Smart7
SMART7 Category at RIFF
RIFF (Reykjavik International Film Festival) is participating in the collaborative project SMART7, which is a joint venture of seven film festivals in Europe.
The role of SMART7 is also to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among the festivals, all sharing the common goal of promoting independent filmmaking art with an emphasis on young and ambitious directors. Smart7 is supported by Creative Media Europe.
The film festivals involved in the collaboration are:
New Horizons International Film Festival (Poland)
IndieLisboa International Film Festival (Portugal)
Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Greece)
Transilvania International Film Festival (Romania)
FILMADRID International Film Festival (Spain)
Reykjavik International Film Festival (Iceland),
Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris (Lithuania)
All these festivals will showcase the same films and work closely together to achieve the shared objective of distributing high-quality filmmaking to as many people as possible throughout Europe.
SMART7 FILMS 2023
Mannvirki (Iceland)
This Icelandic film is a remarkable blend of traditional and experimental filmmaking, incorporating documentary elements from director Gústav Geir Bollason. The film explores an abandoned building on Iceland's northern coast, with scenes showing "workmen" interacting with or contributing to the building's decay. The building is affected by the presence of creatures, animals, and vegetation, each leaving their mark.
Black Stone (Greece)
A group of documentary filmmakers aims to explore public workers in Greece. The story revolves around Haroula, a mother in search of her son, who embarks on a journey with her disabled son and a Greek-African taxi driver to find her missing son, accused of fraud. Directed and scripted by Spiros Jacovides, "Black Stone" is his feature-length debut.
Bread and Salt (Poland)
The film draws inspiration from true events and showcases the struggles faced by people across Europe due to the increasing number of refugees. The story follows Tymek, a young and talented pianist studying at a music school in Warsaw. When Tymek returns to his small town, he witnesses growing tension between the local youth and Arab immigrants who have opened a popular kebab place.
Índia (portugal)
The film focuses on three Portuguese men from different generations living on the margins of dreams, missed opportunities, and existential crises in Lisbon. Their lives intertwine when they meet Karen, a Brazilian woman wandering the streets of the city, who sends letters about her experiences. The film challenges urban gentrification and unintentional racism.
Secaderos /Tobacco Barns (Spain)
Mysterious tobacco barns stand in a secluded village, becoming a paradise for a young city girl. However, a local teenager sees the place as a prison. Two stories unfold during a summer filled with magic realism and dense tobacco leaves. Directed by Rocío Mesa, the film is largely based on her own experiences growing up in southern Spain.
Mammalia (Romenia)
Rúmenski leikstjórinn Sebastian Mihăilescu færir okkur súrrealískt drama í sinni fyrstu kvikmynd í fullri lengd. Sagan fylgir manni á draumkenndri vegferð sem leiðir okkur að landamærum hins raunverulega. Á ferð sinni uppgötvar hann veröld sem er uppfull af uggandi helgisiðum og samfélögum á meðan mörkin á milli hins raunverulega og súrrealíska verða sífellt ógreinilegri
Remember to Blink (Lithuania)
A childless French couple adopts young siblings from Lithuania. To assist the children's adjustment, the new parents hire Gabriele, a Lithuanian nanny who speaks both Lithuanian and French. However, cultural differences and conflicting values soon lead to tensions between the adults, casting uncertainty over the children's future.
