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 - 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.

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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.

SIFFA 2025 OPENS THE SEASON WITH A MASTERCLASS BY RENOWNED FILMMAKER RICHARD BELFIELD

“The Art of Documentary Filmmaking” — London, 3 November 2025

The So Independent International Film Festival (SIFFA) proudly opens its 2025 season with an exclusive masterclass led by award-winning investigative filmmaker Richard Belfield, whose work has been broadcast on BBC, Channel 4, Discovery, Al Jazeera and National Geographic.

📅 Monday, 3 November 2025

🕠 17:30–19:30

📍 10A Craven Street, London WC2N 5PE

In this in-person masterclass, Belfield will share the essential skills and insights behind his acclaimed body of work — from uncovering real stories and building trust with contributors to transforming facts into powerful cinematic experiences.

💡 After attending this masterclass, participants will have the knowledge and inspiration to create their first documentary film, which SIFFA will be ready to evaluate as part of its commitment to supporting new voices in cinema.

This event marks the official opening of the SIFFA 2025 season, under the festival’s guiding theme:

“Cinema of Higher Values – Beyond Differences Towards Dialogue.”

🎟️ Seats are limited — book now before they’re gone!

Richard Belfield

Richard 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.Belfield

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.

CELEBRATE 10 YEARS OF CINEMA WITH SIFFA!

Submit your film to the 15th edition of the Independent International Film Festival & Awards (SIFFA) –

a unique bridge between cultures and a tribute to cinematic excellence

Join us as we mark a decade of stories, creativity, and global voices. Submit via FilmFreeway

Submit your film to the 15th edition of the Independent International Film Festival & Awards (SIFFA) – a unique bridge between cultures and a tribute to cinematic excellence

Join us as we mark a decade of stories, creativity, and global voices. Submit via FilmFreeway

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:

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024

Two Women (Russian: Две женщины, Dve zhenshchiny)

a 2014 Russian drama film directed by Vera Glagoleva, starring Ralph Fiennes and Sylvie Testud. It is based on Ivan Turgenev's 1872 play A Month in the Country (originally written as Two Women in 1855).

At the heart of the play lies the love quadrangle. Natalya Petrovna, the wife of the rich landowner Arkady Sergeich Islaev, falls in love with Alexey Nikolayevich Belyaev - a student, teacher Kolya Islaeva.

Mikhail Aleksandrovich Rakitin - a friend of the family, has long loved Natalya Petrovna. Verochka - a pupil of Natalya Petrovna also falls in love with Kolya's teacher. Belyaev and Rakitin eventually leave the estate...

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2024.

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.

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!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2024

The Double, a 2013 British black comedy thriller film written and directed by Richard Ayoade and starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska. It is based The Double: A Petersburg Poem novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Numerous literary critics regard: A Petersburg Poem novel written by Fyodor Dostoevsky as one of the greatest novelists in all of world literature, as many of his works are considered highly influential masterpieces.

London Film Festival: 2013 nomination for Best Film.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024

Independent Film Festival and Awards SIFFA'24 Program Selection

Seven Moments of Robert Rozhdestvesky. Director Pavel Menyaylo, Russia.

He was a Soviet-Russian poet and songwriter who broke with socialist realism in the 1950s–1960s during the Khrushchev Thaw and, along with such poets as Andrei Voznesensky, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, and Bella Akhmadulina, pioneered a newer, fresher, and freer style of poetry in the Soviet Union.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2024

This event will be held at Vue Piccadilly, where you can immerse yourself in the magic of cinema.

SIFFA Competition and Non-Competition Program Selection

SOMN by director Cal M. Butnaru, United Kingdom

Tell me, RAI by director Enrique Martín Subías, Spain

Negative Skies by director Aidan Sherlock, United Kingdom

Shift Change by director Mark Hensley, United States

The Place by director Arkady Kogan, Russia (special screening)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024

Independent International Film Festival SIFFA UK classics

Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (Russian: Москва слезам не верит,romanized: Moskva slezam ne verit) is a 1980 Soviet romantic drama film made by Mosfilm. It was written by Valentin Chernykh and directed by Vladimir Menshov. The leading roles were played by Vera Alentova and Aleksey Batalov. The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1981.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2024

In The Moscow Slums. The Sign of Four a 2023 Russian mystery film directed by Karen Shakhnazarov about the theatrical bohemians of the early 20th century and the inhabitants of the Khitrovka slums.

It stars Konstantin Kryukov, Mikhail Porechenkov and Alexander Oleshko.

The film is based on the works of Vladimir Gilyarovsky and Arthur Conan Doyle's novel The Sign of Four.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2024

Special screening of Vysotsky by director Anatoly Balchev. The film is dedicated to that part of the life of the poet, singer and actor, which he spent in Europe and Russia. He starred in movies there and authored many songs.

The film includes a large amount of archival materials, the director specified. Balchev himself, according to him, collaborated a lot with Vysotsky. He began to create the film a long time ago, but the work went slowly, it was complicated by the search for archival materials.

The film was already screened by SIFFA last year, but because of the huge demand we decided to put it in our program again.

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...

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SIFFA RETURNS TO LONDON!

This year, SIFFA takes place in the heart of London in Piccadilly at the Vue Cinema. This is its 14th edition and its 9th year in London...