including Sir Michael Caine, Olivia Colman, and Jude Law.
