BOX OFFICE NOW OPEN
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KIFF 2026 WINNERS
MET FILM SCHOOL AWARD FOR BEST U18 SHORT FILM WINNER:
CHANGE HERE FOR
Director: FAUSTAS KARKLINIS
VERVE AWARD FOR BEST STUDENT SHORT FILM WINNER:
THE LIFE ACROSS THE WAY
Director: LOREN HOBBS
BROADLEY STUDIOS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE WINNER:
NEVER HAD A CHANCE
Director: JAZZ BHALLA
VMI.TV AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM WINNER:
THE LONG SPRING
Director: OLLY GINELLI
LITEWORX AWARD FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY WINNER:
MIRELLA
Director: OLIVER BRUCK
GLO FILM AWARD FOR EADWEARD MUYBRIDGE PRIZE WINNER:
CARE
Director: STEF O’DRISCOLL
FIRST FEATURES PITCH TO SCREEN AWARD WINNER:
CHOP
Writer: MAX BRAMLEY
24/7 KIT TV BEST FEATURE FILM WINNER:
EMPIRE OF LIES
Director: MATTHEW HOPE
KIFF INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARD
MIKE LEIGH
KIFF FELLOWSHIP AWARD
MIKE NEWELL
KIFF 2027 is on the Horizon
We’re almost back!
While we are still reminiscing about the record-breaking 5th edition of our festival, we are also working hard in the background to get everything ready for KIFF 2027.
SUBMISSIONS OPEN
SEPTEMBER 1st
Latest Stories
KIFF
MIKE NEWELL RECEIVES KIFF FELLOWSHIP AWARD
The inaugural KIFF Fellowship Award was presented to Mike Newell at the 2026 Gala Awards Evening. There could be no more deserving recipient than Mike, KIFF’s first Patron and one of Britain’s most acclaimed directors.
KIFF
AN AUDIENCE WITH MIKE LEIGH
What a privilege it was for KIFF to welcome legendary British writer, director and producer Mike Leigh for a special conversation with Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive of the British Film Commission and Film London. Having two OBEs on the KIFF stage made the occasion even more memorable.
KIFF
FIVE PHENOMENAL YEARS!
This year marks a significant milestone for Kingston International Film Festival as we celebrate our fifth anniversary.
The Association of Independent Film Festivals (AIFF) was established in 2023 by a collective of UK-based film festivals that support one another by sharing best practices, offering advice, and upholding the values of our charter. We promote and encourage a more equitable film festival experience for both filmmakers and audiences. We are committed to providing filmmakers with transparency and fairness in the independent film festival circuit across the UK.
Your KIFF experiences
Testimonials
An absolute treat of a film festival.
Our feature film SIGNS OF LIFE played to a big crowd on the sunday and the buzz is still buzzing weeks after the event. So many useful and talented people under one roof. The organisation from start to finish is world class. The atmosphere and intent excellent. Perhaps a couple more categories at the awards would be good. but I cannot recommend this enough.
-Joseph Millson, Director
What an absolutely fabulous festival KIFF is!
It was wonderful to be part of this brilliant festival and then to go on to win Best Short with our film THE REMOVED was the cherry on top!
The team led by David, Jelena, Stephen and Shirley are incredibly friendly, and welcoming. It’s clear the team are very passionate about films and supporting filmmakers. I was so impressed with the events they scheduled as well as the brilliant films that were screening.
Congratulations to team KIFF- you nailed it! Can’t wait to screen with you again in the future! Thanks again for a wonderful festival.
– Rebecca, Swift Rocket Films.
Thank you KIFF!
A great festival, in some fantastic venues, with a huge amount of networking and filmmaker opportunities on offer.
– Natalie Lauren, Actor/Producer/Writer/Director/Editor
I was blown away by Kingston Film Festival!
As a filmmaker, what I was offered was absolutely exceptional. The workshops were world-class, hosted by true industry veterans with wisdom in buckets. The atmosphere was friendly and inviting and I met so many passionate and inspiring people, and watched some wonderful films!
– Taylor Rettke, Director/Writer
David, Jelena and the whole festival team were all incredibly welcoming and attentive, and organised a brilliant programme. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there pitching my next film and screening my latest and will certainly submit future work!
– Jen Lim, Director/Writer
KIFF is wonderful.
Staff and support exceptional. Thanks for screening my film! Really enjoyed being there and meeting the other filmmakers. All the thought and effort made to help emerging filmmakers.
– Dilesh Korya
A fantastic festival which will become a key part of London’s festival scene in years to come!
– Will Webb
One of the most filmmaker-centric festivals we have attended!
Supportive and creative atmosphere, wonderful screenings and industry panels. Great networking opportunity for anyone involved in the film Industry. The gold standard in what a festival should be.
– Erik Crown
Thank you!
Thank you for selecting Belly Of The East to be part of your official programme. We loved networking with filmmakers and loved how well organised, accessible and important you made us all feel. There was true diversity at this festival and a dedication to making that diversity welcome.
– Keshia Watson
Great experience at this fantastic festival.
We were given the opportunity to participate in a post screening Q&A, lots of great comms and social media activity in the run-up and during the festival. We hope to be back soon!
– Benjamin Verrall
Kingston International Film Festival is wonderful. It is a gem of a festival located in a beautiful part of the UK.
– Adam Flannelly
KIFF Patrons
Dame Vanessa Redgrave
A career spanning six decades winning an Academy Award, a BAFTA, two Golden Globes, two Primetime Emmys, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award, making her one of the few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.
Vanessa is also the recipient of a BAFTA Fellowship, the Golden Lion Honorary Award, and an induction into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
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Mike Newell
Undoubtedly one of the UK’s most prominent film and television directors and producers. Mike won the BAFTA for Best Director for Four Weddings and a Funeral(1994), which also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film.
Following the success of his films, Mike then went on to direct, among others, the films Donnie Brasco (1997) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005).
India Amarteifio
Born in Kingston, India has a wealth of credits under her belt including Line of Duty, Sex Education and The Midwich Cuckoos.
In 2023, she portrayed the title role of a fictionalised Queen Charlotte in the period drama series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story for which she was nominated at the NAACP Awards for Outstanding Actress as well as the Astra TV Awards.
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