JURY 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. Reflecting SIFFA’s dedication to promoting peace and cultural understanding, the diverse backgrounds of these jurors underscore the festival’s mission to unite voices from around the world in a celebration of cinematic artistry and global perspectives.

NATALYA BONDARCHUK

Natalya Bondarchuk is a Soviet and Russian actress and director best known for her role as Hari in Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris. Born into a family of filmmakers, Natalya trained at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography and gained acclaim for her films Bambi's Childhood and Bambi's Youth. She has left a lasting mark on Russian cinema, both as an actress and a director, and remains a celebrated figure in the industry.

KATIE JARVIS

Katie Jarvis is an English actress best known for her critically acclaimed role as Mia Williams in the 2009 film Fish Tank, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. She has also appeared in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders. Jarvis transitioned from a promising acting debut into a successful television career, with her portrayal of complex, powerful characters resonating with audiences. Alongside her acting career, she remains an active participant in the UK entertainment industry.

RICHARD BELFIELD

Richard Belfield is an award-winning producer, director, and best-selling author with a specialisation in investigative documentaries. He has produced for major networks like the BBC, Channel 4, and Discovery, with two of his documentaries reaching global audiences of over 150 million. Richard has authored five books, the latest of which was a bestseller, and has also contributed to the Sunday Times and New Statesman. His commercial experience extends beyond the media, including corporate film production.

ADEL DARWISH

Adel Darwish, an Alexandria-born British author, historian, and drama director, is a veteran journalist based at the Press Gallery in the House of Commons. He has written extensively on Middle Eastern and African affairs, working for Fleet Street papers since the Six-Day War of 1967. Darwish has authored several books, and his plays—some based on African, Asian, and Latin American works—have been performed at venues such as the Edinburgh Festival and the Young Vic. He remains active as a journalist, commentator, and critic.

ATOUSA JAM

Atousa Jam is a British fashion designer, PR expert, and entrepreneur. She has collaborated with major brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Aquascutum, and founded Atousa Jam Ltd, specialising in communication and public relations. She has managed Cannes-winning actors and worked closely with directors and producers. Atousa also served as Director at Seven Sky, focusing on film promotion, and is fluent in English, French, and Farsi.

LYDIA GRIGORIEVA

Lydia Grigorieva is a Russian poet, essayist, and photo-artist, as well as a member of the Russian Union of Writers and the International PEN-Club. She has hosted radio programs on both Russian Radio and the BBC and produced TV films about England that were widely shown across Russia. Lydia is the creator of the film poetry genre, a fusion of philosophy, poetry, and cinema, and won a SIFFA Diploma in 2018 for her work. Since 1992, she has lived in London.

SYLVIE BOLIOLI

Sylvie Bolioli began her career in the arts at a young age, directing and acting in plays by age nine. She later worked in international business, holding an MBA, while also pursuing a career in film and theatre. Sylvie has worked with directors like Sam Mendes and Martin Scorsese, and her short film Gas received acclaim from industry leaders. She is the co-founder of the Ramsgate International Film Festival and continues to work on various film projects through her production company, Polaris Productions Ltd.

ED WARD

Ed Ward is an award-winning English actor and writer with over 25 years of experience in international films and stage performances, including London's West End. Known for his dynamic acting style, Ed has garnered recognition for both his scripts and performances. He recently starred in So Long Marianne, playing a bohemian friend of Leonard Cohen, and has had a successful voice-over career in narration.

ELIZABETH JONES

Elizabeth Jones is a passionate cinephile who has produced two short films for the Cannes Film Festival. She regularly provides supporting artists for indie films, docudramas, and shorts. Elizabeth has served as a judge for feature films at various festivals and is an avid attendee of film festivals. By profession, she works as a lawyer.

JURY 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. Reflecting SIFFA’s dedication to promoting peace and cultural understanding, the diverse backgrounds of these jurors underscore the festival’s mission to unite voices from around the world in a celebration of cinematic artistry and global perspectives.

NATALYA BONDARCHUK

Natalya Bondarchuk is a Soviet and Russian actress and director best known for her role as Hari in Andrei Tarkovsky's Solaris. Born into a family of filmmakers, Natalya trained at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography and gained acclaim for her films Bambi's Childhood and Bambi's Youth. She has left a lasting mark on Russian cinema, both as an actress and a director, and remains a celebrated figure in the industry.

KATIE JARVIS

Katie Jarvis is an English actress best known for her critically acclaimed role as Mia Williams in the 2009 film Fish Tank, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. She has also appeared in the long-running BBC soap opera EastEnders. Jarvis transitioned from a promising acting debut into a successful television career, with her portrayal of complex, powerful characters resonating with audiences. Alongside her acting career, she remains an active participant in the UK entertainment industry.

RICHARD BELFIELD

Richard Belfield is an award-winning producer, director, and best-selling author with a specialisation in investigative documentaries. He has produced for major networks like the BBC, Channel 4, and Discovery, with two of his documentaries reaching global audiences of over 150 million. Richard has authored five books, the latest of which was a bestseller, and has also contributed to the Sunday Times and New Statesman. His commercial experience extends beyond the media, including corporate film production.

ADEL DARWISH

Adel Darwish, an Alexandria-born British author, historian, and drama director, is a veteran journalist based at the Press Gallery in the House of Commons. He has written extensively on Middle Eastern and African affairs, working for Fleet Street papers since the Six-Day War of 1967. Darwish has authored several books, and his plays—some based on African, Asian, and Latin American works—have been performed at venues such as the Edinburgh Festival and the Young Vic. He remains active as a journalist, commentator, and critic.

ATOUSA JAM

Atousa Jam is a British fashion designer, PR expert, and entrepreneur. She has collaborated with major brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Aquascutum, and founded Atousa Jam Ltd, specialising in communication and public relations. She has managed Cannes-winning actors and worked closely with directors and producers. Atousa also served as Director at Seven Sky, focusing on film promotion, and is fluent in English, French, and Farsi.

LYDIA GRIGORIEVA

Lydia Grigorieva is a Russian poet, essayist, and photo-artist, as well as a member of the Russian Union of Writers and the International PEN-Club. She has hosted radio programs on both Russian Radio and the BBC and produced TV films about England that were widely shown across Russia. Lydia is the creator of the film poetry genre, a fusion of philosophy, poetry, and cinema, and won a SIFFA Diploma in 2018 for her work. Since 1992, she has lived in London.

SYLVIE BOLIOLI

Sylvie Bolioli began her career in the arts at a young age, directing and acting in plays by age nine. She later worked in international business, holding an MBA, while also pursuing a career in film and theatre. Sylvie has worked with directors like Sam Mendes and Martin Scorsese, and her short film Gas received acclaim from industry leaders. She is the co-founder of the Ramsgate International Film Festival and continues to work on various film projects through her production company, Polaris Productions Ltd.

ED WARD

Ed Ward is an award-winning English actor and writer with over 25 years of experience in international films and stage performances, including London's West End. Known for his dynamic acting style, Ed has garnered recognition for both his scripts and performances. He recently starred in So Long Marianne, playing a bohemian friend of Leonard Cohen, and has had a successful voice-over career in narration.

ELIZABETH JONES

Elizabeth Jones is a passionate cinephile who has produced two short films for the Cannes Film Festival. She regularly provides supporting artists for indie films, docudramas, and shorts. Elizabeth has served as a judge for feature films at various festivals and is an avid attendee of film festivals. By profession, she works as a lawyer.