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:

SHORTS 2025

“Absent”

Competition programme

Director: Tohid Barghi Valenajagh

Screenplay: Tohid Barghi Valenajagh

Producer: Self-produced

DOP: Tohid Barghi Valenajagh

Sound: Tohid Barghi Valenajagh

Editors: Tohid Barghi Valenajagh

Cast: Pauline Bonnefoi, Adrien Demezieres, Maria Unoutchko, Paul Keeler

Country: France

Year: 2024

Language: French

Running time: 11 min

Synopsis: Irene lives a detached life as a tailor. Her partner is on the run with creditors looking for their debt. Feeling her life void and vain, she abandons her partner's affairs and surrenders to his creditors.

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!

“Hear me out”

Competition programme

Director: Anna Lee

Screenplay: Anna Lee

Producer: Anna Lee

DOP: Neil West

Sound: Rob Shepherd

Editors: Neil West

Cast: Sofia Antonia Milone, Julia Florimo, Guy Woolf

Set design: Lucy Turner

Country: United Kingdom

Year: 2024

Language: English

Running time: 8 min

Synopsis: Pete's decision to quit his medical career to become a writer is inspired by his sister Katie. His mother's cruel reaction masks some terrifying, unspoken truths.

“Machine of quiet killing”

Competition programme

Director: Raphael Allason

Screenplay: Raphael Allason

Producer: Zuzanna Słupińska, Tomakay Percival

DOP: Matt Bramham

Composer: Malina Midera

Sound: Abe Gallagher

Editors: Will Mackenzie

Cast: Mark Emmons, Matthew Pate

Country: UK

Year: 2025

Language: English

Running time: 9 min

Synopsis: Two brothers continuously subject themselves to ‘The Machine’, a mechanism they believe will let them see their deceased father again.

“Maru and my friend's wedding”

Competition programme

Director: LEE Hyun-bin

Screenplay: LEE Hyun-bin

Producer: Yim Gumnim

DOP: YOU Jong-mi

Composer: NA jeongsun

Sound: Ko Hun, Lee Sang Hyeok, Son Min Gon, Go Nam-il 

Editors: Woo hee jeong (Woo Cine)

Cast: Choi Min-kyung, Ma-ru, Kim Kyungmin, Yim Gumnim, Summer,

Country: Korea

Year: 2024

Language: Korean 

Running time: 31 min

Synopsis: Min-ah, who has various titles such as single, office worker, disabled, actor, and activist, etc.

On the day when they gathered to celebrate their friend Hyun-kyung's wedding, Min-ah meets a lost black Chihuahua.

Min-ah names the black Chihuahua 'Maru' and begins to learn about the life Maru has lived. The times she endured just to be cute, to provide cute lives to the human world.

“Messengers of Light”

Special selection

Director: Lydia Grigorieva

Country: UK

Duration: 16 min

Genre: Art

Synopsis: A poetic visual journey from the Nativity to the Transfiguration, portraying angels, saints, and prophets through luminous reflections and imagery.

“Only Daughters”

Competition programme

Director: Noemi Forti

Screenplay: Noemi Forti

Producer: Noemi Forti

DOP: Elena Sbrogiò

Composer: Lorenzo Ceci

Sound: Andrea Soldini

Editors: Ilenia Zincone

Cast: Nora Rosestolato "Leda" - Eva Niccolai "Anna" - Davide Barbafiera "Lucio"

Country: Italy

Year: 2025

Language: Italian 

Running time:15 min

Synopsis: It is the early 2000s. It is August, St Bartholomew's Day. Two sisters run away. They go first into a meadow, then run among the olive trees. Anna, the youngest, plays at being a big girl, she knows that in the evening she will return home to her grandmother, their home. Leda, 12, on the other hand, really wants to leave that tiny village in Maremma for good. Their paths will part. And in the meantime, the little village, with its rituals, its songs, its red wine, remains always the same, year after year, feast after feast.

“Snatcher”

Competition programme

Director: Jasdip Sagar

Screenplay: Jasdip Sagar

Producer: Jasdip Sagar

DOP: Leon Silavant

Sound: Steven Massey

Editors: Jasdip Sagar

Cast: Christian Vit, Sophie Karl

Country: UK 

Year: 2025

Language: English

Running time: 13 min

Synopsis: Snatcher is a gritty urban thriller that follows Drake, a socially isolated phone thief who prowls the city on his bike, snatching devices from unsuspecting pedestrians. One evening, he steals the phone of Charlotte, a quiet young woman reading The Catcher in the Rye. Intrigued by her life through the lens of her unlocked phone, Drake becomes obsessed and engineers a “chance” meeting at her favourite café. As the two bond over the very book that has haunted criminal history, Drake struggles with guilt and identity.

