Luba Balagova and Mohy Quandour

Luba Balagova Kandour, SIFFA founder and president, is a visionary leader, poet, screenwriter, and producer. With her late husband, Mohy Quandour, a celebrated filmmaker, they shaped SIFFA into a major event celebrating global cinema, music, and literature.

IRIDA Award

The IRIDA Golden Statuette, awarded at SIFFA, honours excellence in storytelling and artistic achievement. Representing the Greek goddess of communication, it symbolises cinema’s power to connect, share stories, and promote peace across cultures.

Martha Fiennes

SIFFA’23 Guest of Honour, Martha Fiennes, a distinguished British filmmaker, delivered a speech at the SIFFA Gala. Known for directing Onegin (1999) with Ralph Fiennes, her work explores beauty and human complexity, embodying SIFFA’s celebration of talent.

Vladimir Pozner

SIFFA’23 Special Guest Vladimir Pozner, the legendary Russian-American journalist and TV host, gained fame in the West for representing Soviet views during the Cold War. His enthusiasm for SIFFA’s focus on cultural exchange made his participation a memorable highlight.

Luba Balagova, Alfie Best, Grant Miller and Elizabeth Jones

Luba Balagova Kandour, Alfie Best, Grant Miller, and Elizabeth Jones at the SIFFA’23 screening of Gypsy Billionaire, premiering in the UK. The film, following Alfie Best’s rise from Romani traveller to successful entrepreneur, sparked global talks on perseverance.

Joel Van der Molen

Joel Van der Molen, director of Gypsy Billionaire, earned the SIFFA’23 President Award. This recognition paved the way for the film’s successful sale to Amazon, where it became the No. 1 Amazon Prime documentary, showcasing his remarkable storytelling talent.

Vera Glagoleva

Vera Glagoleva (1956–2017), a celebrated Russian actress and filmmaker, directed the acclaimed 2014 film Two Women starring Ralph Fiennes. She was the first Chair of the SIFFA Jury and a passionate friend and supporter of SIFFA’s mission to promote cultural exchange through film.

Oleg Hill, Luba Balagova Kandour, Nick Nolte, and Victoria George-Veale

Oleg Hill, Luba Balagova Kandour, Nick Nolte, and Victoria George-Veale. Nick Nolte, SIFFA’18 Guest of Honour, is a celebrated actor known for his award-winning roles. His presence at SIFFA elevated the festival, showcasing its celebration of international cinema and artistry.

Luba Balagova Kandour, Lady Colin Campbell, Elizabeth Jones, and Natalie Deadman

⁠Luba Balagova Kandour, Lady Colin Campbell, Elizabeth Jones, and Natalie Deadman. Lady Colin Campbell, SIFFA’19 Guest of Honour, is a British author, socialite, and TV personality. Her presence added sophistication to SIFFA, and her passion for cinema made her a cherished guest.

Stephen Frears, Anne Rothenstein, and Luba Balagova Kandour

Stephen Frears, Anne Rothenstein, and Luba Balagova Kandour enjoyed drinks before the SIFFA’18 Awards Ceremony. Acclaimed British director Frears, a three-time BAFTA winner and two-time Academy Award nominee, accepted SIFFA awards for Victoria & Abdul and supported the festival’s mission to celebrate global cinema.

Roland Joffe and Chairman

Roland Joffe, Chairman of the SIFFA’17 Jury Panel, is an English director and producer known for the Academy Award-nominated films The Killing Fields and The Mission. An extraordinary humanitarian, he uses his talents to benefit humanity and greatly supported the SIFFA festival.

Audience

The SIFFA Film Festival is an annual celebration of global cinema, attracting 3,000 to 5,000 attendees. With workshops, panel discussions, and a diverse film lineup, SIFFA offers a vibrant platform for filmmakers, actors, and enthusiasts, making it a key event in the international film circuit.

SIFFA UK 2024:

A CULTURAL PLATFORM FOR PEACE AMID GLOBAL TENSIONS

SIFFA is proud to announce the winners of this year’s prestigious awards. The competition sections celebrate the most exciting international films and cinematic storytelling that reveal to viewers the diverse and unknown cultures of the globe. These films are creative, captivating, and often provocative, showcasing the power of cinema to inspire and educate.

The winning films, selected by our esteemed SIFFA juries in the shorts and documentary categories, delve into profound themes and narratives. These include an exquisite and powerful documentary exploring the philosophical concept of preserving oneself in love, emphasising that "the future of humanity largely depends on how it correctly chooses the goal and direction of movement towards it" (‘Altai’).

