About the Fourth Sochi International Film Festival & Awards
November 16 – 21, 2019
Sochi-Russia
Sochi International Film Festival & Awards - is proud to announce its fourth world class event celebrating Russian, British and International film making for cinema that rises above the international political agenda.
The Awards has already received immense international media attention. The event will be attended by seasoned industry professionals and distinguished guests from around the globe.
Dear friends, participants and guests of the 2018 Sochi International Film Festival and Awards, (SIFFA’18)
I welcome you all on behalf of Sochi residents of the Olympic City of national consensus and hospitality. The best international cultural projects have found their home in Sochi. SIFFA’18 is no exception. In fact, the SIFFA project is gaining popularity in the country and around the globe, and is already the hallmark of the winter cultural season. It is a tradition to honour the great masters of cinema, and to support young directors who are starting on their cinematic journey. We also welcome the initiative of the organisers who pay special attention to cinema masters from the regions, especially those from the south of Russia, our countrymen. I wish the large international team of participants, guests and spectators, successful film discussion and debates, new creative meetings and unforgettable Black Sea magical evenings! Dear guests, welcome to Sochi!
Mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov
2018
SIFFA UK 2019 PRESS RELEASE
ANGLO-RUSSIAN FILM FESTIVAL IS A HIT IN THE CITY OF LONDON
THE GLAMOROUS Sochi International Film Festival and Awards’ (SIFFA) UK Gala Night in the decorous interior of top global law firm Pinsent Masons proved a Box Office hit with the City lawyers and Anglo-Russian movie makers and shakers last night (21/3/2019).
A full house of 150 specially selected guests from the legal and film worlds donned gowns and black tie for the SIFFA’19 UK Gala celebrations, which are held shortly after the main event in the Russian Black Sea coastal resort of Sochi in December each year.
The Awards ceremony featured best-selling Royal biographer and TV star Lady Colin Campbell giving the SIFFA honours to winners, alongside the President of Russia’s Guild of Film Critics, Kirill Razlogov, and sublime Russian sculptress Irina Lagoshina.
Guests saw the UK première of up-and-coming Russian director Vladimir Bitokov’s stunning movie ‘Deep Rivers’ – a disturbing drama set in the Caucasus mountains. Director Bitokov said afterwards: “I am deeply proud my film is firstly shown in London by SIFFA.”
A SIFFA Special Documentary Award was accepted for the extraordinary Canadian underwater-filmed movie, ‘Sharkwater Extinction’, premièred in Toronto last year, and then screened in Sochi, by the film’s UK distributor, Ian Dawson of Sparky Pictures. Writer and Director Rob Stewart died during a dive while making his film, which warns that our massacre of sharks will lead to disaster down the eco-chain for humankind.
‘Sharkwater Extinction’ is released in UK cinemas this week (22/3/2019). “It is a great cinema experience and a stark warning to us – Rob’s parents in Canada are very proud of this SIFFA Award and recognition,” said Mr Dawson at the SIFFA’19 UK Gala.
City law firm Pinsent Masons has already established its ‘RusFor’ Russian-speaking platform to promote knowledge of Russia and other surrounding countries like Kazakhstan amongst lawyers. Now it has told SIFFA they would be welcome to return to the Pinsent Masons Crown Place HQ near Liverpool Street next year.
Ben Wells, a fluent Russian speaker and Pinsent Masons associate, said: “Our ‘RusFor’ members very much appreciated this SIFFA Gala experience and we as a firm welcome SIFFA – and would do so again. There are avenues to explore here. The Gala was a great success for all of us.”
SIFFA Founder and President, Luba Balagova, confirmed the growing tie between her festival organisation, which aims to promote an artistic bridge between Britain and Russia, and her City of London Gala Night legal hosts.
“SIFFA loves the City of London and we are very happy to build up our partnership with Pinsent Masons. Let’s hope we can do lots more together – and ‘Yes’ we will be back,” said Ms Balagova, a published author and poet, who lives in Berkshire.
Tributes poured in as the Gala Night progressed, with toasts of Russian and Polish vodkas and meads, and famous film tracks arranged and played by the Royal College of Music’s Kandour string quartet.
The seaside city of Sochi, which staged many FIFA World Cup football matches last year, and runs the Russian Formula One Grand Prix annually, is twinned with the West Country spa town of Cheltenham.
Cheltenham’s Twinning Association leader, Martin Kimber, told the SIFFA’19 UK guests: “We would very much like SIFFA to come to us and stage an event in our town, Sochi’s twin for 60 years now. Cheltenham Council would, I believe, be very favourable for SIFFA to come to our Gloucestershire jewel. Our door is open.”
Sochi’s Mayor Anatoly Pachomov sent a special message to the Gala, delivered by Russian movie mogul, Sergey Novozhilov: “Have a wonderful night in your great city of London – thank you to the esteemed law firm of Pinsent Masons for bringing this about as host for SIFFA UK. And I hope to welcome you all to our fine city in November for the 4th SIFFA event in Sochi. We have sunshine all year round, so you will not need coats and scarves. From Sochi to London, as Mayor, I send you our people’s warmest wishes.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS: for further details, photos, and other requests, please first check our website at www.sochifilmawards.com or contact SIFFA Media Director John Hellings on 07913 819784 or john.hellings@sochifilmawards.com
SIFFA MOMENTS
Videos
During a tough chapter in UK-Russian relations I was pleased to have been able to attend Luba's special evening... Luba , you are a brave and valiant woman to spearhead such a high-profile project in a hostile environment. But those of us who spent the 23rd with you had the privilege of breathing the same air as the legendary Stephen Frears, the American star Nick Nolte and the superb string ensemble (KANDOUR QUARTET).
Luba, this is a crucial time for artists to recover their voice, you are helping to restore the connection between all of us, film makers from all over the world. I applaud the philosophy that underpins what you are doing.
Congratulations on making history, Luba. Thanks to Anatoly Pakhomov, of course! Sochi is the ideal choice for the concept of creating an international film festival designed to restore the face of art to the world through cinema. (…) Russia has always presented to the world the best examples of literature, philosophy, cinema and, in general, culture! And now the new Sochi International Film Awards wrote a new chapter in history with the same concept.
A structured and strict concept of a powerful film festival has been formed, and you managed to prove its feasibility. Congratulations on what you have achieved, Luba. You've got proof of concept under your belt now! I thank Sochi Mayor Anatoly Pakhomov for supporting the new important film festival.
A smashing success! Thank you for bringing Moscow and Sochi delegations, for the unexpected Sochi-wood glamour, the feedback from staff members and external guests was unreservedly positive.
Admirable Lubov Balagova-Kandour.
President and Producer of the “IRIDA” First Sochi International Film Awards. Majestic woman and lady of the world. Her motto - nothing is impossible. A woman of words and deeds. Beautiful person and magnificent woman.
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