So Independent International Film Festival (SIFFA-2025)

London | 20–28 November 2025 | Vue Cinema Piccadilly & Mayfair

LONDON, UK — The So Independent International Film Festival (SIFFA) proudly announces its 15th edition, taking place from 20 to 28 November 2025 in the heart of London, at Vue Cinema Piccadilly (19 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4LR), with the Closing Ceremony and Awards Gala in Mayfair.

This year marks a double celebration — SIFFA’s 15th edition and its 10th anniversary — uniting filmmakers, artists, and thinkers from around the world under the guiding theme:

“Cinema of Higher Values — Beyond Differences, Towards Genuine Dialogue”.

The 2025 edition is inspired by the works of the distinguished Chilean philosopher Dario Salas Sommer, who devoted his life to the pursuit of a more harmonious and conscious path for humanity.

Festival Programme will include:

  • Feature and short film competitions

  • International documentary section

  • Masterclasses and industry panels

  • Special screenings

  • Awards Ceremony honouring excellence in independent filmmaking

Festival Prologue: Masterclass on Documentary Filmmaking

🗓 3 November 2025, 16:00

📍 10A Craven Street, London WC2N 5PE

🔸 Admission strictly by invitation and pre-registration only

As a prologue to the festival, SIFFA will host an exclusive Masterclass on Documentary Filmmaking led by Richard Belfield, the award-winning British director and journalist, known for his powerful investigative documentaries with millions of views on leading international networks such as Al Jazeera, Channel 4, the BBC, and Discovery Channel. The session will explore creative approaches to real-life storytelling and the process of turning lived experience into cinematic narrative.

Press Conference & Special Screening

🗓 Tuesday, 18 November 2025, 18:30–20:30

📍 The Castle Cinema (Screen 2, 27 seats) First Floor, 64–66 Brooksby’s Walk, Hackney, London E9 6DA

The festival press conference will be followed by a special screening of the documentary epigraph “Temptation by Civilisation” inspired by the philosophy of Dario Salas Sommer - a cinematic reflection on this year’s festival theme: Cinema of Higher Values — Beyond Differences, Towards Genuine Dialogue.

In memory of the men and women who gave their lives in the service of light, mutual respect, understanding, and the peaceful coexistence of cultures and civilisations, the special screening session within the SIFFA-2025 programme is dedicated to the 80th Anniversary of Victory over Fascism in World War II, paying tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and moral resilience of those who defended humanity against tyranny.

🏆 Awards Ceremony & Closing Gala

🗓 Friday, 28 November 2025

📍 Mayfair, London (venue details to be announced)

The SIFFA-2025 Awards Ceremony will bring together members of the international jury, honoured guests, filmmakers, and cultural partners to celebrate outstanding achievements in independent cinema and the enduring spirit of creative dialogue.

Distinguished Guests & Contributors:

Fedor Bondarchuk

Acclaimed filmmaker, actor, and producer from the distinguished Bondarchuk film dynasty. His father, Sergei Bondarchuk, was among the first international directors to receive an Academy Award (Oscar).

Duchess Nivin El-Gamal

Philanthropist and cultural advocate

Joel van der Molen

Award-winning British director and actor

Issam Hijjawi

Jordanian producer and Chairman of the Shorts Jury

Katie Jarvis

English actress best known for her Cannes-winning debut Fish Tank

Lembit Öpik

Former Member of Parliament and broadcaster, known for his advocacy for arts and creative industries

About SIFFA

An international jury composed of distinguished filmmakers, writers, and cultural figures from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia will be officially announced soon. Founded in 2016, SIFFA has become one of the most dynamic and artistically driven independent film festivals in the UK, with past collaborations including the BAFTA, British Film Institute (BFI), the Raindance Film Festival, the Westminster City Council, and the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).

"Our mission has always been to create a space where cinema becomes a bridge — between cultures, between values, and between people,” says Dr. Luba Balagova-Kandour, Founder and President of SIFFA. Follow festival updates on www.siffa.media and official social media channels: #SIFFA2025 #CinemaOfHigherValues #LondonFilmFestival #BeyondDifferences