Ticket sales are open for RIFF (Reykjavík International Film Festival), which begins on September 25 and runs until October 5 at Háskólabíó. The opening film is Kim Novak‘s VertigoAlexandre O. Philippe’s documentary about the legendary actress, and the closing film is The Wizard of the Kremlin by Olivier Assyas, starring Jude Law and Paul Dano. Fresh from its world premiere in Venice just days ago, the film’s director will be present at RIFF.
An outstanding selection of films! About 60 feature films and a large number of shorts from 66 countries—including Brazil, Bangladesh, Peru, and Luxembourg—will be screened, representing every corner of the world. RIFF features numerous Nordic premieres and many films arriving straight from the world’s most prestigious festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Rotterdam. As always, the festival offers a unique chance to see some of the year’s very best films—most of which will not be shown in Icelandic cinemas afterwards!
Screenings will take place over eleven days at Háskólabíó, the festival’s main venue and heart of RIFF, as well as at The Nordic House and Slippbíó at Hotel Marina. Beyond that, RIFF spreads across Reykjavík with the project RIFF Around Town—films popping up in small shops, libraries, whale-watching boats, and hotels. And with RIFF Around Iceland, the festival reaches audiences all around the country.
Among the films that RIFF is screening this year is the tender ELEANOR THE GREAT , Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut, which recently made a splash in Toronto and Venice. THE SMASHING MACHINE by Bennie Safdie, which just won the directing award in Venice and received a 23-minute standing ovation, the longest in the festival’s history. Bennie will introduce the film live at RIFF; the Palme d’Or winner Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) by this year’s RIFF Honorary Guest, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, which is a unique cinematic experience; CONTROL by another of this year’s Honorary Guests, Anton Corbijn; the documentary AFTERNOONS OF SOLITUDE by Albert Serra, which has been a worldwide success; SORRY, BABY , winner of the screenwriting award at Sundance and the film that has received the highest critical acclaim of the year; SIRAT by Oliver Laxe, which turned Cannes upside down this spring, divided audiences, ultimately won the Jury Prize, and is Spain’s submission to the upcoming Academy Awards; THE MASTERMIND by Kelly Reichardt, which competed for the Palme d’Or in Cannes and was selected Critics’ Favourite; Two Seasons, Two Strangers winner of the Golden Leopard in Locarno VERTIGO by Hitchcock, which Sight and Sound magazine named the Greatest Film of All Time in 2012; and SISTER by Ursula Meier, which won the Silver Bear in Berlin in 2012.
A major photo exhibition featuring iconic filming locations in Iceland used in international film and TV productions, seen through the eyes of celebrated Icelandic landscape photographer Páll Stefánsson, will be displayed at Keflavík Airport and Háskólabíó. The cinema will be transformed into a cozy cultural hub called Rabbabarinn, the perfect spot to relax before or after screenings.
Ticket sales for individual screenings have started, and the RIFF app is now available for use. Discounted passes are being sold, where a single ticket costs around 1400 Icelandic króna if you buy an 8-ticket pass, and this pass is valid for all films. The festival pass offers a 20% discount for students, disabled individuals, and senior citizens.
RIFF 2025 Statistics
- RIFF will be held for the 22nd time this year, with a total of 242 film works. 242 film work.
This includes 65 feature films and 182 short films
– Equal gender ratio among directors
A total of 33 new Icelandic works will be presented.
– Many films come directly from the big festivals, including four from the recent Venice Festival.
– UngRIFF will screen five feature films and invite schoolchildren from across Iceland to the cinema. Family screenings will be held at Háskólabíó, The Nordic House, and Slippbíó. Most films are dubbed into Icelandic or subtitled.. Myndirnar eru flestar leiklesnar á íslensku eða með íslenskum texta.
- Sérstök sýning fyrir börnin fer fram í Raufárhólshelli where Múmínálfamynd will be shown.
Awards at RIFF 2025
The competition category for films at RIFF is called "Vitranir" (New Visions), where eight films by emerging directors (their first or second works) compete for the festival's top award, the Golden Puffin. These awards have been presented since 2005, and with them, RIFF aims to support young and promising directors.
RIFF 2025 short film competition: Annual competition of Icelandic shorts, with awards sponsored by RÚV and Trickshot. Screenings are held at Háskólabíó.
Honorary Awards will be presented to RIFF’s distinguished guests.
Dómnefnd Unga Fólksins velur vinningsmynd þvert á flokki en í ár skipa nefndina þau Ísak Hinriksson, Elín Ramette og Brynjar Daðason.
Standing Ovation
RIFF would not exist without the support of the Ministry of Culture, City of Reykjavík, and Creative Europe MEDIA, along with the invaluable contributions of companies and institutions such as Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya, Aztiq, RÚV, Hertz, Luxor, Íslandsstofa, TVG Zimsen, embassies worldwide, and many others.
RIFF starts in one week and we can't wait to see you at Haskolabio!