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:

FEATURES 2025

“A Siege Diary”

Director: Andrey Zaitsev

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 1 hour 58 min

Genre: War drama

Synopsis: Olga is walking through the whole city to her father. She has just buried her husband and is sure she is going to die soon out of hunger.

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!

“Besieged”

Director: Lucero González Pasarán

Country: Mexico

Duration: 1 hour 40 min

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: When a coup d’état erupts, three foreign master’s students Elías, Christie, and Daniel flee into the mountains to escape the new regime. As they struggle to survive in the wild, their friendship and love are pushed to the breaking point.


“Escape”

Director: Howard J. Ford

Country: UK

Duration: 1 hour 33 min

Genre: Thriller

Synopsis: Best friends Carla and Tamsin set out for a peaceful island getaway, but their trip turns deadly when they’re kidnapped by a criminal gang. The captors soon learn they’ve underestimated their victims, as the women fight back in a gripping battle for survival and empowerment. 

EVACUATION

Director: Farkhat Sharipov

Genre: Drama

Country: Kazakhstan

Duration: 01:21:00

Synopsis: World War II. At the center of the story are Natalia and her daughter Galya, who, in search of safety, are moving eastward with other evacuees. In the chaos at one of the railway stations, Natalia loses her daughter and sets out to find her.


“Legends of Eternal Snow”

Director: Alexei Romanov

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 1 hour 19 min

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: In the vast snowy expanses of Yakutia, a drama unfolds. An older man, Khabyy, along with two companions, must deliver the young Kiluk as a bride for an old prince. Taken from her parents' yurt in exchange for a rich dowry, she longs to escape back home, but Khabyy is harsh and unrelenting. Only the young Nyukus tries to ease her plight. As they travel, feelings develop between them.

NEGOGEN

Director: Polina Oldenburg

Genre: Melodrama

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 01:00:00

Synopsis: Grig has left everything - a prestigious and successful job, the usual Moscow hustle and bustle. He decides to become an artist in faraway and beautiful Laos, but the old life does not want to let him go. Grig will have to fight for the right to be himself.



NEW YEAR'S MIRACLE

Director: Oksana Stashenko

Genre: comedy

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 01:13:21

Synopsis: Several families at once, on New Year's Eve, get into curious situations. Parents leave little Fedya alone at home on December 31 to attend a corporate party. The wife and daughter of a pop star are late for a flight, and the New Year's Eve celebration is in question. A large family's car breaks down on the way to the cottage. The fates of all are intertwined in a bizarre way with the help of an unusual Santa Claus - without a beard, a staff and a bag of gifts. No matter what - Santa Claus will give everyone New Year's magic!


“Onegin”

Director: Martha Fiennes

Country: UK

Duration: 1 hour 46 min

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: In the 1820s, Eugene Onegin, a weary aristocrat, inherits his uncle's country estate and moves there from St. Petersburg. He befriends his neighbor, the poet Lensky, and meets the young, passionate Tatiana through him. Tatiana quickly falls in love with Onegin, but he dismisses her affections, seeking only friendship. The story unfolds as Onegin's indifference leads to regret, exploring themes of missed opportunities and emotional detachment.



PALMA 2

Director: Vladimir Kondaurov

Genre: Adventure film

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 02:07:00

Synopsis: After leaving commercial aviation, Vyacheslav Lazarev and his family move to the countryside, where he continues to go flying, but now on a small propellered AN-2. And the life of the Lazarev family goes on as usual, until one day a small bear cub, to whom Kolya, the pilot’s son, gives the nickname Mansur, bursts in. When Mansur is kidnapped by local poachers, the faithful sheepdog Palma comes to his aid. The two animals need to find their way home through a forest full of wild animals, hunters and other dangers. And the Lazarevs, who set off in search of their four-legged friends, will have to remember what it means to be a real family.

Qingtong & Kuihua

Director: Kunhou Chen

Genre: Romantic drama

Country: China

Duration: 02:00:00

Synopsis: Based on "Bronze and Sunflower" by Cao Wenxuan. A story set in a water town in southern China during 60's and 70's.Destiny comes roaring when Kuihua and her artist father move from big city to village. He runs into a waterspout, leaving her an orphan. The villagers reach out and she decides to join Qingtong's kind-hearted but poor family. In that difficult time, they suffer through privation.....



RHYTHMS OF DREAM

Director: Irina Borovskaya

Genre: Romantic comedy

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 01:47:13

Synopsis: Since childhood, Varya (short for Varvara) has been passionate about dance and dreams of performing at the country’s biggest dance competition. But her road to victory will be anything but straightforward. Her partner is Nik, a young dancer and well-known blogger. Not everyone supports their decision to dance together; and on the eve of the finals, the world learns Varvara’s biggest secret—one that runs counter to the dance world’s accepted norms—forcing the kids to face problems that are anything but childlike.

SWALLOWTAIL & DRAGONFLY

Director: Julia Pierrepont

Genre: Documentary

Country: United States

Duration: 01:47:00

Synopsis: SWALLOWTAIL & DRAGONFLY is based on the true story of one courageous woman’s journey from glittering stardom as a gifted artist in glamorous 1930’s Shanghai, through the ravages of war and revolution and back again, sustained by her exquisite gift for beauty and an epic love that would not die…



“The Elysian Field”

Director: Pradip Kurbah

Country: India

Duration: 2 hours

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: Nostalgia and hope intertwine as the narrative unfolds with poignant grace. Livingstone’s journey aboard a vintage bus becomes a symbolic pilgrimage—a testimony to the enduring love he holds for his late wife, Belinda. Alongside him, a group of endearing individuals each wrestles with personal dreams and desires, set against the haunting reality of dwindling village life.

THE LAST FRONTIER

Director: Vadim Shmelev

Genre: War drama

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 02:16:00

Synopsis: In October 1941, in the Moscow region, about three and a half thousand cadets of the Podolsk artillery and infantry schools were ordered to take up defense at the Ilyinsky line. Together with units of the 43rd Army, they must hold back the advance of the fascist invaders until reinforcements arrive. Young men are dying, but they continue to hold the line against the Germans' vastly superior forces. For twelve days they were an obstacle on the enemy's way to Moscow.



THE POSTMAN

Director: Andrey Razenkov

Genre: War drama

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 01:33:00

Synopsis: The autistic postman had been diligently delivering mail since childhood. The whole town knew and loved him, and a few families held a special place in his heart. One day, he couldn’t bring himself to deliver a death notice. Instead, he wrote a “letter from the front”. From then on, he replaced death notices with letters, and no one ever suspected the deception because the postman was a talented man – his letters seemed to be written by different people. But this didn’t last long, because during wartime, the military authorities closely monitored the mail.

WHITE TIGER 

Director: Karen Shakhnazarov

Genre: War drama

Country: Russian Federation

Duration: 01:44:00

Synopsis: Great Patriotic War, early 1940s. After barely surviving a battle with a mysterious, ghostly-white Tiger tank, Red Army Sergeant Ivan Naydenov becomes obsessed with its destruction.