SEIFF is a warm hearted and laid back film festival with the friendliest crew ever. I attended the festival and had a great time for three days. All of the selected films I saw were absolutely high quality picks, and Kingston upon Thames as an area gave the final touch to this attractive cultural experience. I want to go again next year.
Mika Tervonen, Best Comedy Short SEIFF 2019
Our second season finished with a bang, with an overwhelming outpouring of warmth from our attendant filmmakers and audiences.
Having moved the festival to historic Kingston upon Thames in 2019, the Satisfied Eye International Film Festival also welcomed Toronto-based Ada Vaughan to the team as it celebrated the theme of ‘Canada’.
To celebrate the move to Kingston, a new Muybridge Award, to commemorate one of Kingston’s most famous figures – eccentric inventor and photographer Eadweard Muybridge – was presented to the makers of the incredible feature film Last Call.
With our ethos clearly resonating with filmmakers, 2019 saw submissions more than double, with Oscar winners, BAFTA winners and teams from as far afield as USA, Finland, Belgium, Germany and Estonia travelling in to enjoy the festival.
Artistic Director Chris Hastings said: “It’s a filmmakers festival. Everyone who joins us becomes part of the SEIFF family and we want to do our utmost to ensure the directors, writers, producers, actors, production designers, everyone involved in the process, goes away buzzing at the experience they’ve had here.” After a number of sold out screenings the festival closed with its red carpet awards ceremony at the Hilton Doubletree.
Screenings
Lunchtime Shorts 2: The Return