Masterclass: The Art of Taking Action + Sigurjón Sighvatsson
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 18:30 (6:30pm)
David Leitch, Kelly McCormick and editor Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir delve into the creative process behind some of their best-known films. Among them is Bullet Train, Bullet Trainwhich will be screened in the same venue at 4:15 PM — the perfect opportunity to see the film before the masterclass begins.
Cave-In: Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raufarhólshellir
26. september, kl 16:00 (4:00pm)
26. september, kl 20:00 (8:00pm)
This year’s RIFF Cave-in film is none other than Raiders of the Lost Ark, the highest-grossing film in the world in 1981 and now considered one of the greatest adventure films in cinematic history. The film established Steven Spielberg as one of the most acclaimed directors of his generation and made Harrison Ford one of the biggest movie stars in the world.
Lucy Lost
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 22:00 (10:00pm)
Director: Olivier Clerty
On the Isles of Scilly in 1915, young Lucy is raised by a close-knit community of fishermen, with only faint memories of her past. As the Great War rages across the continent, an encounter with a mysterious girl her own age helps her piece together her forgotten story—and discover where she belongs in the world. Screened with Icelandic dialogue.
Paper Tiger
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 19:40 (7:40pm)
Director: James Gray
In James Gray’s deeply felt and intense drama, two brothers become entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true. As they try to navigate their way through the dangerous world of the Russian mafia, family bonds begin to fray with life-altering consequences. Starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson.
Full Steam Ahead + Impact Talk
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 17:05 (5:05pm)
Directors: Susan Muska, Greta Olafsdottir
Full Steam Ahead turns its attention to the women who have helped shape Iceland’s geothermal and energy sectors—fields in which scientific progress and innovation have not always been matched by equal opportunities in the workplace.
Following the screening, this Impact Talk brings together women featured in and connected to the film for a candid conversation about gender equality in the field: the paths they have taken into traditionally male-dominated professions, the barriers and workplace cultures they have encountered, what has changed across generations, and what still needs to change.
Through their personal and professional experiences, the discussion will look at what meaningful equality requires beyond representation—from access and leadership to recognition, institutional culture and the conditions that allow women to build and sustain careers in science and energy.
A Day in the Life of Jo: Chapter Phaedra
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 13:10 (1:10pm)
Director: Jacqueline Lentzou
The film follows 15-year-old Jo on a day that begins like any other but becomes a profound journey of self-discovery. Phaedra’s captivating singing awakens new feelings in her, while dreamlike memories, her relationship with her volatile mother, and an unexpected tragedy intertwine in a poetic story about love, loss, and the boundaries between life and death.
Congo Boy
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 11:15 (11:15am)
Director: Rafiki Fariala
In Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, 17-year-old Robert dreams of building a future in the music world, but civil war has turned his country upside down. When both of his parents are imprisoned, he is left to care for his four younger siblings on his own. He tries to keep everyday life going, taking on odd jobs, preparing for his school exams, and performing at concerts – determined to make his dream a reality.
Heat + Q&A
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 17:30 (5:30pm)
Director: Jacqueline Zünd
Climate change disrupts lives and relationships – especially in the Persian Gulf, where temperatures can exceed 50°C and society is divided between the privileged few who can protect themselves and migrants who have no choice but to endure the heat in order to make ends meet.
Nightborn + Intro
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 22:00 (10:00pm)
Director: Hanna Bergholm
In Finnish forest, Saga and her husband Jon embark on a new chapter as parents. But Saga’s joy is overshadowed by a chilling suspicion about their newborn, unbeknownst to Jon, causing a rift as she alone grapples with the disturbing truth.
Dissociated Me + Q&A
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 13:15 (1:15pm)
The film’s director, Janaé Rachel Ballot, will take part in a Q&A.
Encouraged by editor Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, a woman attempts a film about her chaotic past. Without a script, she casts actors, location scouts, relives childhood trauma until she is struck by a car mid-production. In the wreckage of the film’s unraveling, she lets go of the story she thought she had to tell to finally reclaim her life.
26. september, kl. 13:15 í Háskólabíói.
Icelandic short films + Q&A
Háskólabió
26. september
Icelandic Shorts I Icelandic Shorts I kl 11:00 (11:00am)
Icelandic Shorts II Icelandic Shorts II kl 13:30 (1:30pm)
As always, RIFF celebrates short films with an extensive programme featuring works from around the world. In short filmmaking, few - if any - rules apply: the form is constantly reinvented, allowing inspiration of every kind to flourish.
Pulp: What Do You Do for an Encore?
Háskólabió
25. september, kl 22:00 (10:00pm)
Director: Garth Jennings
A thrilling blend of the meticulously choreographed stage spectacle of Pulp’s biggest arena show to date—part of the global tour for More, their first album in 24 years—and four decades of vibrant, previously unseen archival footage.
Light Pillar
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 15:00 (3:00pm)
Director: Xu Zao
The future. Winter. Space travel is no longer a dream. A lonely janitor looks after the grounds of a run-down, bankrupt film studio. One day, however, a romantic journey begins when he meets an actress in a breathtaking virtual world, where the boundaries between reality and imagination become increasingly blurred.
Future Voices
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 19:00 (7:00pm)
A unique event for teenagers and the first of its kind in Iceland. Powerful short films by high school students will be screened: The Goodfellas by students from MR and Verzló—a humorous remake of the Martin Scorsese film of the same name—and the bittersweet documentary Voices Not Heard, which a 17-year-old student made about being a young relative of a cancer patient. In addition, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in a focus group for the new Icelandic teen film Just a Child. Director Vala Ómarsdóttir and producer Hlín Jóhannesdóttir will show scenes from the film, answer questions, and share their experiences on stage. All young people are welcome to the event, especially film enthusiasts.
The Siege of Paradise
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 17:30 (5:30pm)
Director: Gar O’Rourke
In Cinque Terre on Italy’s northern Riviera, fewer than three thousand locals contend with over four million tourists each summer. Across one chaotic season, six very different lives play out in parallel, revealing a sharply funny and surprisingly tender story of paradise under pressure in the age of social-media driven tourism.
The Film will also be screened on Sunday at 4:40pm along with an Impact Talk.
Charter
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 11:00 (11:00am)
Director: Amanda Kernell
After a recent and difficult divorce, Alice hasn’t seen her children in two months as she awaits a custody verdict. When her son calls her in the middle of the night, Alice takes action, abducting the children on an illicit charter trip to the Canary Islands.
The Fires
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 19:20 (7:20pm)
Director: Ugla Hauksdóttir
Anna Arnardóttir, Iceland's top volcanologist, faces two disasters at once: a volcanic eruption that threatens the safety of the capital city and a love affair that could destroy her marriage.
Eternal Flame
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 21:30 (9:30pm)
Director: Pedro Ramalhete
A chance encounter reunites former film-school classmates João, who is unemployed, and Clara, now working as a production assistant. When she invites him to join her latest project, he is drawn into the peculiar rhythms of a film set. Eternal Flame is a melancholic comedy about life among a film crew and the growing pains of a young slacker—a tribute to the close-knit world of Portuguese cinema and to cinema itself.
Atomic Blonde
Háskólabió
26. september, kl 19:45 (7:45pm)
Director: David Leitch
An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. Charlize Theron's commanding performance and stunning fight choreography anchors this visually striking and stylish experience, with neon-infused cinematography and nostalgic 1980s soundtrack.
