‘Buio Come il Cuore,’ ‘This Damnation,’ ‘Discesa Libera’ Among Winners at London Rolling Film Festival XV

The London Rolling Film Festival wrapped its 15th edition last weekend at Vue Piccadilly, celebrating independent cinema with a full house of filmmakers, actors, producers, and industry guests. Running from September 5–7, the boutique festival combined screenings, Q&As, and networking events before closing with its awards ceremony and party at The Queens Head, Piccadilly.

Marco De Luca’s Buio Come il Cuore took the festival’s top prize, winning Best Feature Film, while Russell De Rozario’s This Damnation scored a double victory, collecting both the Jury Award and the Audience Award for Best Short Film. The True Spark Award went to Sandro Torella for Discesa Libera, which also earned recognition for Best Performance and Best Screenplay.

Other prizes included Best Director for De Luca, Best Animation for YuFeng Chiu’s The Light in the Dark, and technical honors for cinematography, production design, and make-up across the international slate. Special mentions went to Collage by Marius Conrotto and An American Abroad by Marcia Kimpton, while Megan Lockhurst received the Kimberly Marren Recognition Award.

The red carpet attracted a mix of UK and international talent. Guests included Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Game of Thrones Emmy® nominee), Philip Walker (two-time BAFTA nominee), Anna Simone Scott (Daytime Emmy® nominee), Russell De Rozario (This Damnation). Emmy® Award-winners Nikolay Moss and Michele Josia also joined the celebrations, alongside Jennifer Mischiati, Bill Hutchens, Yoon C. Joyce, and representatives from Italian institutions.

Festival founder and director Alida Pantone called the 15th edition “a milestone for the festival,” saying: “The winners represent the creativity, passion, and resilience of independent filmmakers worldwide. I want to thank our dedicated jurors and partners for their invaluable support in making this edition such a success.”

The jury featured producer and distributor David Nicholas Wilkinson, Watchmaker Films founder Mark Rance, journalist Stephanie Takyi, and author Nazmun Nesa Piari.

Founded in London, the festival has built a reputation as an intimate platform where filmmakers are required to attend in person, offering audiences rare direct engagement. Its mission is to Connect, Inspire, Support, captured in the motto: Stay Focused and Keep Rolling.