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.

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SIFFA HONOURS MOHY QUANDOUR WITH ‘THE BONDS THAT BIND’ – A CELEBRATION OF ART AND CULTURE

On November 19, 2024, at 13:00, in the prestigious cinema Pictures House, Ealing Broadway, SIFFA is holding a literary and artistic event titled THE BONDS THAT BIND, dedicated to the memory of Mohy Quandour (Kandour) (06.03.1938 - 27.11.2023), a Circassian-born Jordanian, Hollywood and international film director, author, and composer who conquered the world with his many talents. In the last years of his life, he lived and created in the UK.

This event will run as part of SIFFA’s Cultural Dialogue programs, where writers, poets, musicians, and artists celebrate diversity and new cultural exchanges. This program will include screenings of short artistic films, readings of excerpts from novels, and poetry recitations of Mohy Quandour by: Luba Balagova (SIFFA founder/poet/filmmaker), Adel Darvish (author), Lidia Grigorieva (poet/filmmaker), Elena Shaura (artist), Fardon (poet/translator), Christopher Villiers (poet).

The presenter will be the incredibly talented actor Nisaro Karim.

The Bonds That Bind is kindly supported by Ealing Broadway Councillor Mrs. Seema Kumar.

Join us for unforgettable performances and screenings at SIFFA venues from November 18 to 24, 2024.

JURY FOR SIFFA UK 2024

The jury panel for this year’s SIFFA Independent Film Festival in London has been announced, featuring a distinguished lineup of international experts in filmmaking, cinematography, and cultural arts...

MOHY QUANDOUR'S AWARD

The Independent International Film Festival and Awards (SIFFA) will present a new special award this year — the Mohy Quandour (Kandour) Award for Best Youth Focused Film...

SIFFA RETURNS TO LONDON!

This year, SIFFA takes place in the heart of London in Piccadilly at the View Cinema. This is its 13th edition and its 9th year in London...

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