INDUSTRY DAYS
5. October — 10. October 2027
Positioned at the crossroads between North America and Northern Europe, Reykjavík has become a vital hub where emerging talent from both continents converge. RIFF Industry Days is built on this geography and on a clear mission: to showcase what is excellent in Icelandic filmmaking, to bring the industry together across borders, and to address the challenges and opportunities shaping cinema today - from the Nordic and Arctic perspective, and beyond.
By joining us, you'll gain access to cinema's most significant figures in intimate settings. Masterclasses bring world-renowned filmmakers speaking directly and without hierarchy. Structured one-to-one B2B meetings are designed to open doors and forge real partnerships. Conversations are grounded in Nordic and Arctic perspectives, developed in close collaboration with partners from Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Sápmi, and across the Nordic region. Participants explore the urgent topics facing the industry - from sustainability to new models of creation and distribution - in dialogue with international peers who understand the context.
Whether you're developing a project, seeking collaborators, or thinking critically about where cinema is headed, RIFF Industry Days is where it happens. Over two decades, RIFF has welcomed cinema's most significant voices - Miloš Forman, Jim Jarmusch, Ruben Östlund, Isabelle Huppert, Mads Mikkelsen, Claire Denis, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, among them - steadily cementing Reykjavík's reputation as a vital festival city and Iceland as a key destination for bold, original, and independent cinema.
INDUSTRY ACCREDITATION
BASIC
Included in the BASIC Industry Accreditation is:
- Panel discussions
- Masterclasses with the festival's honorary guests
- Impact panels: In-depth panel discussions held after all screenings of films in the "A Different Tomorrow" category.
- RIFF talks: In the spirit of TED talks, RIFF talks offer insight into the work of industry experts who share advice on how to gain a foothold in the industry.
FULL
Included in the FULL Industry Accreditation is:
- Festival Pass: Access to all film screenings
- Panel discussions
- Masterclasses with the festival's honorary guests
- Impact Panels: In-depth panel discussions held after all screenings of films in the “A Different Tomorrow” category
- RIFF talks: In the spirit of TED talks, RIFF talks offer insight into the work of industry experts who share advice on how to gain a foothold in the industry.
FULL FILM STUDENT
Included in the FULL FILM STUDENT Industry Accreditation is:
- Festival Pass: Access to all film screenings
- Panel discussions
- Masterclasses with the festival's honorary guests
- Impact Panels: In-depth panel discussions held after all screenings of films in the "A Different Tomorrow" category.
- RIFF talks: In the spirit of TED talks, RIFF talks offer insight into the work of industry experts who share advice on how to gain a foothold in the industry.
PRESS
Included in the PRESS Industry Accreditation is:
- Festival Pass: Access to all film screenings
- Panel discussions
- Masterclasses with the festival's honorary guests
- Impact Panels: In-depth panel discussions held after all screenings of films in the "A Different Tomorrow" category.
- RIFF talks: In the spirit of TED talks, RIFF talks offer insight into the work of industry experts who share advice on how to gain a foothold in the industry.
RIFF WORKSHOPS 2027
WORK-IN-PROGRESS SHOWCASE
The RIFF Work in Progress programme presents ten selected projects currently moving towards completion, bringing filmmakers into direct contact with invited Nordic and international industry professionals. Explore 2026 Projects
ARCTIC SCRIPT LAB
2026 marks the first edition of the RIFF Arctic Script Lab, developed in collaboration with Nuuk International Film Festival and co-funded by Nordic Culture Fund, bringing together emerging filmmakers and projects from across the Nordic and Arctic region. The selected projects are still at an early stage of development and will take part in a second round of feedback, exchange and creative development during Industry Days. Explore 2026 Projects
PANELS, MASTERCLASSES & TALKS
Industry Days brings together some of the most compelling voices in contemporary cinema in an intimate setting designed for genuine exchange. Across five days, the programme moves between carefully curated panels, rare masterclass moments, and post-screening discussions - creating close contact with world cinema's most significant figures and making them genuinely approachable. This is cinema's most important voices speaking directly, without distance or hierarchy.
Panels & Roundtables
Each year, Industry Days convenes conversations around the most pressing topics shaping contemporary cinema and the industry itself. The panel selection always reflects urgent questions in film today - from sustainability and digital transformation to new financing models and artistic risk-taking - and is grounded in the concerns of the Nordic and Icelandic film communities.
Sessions bring together filmmakers, producers, critics, programmers, and industry specialists in an intimate room where the conversation is always open. Past sessions have explored co-production across the Nordics, the role of critics and programmers in shaping cinema culture, the impact of AI on the film industry, and the importance of sustainable production. Stay tuned for the 2027 program!
Masterclasses
Masterclasses offer rare, intimate access to some of world cinema's most significant figures. Each session is a conversation, not a lecture, ensuring genuine exchange. Previous guests have included Miloš Forman, Jim Jarmusch, Mads Mikkelsen, Isabelle Huppert, Anton Corbijn, and Mohsen Makhmalbaf. The masterclass programme for 2026 will be announced alongside the festival's honorary guests.
Impact Talks
Following selected screenings, Impact Talks bring together Icelandic experts and audiences to dig into how the films on screen engage with questions of social and political change. Moderated discussions explore the dynamics between cinema and society - how films reflect, challenge, and shape our understanding of the world. Informal, grounded in the just-seen film, and always intimate, these conversations remind us why cinema matters beyond entertainment. Past Impact Talks have featured acclaimed and award-winning filmmakers - including recent Oscar winner David Borenstein (Mr. Nobody Against Putin). These conversations create space for audiences to engage directly with both artists and experts on the most pressing issues of our time.
RIFF TALKS
Inspired by the TED Talk format, this series features short presentations by emerging filmmakers and young creative professionals. Each talk brings a personal take on the present and future of cinema. RIFF Talks offer insight and inspiration for students, early-career artists, and experienced guests alike.
NETWORKING & SOCIAL
Mixers & Receptions
RIFF’s social program opens the floor for conversations to continue beyond the panels. Mixers and receptions provide an opportunity to meet, share ideas, and build connections in a more relaxed setting. We want every guest to leave feeling they’ve met the right people, and we’re happy to help make those introductions. Details on social events will be shared closer to the festival.
DEVELOPMENT LABS
Various detailed and carefully organized programs promote young and promising artists during RIFF Industry Days. This year, Work in Progress presentations (for projects seeking co-producers) will be offered, under the guidance of Frédéric Boyer, as well as the Arctic Script Lab (for screenwriters from the Nordic Arctic region), and the Young Nordic Think Tank (a participation platform for young filmmakers).
COUNTRY IN FOCUS
Every year, the Reykjavík International Film Festival shines a spotlight on a selected country by showcasing its films and inviting filmmakers from that country to attend RIFF. We are delighted to announce that Portugal will be in Focus at RIFF 2026. Acclaimed Portuguese filmmakers and exciting new voices come together in a diverse selection of films that offer a glimpse into the country's contemporary cinema.
We’re here to make meaningful connections happen. Join us this fall at RIFF Industry Days!
