FILM CATEGORIES
NEW VISIONS
In New Visions, new filmmakers take to the stage with their first or second film and compete for RIFF’s highest award – the Golden Puffin. Here, new and bold voices in film are heard: works that challenge tradition, play with form and point the way to the future of storytelling on the big screen. From unconventional storytelling methods to original subject matter — New Visions is the platform for new and fresh artists.
Mohsen Makhmalbaf
Giona A. Nazzaro
Saga Garðarsdóttir
A DIFFERENT TOMORROW
A Different Tomorrow is a platform for films that challenge the present and imagine a better future. This category brings together powerful films that tackle environmental and humanitarian issues — stories that not only raise questions but push us towards solutions. We hope that these films can change the viewer's perspective and shape the world of tomorrow.
Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson
Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson is an Icelandic writer, producer, creator, and lawyer. He is the CEO of the Reykjavík-based production company ACT4 and has previously advised many of Iceland’s largest film and TV productions. His credits include Death of a Horse, Reykjavík Fusion, The Minister (seasons 1 & 2), Thin Ice, and Stella Blómkvist 2.
Fiorella Moretti
Fiorella Moretti is the President and co-founder of Paris-based Luxbox, an international sales company known for its strong catalog and distinctive roster of world cinema. With a background at Mantarraya, one of Latin America’s leading production companies, she brings deep experience in distribution, programming, and collaboration with acclaimed filmmakers.
Pipaluk K. Jørgensen
Pipaluk Kreutzmann Jørgensen is an award-winning Greenlandic Inuk director, writer, and producer. Her feature debut Anori (2018) was the first Greenlandic feature by a female director and won multiple international awards. She co-directed the Oscar-nominated short Ivalu and founded the Nuuk International Film Festival, championing Arctic and Indigenous cinema.
OPEN SEAS
Every year, a handful of films stand out at film festivals around the world — captivating, bold, and unforgettable. RIFF brings these memorable works to the public, showcasing a selection of the best films of the past year. Here, seasoned directors and fresh new voices meet — out of competition, but never out of the spotlight.
DOCUMENTARIES
Documentaries are more than just stories — they educate, challenge, and inspire. RIFF’s documentary program offers fresh perspectives and new understandings of the world, with films that spark curiosity and inspire meaningful conversations. From unexpected perspectives to groundbreaking discoveries, these are films that leave a deep mark, both on viewers and on society.
SWISS FOCUS
In a special section, RIFF presents a selection of new films offering cinema-goers at Háskólabíó a taste of the freshest work coming out of Switzerland in recent years.
ICELANDIC PANORAMA
RIFF is a platform where Icelandic and international cinema meet. Icelandic Panorama showcases new films with strong ties to Iceland, and the category provides insight into the country's unique storytelling and creative vision.
Lisa Hoen
Lisa Hoen is the Festival and Program Director of Tromsø International Film Festival and Tromsø Silent Film Days, with over a decade of experience in media, communications, and culture. She began her career launching a culture and lifestyle magazine in Tromsø and studied media and philosophy.
Hjördís Jóhannsdóttir
Hjördís Jóhannsdóttir is an Icelandic director and screenwriter. She has written and directed several short films in Iceland and Los Angeles, which have screened at acclaimed festivals internationally. She holds an MFA in Film Directing from CalArts.
Francisco Dias
Francisco Dias is a Portuguese filmmaker and programmer at Curtas Vila do Conde, where he oversees the industry program and serves on the international competition selection committee. He has also worked in international sales and distribution at Luxbox in Paris and has directed several short films.
FILMS FROM THE NORTH
In this section, we present a selection of films and shorts that reveal to audiences the multifaceted and often unconventional realities of those living in the far north—while also showing how the wider world appears from the perspective of the Arctic. In cooperation with Tromsö International Film Festival.
SMART7
The section Smart 7 is the result of a collaboration between seven European film festivals. The participating festivals are IndieLisboa in Portugal, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival in Greece, New Horizons in Poland, the Vilnius International Film Festival in Lithuania, FILMADRID in Spain, the Transilvania International Film Festival in Romania, and RIFF – the Reykjavík International Film Festival.
MASTERS AND GUESTS OF HONOR
The art of cinema is shaped by innovators who define and redefine the narrative form. Masters and Guests of Honor is a category that honors these pioneers — artists who have left a deep mark on the world of cinema. Here, their work takes center stage, while celebrating the creativity and genius that continue to inspire generation after generation.
MIDNIGHT THRILLS
When the clock strikes twelve, adrenaline takes over. Midnight Thrills is RIFF's nighttime party for horror fans — where the tension builds, the shadows grow darker, and unexpected events lurk around every corner. From psychological nightmares to thrilling and terrifying adventures — these films will keep you awake… and begging for more!
INTERNATIONAL SHORTS
The form is concise but the perspective is limitless. These international short films combine bold creativity and diverse perspectives, opening windows into new realities and redefining the possibilities of cinema.
