At RIFF, we celebrate filmmakers who do not settle for simply going with the flow but instead carve out their own unique path, pave it with their works, and in doing so, point the way for others to follow. In this section, we honor these individuals, showcase their works, and open a dialogue.
Kim Novak is one of the true icons of Hollywood’s golden age, an actress whose presence has left an indelible mark on cinematic history. Born in Chicago in 1933, she began her career in the early 1950s and quickly rose to fame—not only as a symbol of beauty and enigmatic glamour, but as an artist capable of expressing fragility and humanity beneath Hollywood’s dazzling surface.
Her career spans a wide range of unforgettable performances, but she is perhaps most celebrated for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo Vertigo (1958), where she created one of the most haunting and layered female characters in film history. Novak also worked with directors such as Otto Preminger, Billy Wilder, and Sidney Lumet, consistently proving her versatility and artistic depth.
Kim Novak is more than a movie star; she embodies an era when cinema was both a grand art form and a stage for the imagination. Her work continues to inspire generations, reminding us that behind the myths and the glamour, there is always the human core.
The film will start at 15:00 in Screening room 2 with a 20 minute break before the Online Audio Masterclass in Screening Room 1 at 17:30.
One of the honorary guests of RIFF 2025, the legendary star Kim Novak, has informed the organizers of the Reykjavík International Film Festival that, due to unforeseen circumstances, she unfortunately has to change her plans regarding attending RIFF. Instead of appearing in person, she will participate in a live audio masterclass via satellite.