About Crystal Palace International Film Festival

Founded in 2009 the Crystal Palace International Film Festival is an annual festival held in South East London, CPIFF presents a diverse programme of the very best Independent films from all over the world. Watch the videos at the bottom of this page.

We have been lucky enough to have some of the UK’s top comedians attend and present The CPIFF Awards including Johnny Vegas, Shappi Khorsandi, Kerry Godliman, Seann Walsh and Mark Steel. Film makers who attend many festivals comment on the stand out nature and higher film quality of CPIFF. The Simpsons writer, Mike Reiss, said: “You run the very best festival we’ve ever been to – and we’ve been to a lot! This is as good as it gets!” Watch the CPIFF video here for more filmmaker comments:- https://vimeo.com/244366298

Christened by filmmakers, CPIFF is known as the world’s coolest film festival – you hear the words ‘cool’ and ‘coolest’ so much during interviews since it started. CPIFF vigilantly curates its films so that one brilliant film follows another every night as well as a mix of genres and uniquely screening in funky venues with outstanding food and drink, making every night a social evening to remember. That’s why nights are sold out well in advance. When selected your film has a stamp of quality and will be seen by a sizeable audience!

CPIFF stands out from the standard fayre of the usual film festival and is, importantly, inspiring the public to appreciate independent film.

CPIFF’s mission is to discover, support, and exhibit pioneering work by global and local film-makers, introducing viewers to alternative cinematic experiences with our unique formula.

UK Film Festival Judges

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CPIFF winners are chosen by a prestigious panel of celebrity and respected film industry judges including one of the UK’s biggest actors and comedians Johnny Vegas
and
Sony Gold winning comic and author Mark Steel who has presented the CPIFF awards every year bar 1 and been totally ace!

Peppa Pig

Other UK judges are Neville Astley, creator of worldwide phenomenon Peppa Pig
and
Rebecca Allen – President of EMI Records

The Judges

Johnny Vegas 

One of the UK’s best known comedians, his CV as a performer, writer and 
producer is long, from starring in countless TV and radio shows to acting alongside Johnny Depp. He presented the CPIFF awards 2020 and 2021.

Rebecca Allen 

President of EMI Records Worldwide.
EMI sponsor our Best Music Video Award and Rebecca judges the finalists.



Mark Steel 

One the UK’s original ‘alternative’ comics, a familiar face on TV and regular on BBC Radio 4 including his own SONY award winning series ‘Mark Steel’s in Town’; author of several 
books and a weekly columnist for the Independent newspaper. Mark has also hosted lots of CPIFF Awards Nights, thanks Mark!

Roberta Gallinari

Co-founder and director at CPIFF

Neville Astley

Co-creator of the UK’s worldwide phenomoenon that is Peppa Pig, producing and directing hundreds of episodes, translated into over 30 languages winning many awards and don’t forget Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom.

Beverly Dixon

MD of Woolyback Productions, UK, producer and executive producer of many TV and radio programs with Johnny Vegas.

Brian Dooley

Brian is a Bafta winning writer of TV’s The Smoking Room and has worked on Being Human and Way To Go, plus many more.

Quentin Miles

Animation director at Cinesite, Quentin has directed special effects and animation on
 blockbusters such as Harry Potter, James Bond, Batman and X-Men franchises and Disney Pixars’ John Carter of Mars. 
An impressive pedigree.

Hayley Ayers
Hayley has 16 years industry experience and has worked with Graham Norton, Jo Brand and John Bishop.

Everton Nelson
Everton, a renowned violinist and orchestra leader has worked on an incredibly long list of big films such as James Bond and Harry Potter franchises, The Twilight Trilogy, The Bourne Trilogy, Mission impossible, Lord of the Rings, Prometheus…

Martin Tempia

Martin has produced TV for over 25 years working for the likes of Celador, Hat Trick Productions and Polygram. He currently has his own projects in development with Channel 4 and the BBC.

Judging criteria
Each submission will be watched and judged on the following criteria: 
Direction, Cinematography, Entertainment Value, Acting, Screenplay, Sensitivity and Approach (documentary) Animation quality and Soundtrack etc where relevant to the category.

Finalists will be chosen and forwarded to our celebrity and Industry judges who will choose a winner for each category.

Mark Steel hosts CPIFF

A big thank you to Mark Steel (Comedian, Author and Columnist) for presenting the CPIFF awards once again – we think you’re brilliant!.

The Festival and Crystal Palace

Screenings take place in and around Crystal Palace, London, UK. Category winners are presented with a CPIFF specially designed award at the CPIFF Gala Finale and awards evening.

Nights are held in funky venues such as churches and theatres with incredible architecture serving delicious food, drink with other entertainments available.

Crystal Palace is one of the coolest parts of London and the UK, a triangle of streets with bars and restaurants of every cuisine, it is steeped in history, has great views overlooking London and 3 parks – one even has dinosaurs.

 

Crystal Palace is the home of the national sports centre which hosts international athletics and live concerts. Two transmitters stand out clearly in the skyline hence the design of the festival’s logo. In 1938 John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, made the world’s first ever colour broadcast from the actual Crystal Palace site after it burned down in 1936.
The BBC still broadcast from here.

The CPIFF videos were produced by Harlequin Productions a London TV commercial production company and media buying advertising agency.