Award-winning British Asian indie drama Never Had A Chance, a gritty and heartfelt portrayal of West London life, will be screening at the fifth Kingston International Film Festival (KIFF) on 5 June 2026, ahead of a wider UK cinema rollout.

Directed/Produced by Jazz Bhalla of Reelistic Dreams, and produced by Vikrant Chopra of Bridging The Gap Films Ltd.(BTG Films Ltd), Ben Pengilly of Onset Octopus and Rajinder Kochar, the film has already built momentum on the UK and international festival circuit, with successful screenings at the UK Asian Film Festival, London Independent Film Festival, British and Irish Film Festival Luxembourg, and Northampton Film Festival.

Starring Amar Chaggar and set within Hounslow's Punjabi community, Never Had a Chance follows Ravi, a young man navigating the weight of his past while trying to build a future.



'Never Had a Chance' is a gritty and heartfelt portrayal of West London life (Image supplied)

When a new connection offers a glimpse of something more stable and meaningful, he finds himself at a crossroads. But those closest to him threaten to pull him deeper into a life he is trying to leave behind.

Rooted in the lived realities of West London, the film offers an unfiltered yet compassionate look at identity, friendship and survival.

It captures the richness and complexity of British Asian culture, spotlighting a community rarely portrayed on screen with this level of nuance and authenticity.

Through its characters, Never Had a Chance explores the tension between circumstance and choice, and the universal desire for a second chance.

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The film joins the lineup of KIFF, an international arena for new voices in cinema that unites independent filmmakers, industry professionals and the local community across three days of screenings and events.

The festival provides a prestigious yet inclusive stage, one committed to diversity and equality, making it a fitting home for a film rooted in authentic British Asian experience.

This screening follows the debut of Never Had a Chance at the UK Asian Film Festival on 5 May 2026, where it screened at the Kiln Cinema in London to an enthusiastic reception.

The debut placed the film within an established platform renowned for championing South Asian storytelling and emerging British Asian voices, marking a significant milestone for the production.

Never Had A Chance Director Jazz Bhalla said:"This film is rooted in experiences and situations that will feel very real to many young people growing up in West London. It explores pressure, identity, and the choices people make when they feel boxed in by their environment.

"Screening at Kingston International Film Festival means a great deal because it's a festival that genuinely champions independent voices and personal storytelling. At its heart, Never Had a Chance is about striving for something better, even when the odds feel stacked against you."

To accompany the film, the soundtrack draws on British Asian music and dub influences, channelling the sound of West London and bringing the culture to life through a raw and immersive audio experience.

KIFF 2026 is running from Friday, 5 - Sunday, 7 June and tickets are on sale now here.