ABOUT THE TALENT LAB
The 2025 RIFF Talent Lab will take place on September 30 – October 5, but there will be no program on the departure date of October 5th.
The Talent Lab offers participants a unique chance to connect directly with film directors, producers, and other industry professionals for guidance on their first film. This international workshop fosters both meaningful networking and enjoyable collaboration in a global setting.
The Talent Lab program varies from year to year but always consists of an exciting mix of masterclasses, pitch sessions, panel discussions, workshops, screenings, and networking events.
MISSION
The values of the Reykjavík International Film Festival are threefold: "Innovation, Networking, Conversation." These values are clearly reflected in the activities of the Talent Lab. The focus is on showcasing the work of young filmmakers and assisting them in building the necessary network to present their work to buyers and distributors both domestically and internationally.
Participants have the opportunity to engage in organized panels and exchange ideas within an international group of writers, directors, and producers.
THE GOLDEN EGG
Participants have the opportunity to submit their short films to compete for the Golden Egg! Submitted films will go through a selection committee and the films selected for the finals will be screened in the official RIFF program.
Requirements for short films submitted to the Golden Egg
FEES
The participation fee for international participants is 170,000 ISK (approximately 1,155 EUR or 1,250 USD). This fee includes shared accommodation at a centrally located hostel with breakfast. The fee also includes a festival pass, access to numerous events, and entry to all panels and discussions.
The accommodation provided by the pass is from September 30th to October 5th. Please note that airfare and transfers to and from the airport are not included. Participants who choose to book their own accommodation will pay a lower fee of 130,000 ISK, which includes all of the above except shared accommodation.
There are no additional fees for participants who submit their films to the Golden Egg competition.
These details are provided subject to errors. Please contact talentlab@riff.is if you have any questions.
"I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for welcoming me at the RIFF film workshop. It was an incredible experience. Everyone associated with the festival and at the hostel received me warmly."
"I enjoyed the honor of participating in the film workshop in Iceland and returned from this unforgettable journey. There are many such workshops around the world nowadays, influenced by the Talent Campus at Berlinale. This workshop offers a more intimate atmosphere than larger workshops, which was great because I got to know nearly everyone who participated, coming from all over the world. We met the Oscar-winning James Marsh, listened to masterclasses by the renowned director Bela Tarr, and, even though I didn't make any films during the workshop, I even met the presidential couple."
"RIFF Talent Lab is a fantastic experience in so many ways. The masterclasses provide opportunities to learn and engage with experts at the highest level of quality. The working group consists of an international group of young filmmakers who have the chance to meet and expand their network. The group also gains a better understanding of the perspectives in other countries. The festival offers an intriguing selection of films, and last but not least, the island is so beautiful that I will never forget it."
"The days flew by. There was always someone interesting to talk to, enjoyable workshops, and films in the cinema. An impactful and unforgettable experience."
Participants can submit their short films when applying for the Talent Lab. Once they have paid the final fee, their films will be reviewed by our selection committee and the best ones will be screened at RIFF’s official program. The final selection is usually announced by mid-September, depending on the number of submitted films. The Golden Egg Jury will choose the winner of the Golden Egg award among the selected films, which will be announced at RIFF’s Closing Ceremony.
All participants are required to pay a 50,000 ISK confirmation fee to secure their place. We begin reviewing applications early in the year. The remaining balance is due 4 weeks after confirmation of participation. Please note that only a limited number of participants can be accepted each year. The earlier you apply, the better your chances of being accepted. Every payment goes directly to a permalink that we share with participants.
The Talent Lab fee is non-refundable.
Depending on how many requests for private rooms we have, we can have a special deal for Talent Labbers booking a private room. The extra fee is paid directly to the hostel.
Applications are reviewed regularly starting early spring, which means that those that apply early have a better change to be accepted. All applications are answered within a few weeks. The deadline for the Talent Lab application is 23rd July. Exceptions can be made in specific cases.
