It's almost time for RIFF in Háskólbíó, and the program has never been more diverse. Mark the dates!
Header: Big event! Giant drive-in cinema in Víðidalur 21.9. Four classics and a sing-along.
It's time to start the engines and fasten your seatbelts, because RIFF's drive-in cinema will be revived on Saturday, September 21st at 3:30 PM and will run until the night with a screening of four classic films for people of all ages.
We promise a unique atmosphere in Víðidalur, whether guests arrive by car or horse, bicycle or chair, because the experience is that everyone sings along, each with their own nose.
Food trucks, along with popcorn and soda, will be on site to make the experience even better in this largest movie theater in the country in Víðidalur!
Four ever-popular movies will be shown this time – and for those in cars, it's easy to connect the radio to the right channel – and then just enjoy:
15:30 – MY BROTHERS LIONHEART 106 MY
The Swedish film that was a hit in 1977, directed by Olle Hellblom, tells the story of the brothers Karl and Jonathan's confrontation with Þengil the Grim and his black-clad knights.
18:00 – WITH EVERYTHING CLEAN 99 MINUTES
The unforgettable musical film by Ágúst Guðmundsson from 1982 where members of Stuðmann and Grýlann compete in a competition between two bands that tour the country.
20:15 GHOST STORY 64 MINUTES
Viðar Víkingsson's fascinating 1985 strip about a medical student who takes on night duty at a television station and spreads stories about the place's alleged hauntings.
21:30 TILBURY 53 MINUTES
Another film from Viðar's 1987 collection about a country boy during the war years who looks for his love in the hands of a soldier, who is perhaps, after all, just a coincidence.
START SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21ST IN VÍÐIDAL
RIFF's drive-in cinema makes the cinema experience accessible to everyone. There will be Icelandic subtitles for each film and a specially designated seating area at the front of the screen for cinemagoers with disabilities who will receive a 20% discount.
Header: RIFF Opening Films
Header: The award-winning film Loveable and the world premiere of 1000 Words, the space saga of Björn and Bríet.
Reykjavik International Film Festival, RIFF, will kick off on September 26th with an opening ceremony in Háskólabíó. 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.
"emotionally jagged debut"
which got a standing ovation at Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July
Variety further says in its review of Lilja's debut that it is an "emotionally jagged debut" and that the film is "an unusual and clever story that seeks answers to why the second marriage in a row ends like the first, and who, if anyone, is to blame."
The movie received a standing ovation at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in July.
Screened before: Bríet and Birnir in outer space
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.
Header: Never before have more Icelandic short films been screened at RIFF… nearly a hundred applied this year…
The selection of Icelandic short films that will be screened at this year's Reykjavík International Film Festival has never been larger, as more people have applied to be included in the festival than this year, or almost a hundred works, which testifies to the incredible growth of the industry in this country.
There are three categories to compete in – feature films, experimental films and documentaries – and each category will be watched at a leisurely pace. For example, it will take viewers an hour and a half to watch all the feature films in one sitting, but they range in length from seven minutes to almost half an hour, which is about the length of a regular movie.
"...all are a testament to the power of short filmmaking..."
This year's feature films are eight in number and are as diverse in subject matter as they are numerous, but all are a testament to the power of short filmmaking in Iceland – and an extremely rich creativity.
Annalísa Hermannsdóttir shows us Hidden which tells the story of Vigdís, a manager at a law firm, and one morning in her life that takes place in a dystopian alternate reality.
Gunnjón Gestsson has the work. Gusti the Strong and the Revenge of the Sea which tells the story of two sailors who find themselves in the clutches of a terrifying sea creature.
Hjördís Jóhannssdóttir will be attending. The bride, but she is Estonian and unexpectedly gets hit with an unpleasant language on the day she is going to marry her Icelandic man.
In Katla Sólnes' short film titled Whim Rules the Child, and Weather the Field, Hera must decide whether her dilapidated house by the sea can withstand the pressure any longer.
Kolbeinn Gauti Friðriksson brings us the film Taste which takes place in a taste-testing company and revolves around a boss who inspires his employee to greatness.
Directed by Nikulás Tumi The blue boy which tells the story of a young house painter who ends up at the home of a charming couple he met by chance outside a nightclub.
Oddur S. Hilmarsson presents for us House for sale where a real estate agent finds himself in the dilemma of barely being able to sell his own house, let alone another.
Sölmundur Ísak tells us the story of Mikaela, who has decided to lose her virginity while studying abroad, and the film is called Let's finish this..
In the experimental images category, five images are shown:
In Grandma's coffee After Adam Emil Ríkharðsson and Nói Þrastar, two friends end up at a gas station in a series of incidents that lead them to think about a rather serious theft.
Here, poet Andri Snær Magnason examines melting glaciers and exchanges statistics for a personal approach, in a film by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and Adam Lopen, The last ice age.
Flowers in the bone is the story of Kristín Björk Kristjánsdóttir about a woman who throws her musical instrument into the abyss, but then only love and the desire to create show her the way.
We are world premiering the film. Stronger by Natalia Mayling Pachero, which is about reunions and connections – and Hilda, who does everything she can to survive after her father falls ill.
Aephie Chen and Ingvar Haukur Guðmundsson show Mom but there the eight-year-olds among the indigenous people of Taiwan go looking for Mayaw as he lives in his later years in the gray mold of London.
The documentary category also includes five films:
Ægis Zita arrives with the picture Daenerys for lambs and gods which of course is about lambs and gods who feed on sacrifices, disrespect, obedience, piety, joy, wonder and each other!
Mode switching is a film by Pétur Jónsson and takes place in an unforeseen future when the glaciers have disappeared from the surface of the earth, all as one, and the survivors are tempted to revive them.
Tumi Gonzo Björnsson tells the story of the mess Geir in his film, Culture and arts, but he works at an art museum where he meets the withdrawn Hörður who dreams of becoming an artist.
King is the name of the latest music video by Icelandic artist Brikcs, directed by Vasco Alexander, which was filmed in an art museum and delves into the complexity of the human being.
In the film by Simone Hart and Jón G. Geirfinnsson, Termination, sheds light on Inga Birgitta Spur, who has dedicated her life to preserving the artwork of her late husband, Sigurjón Ólafsson.
There is certainly no shortage of choice this year!
Header: We look forward to seeing you at RIFF this year!
