Prepare yourself for an unforgettable cinematic experience! RIFF - Reykjavík International Film Festival's Opening ceremony is tonight, as the festival kicks off for the 21st time. This year's opening film is made by the Icelandic-Norwegian director Lilja Ingólfsdóttir.
Loveable (Elskling), directed by Lilja, marks her debut feature film, having first premiered in Oslo earlier this year. The film quickly became a talking point due to its intense emotional themes and Helga Guren’s standout performance in the leading role, which Variety described as a 'gutsy performance' in their review. In Loveable, Guren plays Maria, a woman struggling to balance her career ambitions with the demands of caring for her four children, while her husband, Sigmund, is frequently absent due to work-related travel. The couple's relationship reaches a breaking point during a heated argument, leading Sigmund to ask for a divorce. The film received a standing ovation at The Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July, and won five awards.
Before the opening film, RIFF will screen the short Birnir og Bríet, by Erlendur Sveinsson. It follows a couple in outer space who attempt to erase the memories of their relationship. The short, which was filmed in one of Icelandair's airplanes, is a visual journey through Birnir and Bríet's album 1000 Words, that the pair recently released.
The German actress Nastassja Kinski will receive an honorary award for Creative Excellence, presented by actor and director Gísli Örn Garðarsson. Filmmaker Gagga Jóns will deliver this year's Festival Splash.