Daniel Hadenius-Ebner
Daniel Hadenius-Ebner is an Austrian culture manager and curator with over 20 years of experience shaping the short film landscape. As co-founder and longtime director of VIENNA SHORTS, he champions sustainable cultural development and European collaboration through projects like Eleven Minutes, TALKING SHORTS, and the streaming platform THIS IS SHORT.
Erlendur Sveinsson
Erlendur Sveinsson is an award-winning Icelandic filmmaker and Fulbright scholar whose short films have screened at over 100 festivals worldwide. A Berlinale Talents and Nordic Talents alumnus, he is also known for his acclaimed music videos with artists such as Laufey and Of Monsters and Men.
Kahina Ben Amar
Kahina Ben Amar is a graduate of La Résidence de la Fémis and the director of multiple short films. She has led film education workshops, including the CNC’s Enfants des Lumières program, and is currently developing her first feature, which she began during her residency at the France-Korea Film Academy.
THE GOLDEN EGG
The Golden Egg is a platform for new voices in filmmaking. It showcases films by promising directors participating in the RIFF Talent Lab – a selection that highlights fresh visions, creative storytelling, and sheds light on the next generation of filmmakers who are taking their first steps.
Rúnar Guðbrandsson
Rúnar Guðbrandsson is an Icelandic actor and acting teacher with extensive screen and stage experience, including The Deep, Black’s Game, Fractures, and IceGuys. He was the first Professor of Acting at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and led the acting program at the Icelandic Film School, training a generation of Icelandic actors.
Gunnar B. Guðmundsson
Gunnar Björn Guðmundsson is an experienced film director and screenwriter, He has directed four feature films, written and directed multiple shorts and television shows and hundreds of television commercials. He has also worked in theatre where he has directed over forty stage productions.
Ólöf Birna Torfadóttir
Ólöf Birna Torfadóttir is an experienced screenwriter and director with two feature films and a television series to her name. She is the director of How to Be a Classy Tramp and Top 10 Must, and the screenwriter of the series Skvíz. She is currently writing for multiple television projects, with new productions expected to go into filming in the coming years.
TRIANGLE PROGRAM
THE TRIANGLE program is an initiative created by Vienna Shorts. The collection of three film programs focusing on one theme will be showcased at three festivals; Vienna Shorts, Curtas Vila Do Conde and RIFF. The approaches are quite diverse, ranging from the perspective of an immigrant curator trying to overcome the physical distance from home through intimacy on screen to Intimacy Emergency and the exploration of friendship, connectedness, and emotional vulnerability.
SÓLVEIG ANSPACH – NOMINATIONS
The Sólveig Anspach Award is a collaborative project between the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française in Reykjavík, RIFF, the City of Reykjavík, the Embassy of Iceland in Paris, the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, and the Icelandic Film Centre.
OMVF MUSIC VIDEOS
Marking the first-ever international competition at the Oulu Music Video Festival—the world’s oldest festival dedicated to music videos—this program highlights a new generation of bold and imaginative directors. Presented in collaboration with OMVF, the selection showcases the creativity and talent shaping the future of Nordic music videos.
CINEMA BEATS
Where music and film meet. Music films delve into the stories of musicians, their culture, and formative moments. Through captivating documentaries, this program transports viewers through different eras, sounds, and scenes — celebrating the rhythm that drives life on the silver screen.
SPECIAL EVENTS
RIFF is more than a traditional film experience. Every year we offer unique and unforgettable events that bring festival guests an experience in an extraordinary setting. Whether it's an ice cave cinema,
swimming cinema, lava cave screenings, or films paired with cuisine, these special events make every festival unforgettable and unique.
ONE MINUTE FILMS
An international platform for creativity in its purest form. Minute Films showcases one-minute films from around the world, providing a powerful insight into the contemporary world through moving images. New series coming
published every two months and highlights fresh themes and different perspectives.
Want to get involved? Submit your video to theoneminutes.org and be part of the conversation.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE´S JURY
RIFF gives young people a platform to make their voices heard. The Young People's Jury — made up of three young filmmakers and film enthusiasts with a sharp eye for exceptional cinema — selects a winner from across RIFF’s categories.
Elín C. H. Ramette
Elín Ramette has worked on more than 30 short films. Her path moves between large-scale productions and grassroots culture, with experience in international film festivals such as Les Arcs and RIFF. Balancing artistic vision with technical expertise, she values emotion and the elusive over virtuosity.
Brynjar Daðason
Brynjar Daðason (b.1999) is a composer, multi instrumentalist and sound engineer. Alongside having released his own music and being an active member of the experimental scene he has worked in the music departments for films, both as composer and producer.
Isaac Hinriksson
Ísak Hinriksson is an icelandic filmmaker who has directed and worked on films, television shows, stage productions, and music videos. His short film Sjoppa premiered at RIFF 2023 and was later screened at the Bamberg Short Film Festival. He is currently working on two documentaries, one of which he will present as a work-in-progress at the RIFF Industry Days this year. In addition, he has several other projects in development.