“The Boomerang”

Competition programme

Director: Sergey Baryshev

Screenplay: Sergey Baryshev

Producer: Sergey Baryshev

DOP: Albert Gafurov

Sound: Pavel Rogov

Editors: Elena Rusakova, Sergey Baryshev

Cast: Svetlana Varetskaya, Sergey Baryshev, Evgeniya Lyutaya, Mikhail Danilyuk, Maksim Gladkov

Country: Russian Federation

Year: 2025

Language: Russian

Running time: 31 min

Synopsis: In search of a job, Andrey ends up in a call center where phone scammers work. He doesn't know that his mother has been affected by these scammers

“The Breadwinner”

Competition programme

Director: Tatiana Fedyunina

Screenplay: Artem Zhiliaev

Producer: Tatiana Fedyunina, Aleksandra Ermolaeva

DOP: Aleksandra Ermolaeva

Composer: Daria Stavrovich

Sound: Dima Skobelev

Editors: Oksana Lapina

Cast: Vladislava Ermolaeva, Nikita Pivovarov

Country: Russian Federation

Year: 2025

Language: Russian

Running time: 16 min

Synopsis: Along with his wife, Igor also lost his potency. Now, he is trying to prove that he is still a man, with the help of pregnant Snezhana, who looks very much like his runaway wife.

“The Interval”

Competition programme

Director: Kirill Khaletsky

Screenplay: Kirill Khaletsky

Producer: Kirill Khaletsky

DOP: Alexey Korobko 

Sound: Anastasiya Apanasevich

Editors: Kirill Khaletsky

Cast: Sergey Stepin, Vladislav Solodov

Country: Belarus

Year: 2025

Language: Russian 

Running time: 12 min

Synopsis: Two provincial theatre actors, Mikhail and Sergey, argue in the dressing room during the interval between the first and second acts of the play Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, debating who is truly worthy of playing Don Quixote.

Mikhail is the audience’s favourite, a seasoned master who has been playing Don Quixote for several years. Sergey, a younger actor, has spent six years in Mikhail’s shadow, always in supporting roles, forever stuck as Sancho Panza. But what begins as a desperate attempt to seize the role at any cost soon escalates into something far greater than a mere creative rivalry, putting the second act of the play on the verge of collapse.

So who is truly worthy of being Don Quixote - the celebrated stage veteran Mikhail or the ambitious young Sergey?

“The Shore of Promises”

Competition programme

Director: Joy Shi

Screenplay: Joy Shi

Producer: Justas Kavaliauskas

DOP: Andre Goncalves

Composer: Tottomori, Oli Newbury

Sound: Aurelia Forte

Editors: Peter Rayson

Cast: Lily Smart, Galina Hristova, Claire Coull, Jill Stanford, Natalie Maceira

Country: Norway, Sweden, UK

Year: 2025

Language: English 

Running time: 13 min

Synopsis: Alva is a wistful child struggling to keep her home together. After a mysterious encounter, she embarks on a mystical journey to find solace for her mother.

“The Trap”

Competition programme

Director: Sergey Baryshev

Screenplay: Ekaterina Koresheva

Producer: Sergey Baryshev, Ekaterina Koresheva

DOP: Albert Gafurov

Sound: Aleksandr Garkach

Composer: Ekaterina Semenova

Editors: Elena Rusakova, Sergey Baryshev, Albert Gafurov

Cast:  Larisa Luzhina, Oksana Stashenko, Vadim Kolganov, Lyubov Rudenko, Sergey Baryshev

Country: Russian Federation

Year: 2024

Language: Russian

Running time: 32 min

Synopsis: There are gunshots at school. Why would a student bring a gun to school? And who are his classmates? Victims or villains?

“The Turtle”

Competition programme

Director: Moris Amiryan

Screenplay: Maria Klementyeva, Vaclav Boldyrev

Producer: Mikhail Bobrovsky, Uliana Kasimova

DOP: Vasilisa Bachurina

Composer: 

Sound: Maria Beloserova, Alan Gagloev, Oleg Pliev, Mikhail Petriashvili, Azau Khachirova

Editors: Alexandra Gusarova

Cast: Grigory Mamiev, Alan Mamiev, Konstantin Farniev, Atsamaz Kochiev

Country: Russian Federation 

Year: 2024

Language: Russian 

Running time: 24 min

Synopsis: Igor and his son Senya travel to North Ossetia for the funeral of Igor’s father, with whom he had not spoken for many years. Senya is unaware of his grandfather’s death. Along the way, Igor shares an old legend about a turtle and an ancient tree. Upon arriving in their native village, Igor fulfills his father’s final wish by digging a hole beneath the tree. After the funeral, Senya waters the tree. As the two prepare to depart, the ancient legend comes to life, and father and son realize their true home is now here, on their ancestral land.

“UBI SUNT”

Special selection

Director: Natalia Jezova

Country: UK

Duration: 7 min

Genre: Experimental

Synopsis: The film UBI SUNT is a reflection on life and death, present in absence, sense of loss, memories and unconscious processes. UBI SUNT comprises a single long take – drawing parallel with an individual person’s life.