Other winners include compelling stories about the patience and resilience of mothers (‘Baluches’), as well as reflective films on the experience of growing up (‘Vovka’) and a Biblical narrative (‘From the Mouth of Babes’ – ‘From the Painter’s View’).

The winners of this year’s In Competition screenings are:

DOCUMENTARIES 2025

“Amazons”

Special selection

Director: Samara Saralpova

Screenplay: Samara Saralpova

Producer: Samara Saralpova

DOP: Martin Khatsukov, Tarlan Tabaksoev, Nikolay Litovka

Editors: Larisa Tokhsarova

Cast: Rusalina Yaganova, Irina Arkhestova, Marianna Shekikhacheva, Naira Khaupa, Marianna Sunsheva

Country: Russian Federation

Year: 2019

Language: Russian

Running time: 53 min

Synopsis: The film tells about female warriors who lived in the North Caucasus several millennia ago. It is based on M. Akhmetov's books "The Adyghe Amazons" and "Those who Drove Away the Gods or Amazons".

The term "Adyghe Amazons" refers to mythical or real female warriors who could be associated with the Adygs (Circassians). Such legends are common in the oral art of the peoples of the Caucasus, where women were often depicted as strong and brave. Unlike the ancient Greek Amazons, the Adyghe Amazons are the heroines of local legends associated with real Circassian lands and place names, which is reflected in the film.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024

Independent Film Festival and Awards SIFFA'24 Competition Selection

Come join us at The Castle Cinema for an exciting event where we will be selecting the top films to be featured in the upcoming SIFFA competition! Get a sneak peek at some of the most innovative and captivating films from around the world. This in-person event is your chance to be part of the decision-making process and help shape the festival program. Don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity to be involved in the SIFFA Competition Program Selection!

FLYING WITH FINS

Competition programme

Director: Maria Averina

Genre: Documentary film

Country: Bulgaria

Duration: 01:21:00

Synopsis: Paintings, performances, experiments, electronic music sounding in the spaces of two old houses in a small Italian town, heated conversations about contemporary art, touching meetings with the closest people and places in Bulgaria after 50 years of separation. "Flying with Fins" is a film about the constant search for meaning in art and life. Alzek Misheff, artist - rebel and experimenter, leads us in this philosophical and aesthetic journey through time, space and ideas.

Lidiya Grigorieva. I Choose to Live

Competition programme

Director: Maria Bregman

Screenplay: Maria Bregman Yulia Tulegenova

Producer: Maria Bregman

DOP: Maria Bregman, Dmitry Del

Composers: Fedor Stepanov, Dmitry Lazarev, Michael Balaban, Nikanor Abelardo

Editor: Ivan Krutov

Country: UK

Year: 2025

Language: Russian

Running time: 49 min

Synopsis: 'Lydia Grigorieva. I choose to live' is a story of the freedom of spirit, of human resilience, and of how life itself can be transformed into poetry, leaving an enduring trace in the hearts and memories of those ready to listen to her piercing voice and immerse themselves in the story of her extraordinary journey

“Taymetov: The Forgotten Hero”

Competition programme

Director:  Eldar Yuldashev

Screenplay: Muyassar Maksudova

Producer: Saidrasul Imamov

DOP: Rustam Sultonkhodjaev

Composer: Igor Pinkhasov

Editors: Khusan Ysupov

Cast: Rustam Sagdullaev

Country: Uzbekistan

Year: 2025

Language: Russian

Running time: 21 min

Synopsis: The story of Abdusamat Taymetov, the founder of Uzbek aviation, who was entrusted with the final secret mission of World War II: to deliver the German Surrender Act and the Victory Banner from Berlin to Moscow. His story is intertwined with that of the first Uzbek-made Li-2 aircraft, a vital asset during the war. Yet, both the pilot and the plane were unjustly forgotten by history. This film is a tribute to their heroism and a mission to restore their legacy.

W: A Return to Oz

Competition programme

Director: Daniel Howard-Baker

Screenplay: 

Producer: Louis Holder

Country: United Kingdom

Year: 2025

Language: English

Running time: 35 min

Synopsis: Locked and loaded with film tape, a man explores an abandoned rave house, once known as The Warehouse, that was once the beating heart of the South West’s clubland.

“Tidal Roots”

Competition programme

Director: Edward Peter Weller

Country: UK

Duration: 14 min

Genre: Documentary

Synopsis: What does the sea mean to you? 

This is the main questions reflected upon through this short meditative film. The film explores four different lives, a fisherman, a seaweed forager, a coastal painter and a surf instructor, located in and around Cornwall, UK.