RIFF 2023 Documentaries
RIFF proudly presents the documentary films that will be showcased at the festival in 2023. The documentary schedule of RIFF aims to educate and enlighten the audience, as well as to convey knowledge through unconventional means.
A compelling documentary ignites the power of imagination and can strongly impact viewers and society with unexpected perspectives or new information.
Award-winning films in a league of their own
Among the films that will be shown is the documentary "Apolonia, Apolonia" by Danish filmmaker Lea Glob, who won the top prize at the IDFA documentary festival, one of the most prestigious awards documentaries can receive. The film has garnered numerous other awards and has been praised by critics. It tells the enchanting story of the young artist Apolonia Sokol, who navigates the world of contemporary art
Additionally, the film "And the King Said, What a FANTASTIC MACHINE" received special jury recognition at the Sundance Film Festival. In this film, filmmakers Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck turn their cameras toward society to explore humanity's fascination with films and the impact that movies have had on us over time
The film "The Gullspång Miracle" by Maria Fredriksson, which won an award at the Tribeca Film Festival, also stands out. It delves into the mysterious connection of two sisters to a woman resembling their deceased sibling from thirty years prior.
The festival's films reflect the best in documentary filmmaking from around the world, and these are films that enthusiasts of quality documentaries should not miss.
The following documentary films will be showcased at RIFF 2023:
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Apolonia, Apolonia
Lea Glob, DK, PL, 2022, 116 min
AWARDS: IDFA - Best Film
When Danish filmmaker Lea Glob first met Apolonia Sokol in 2009, she appeared to be leading a perfect bohemian existence. Over the years, Lea kept returning to film the charismatic Apolonia and the result is a fascinating portrait, spanning 13 years, of a young woman trying to find her place in the art world.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IARMK6mwhHg
And the King Said, What a FANTASTIC MACHINE / Og kóngurinn sagði, Hversu FRÁBÆR VÉL
Axel Danielson, Maximilien Van Aertryck, SE, DK, 2023, 88 min
AWARDS: Won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival
Filmmakers Danielson & Van Aertryck turn their cameras directly on society to explore, explain and expose how our unchecked obsession with image has grown to change human behavior. From Camera Obscura and the Lumière brothers all the way to YouTube and the world of social media, the film chronicles how we went from capturing the image of a backyard to a multi-billion-euro content industry.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frB5O-uZQPA
Lynx Man / Gaupumaðurinn / Ilveskuiskaaja
Juha Suonpää, FI, 2023, 82 min
Following divorce and a serious accident Hannu lives alone on his farm in West Finland, home to all kinds of wildlife. When Hannu finds a dead lynx by the side of the road he realizes that the wildcat, until recently almost extinct, has returned. Filled with renewed vigor and lust for life, Hannu sets up trail cameras all over his land and starts to get to know the lynx personally.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phl2CGKNBtY
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed / Rock Hudson: Rödd hjartans
Stephen Kijak, UK, 2023, 104 min
Rock Hudson was an icon in the Golden Age of Hollywood, but he sacrificed a part of himself to give the public the films they loved. When news broke that Hudson was dying from AIDS, the world was forced to sit up and pay attention to a disease too long ignored and stigmatized.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzWm5kIfE8c
The Castle / Kastalinn / El Castillo
Martín Benchimol, AR, FR, 2023, 78 min
Having worked as a housekeeper all her life, Justina inherits from her former employer a mansion in the middle of the Argentinean pampas. Under one condition: she must never leave. In this modern fairytale, Justina and her daughter will face the challenges of keeping that promise alive.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKrQtNp61JA
Dancing on the Edge of a Volcano / Dansandi á brún eldfjalls
Cyril Aris, DE, LE, 2023, 87 min
In the aftermath of the catastrophic explosion on August 4th 2020 in Beirut, a film crew is faced with a serious dilemma: should they defy the chaos and move forward with the shooting of their film or surrender to the multiple crises that are spreading all over the country?
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEHXvEj7a7
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The Gullspång Miracle / Gullspång kraftaverkið
Maria Fredriksson, SE, NO, 2023, 109 min
A divine premonition leads two sisters to buy an apartment in the small Swedish town of Gullspång. To their surprise, the seller looks identical to their older sister who died by suicide 30 years earlier. What begins as an eerie story of family reunification soon becomes a Pandora's Box as all three women's lives spiral out of control.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZRmW1VEoFk
Anselm – das rauschen der Zeit / Anselm – Kliður tímans
Wim Wenders, DE, 2023, 93 min
Cannes: Frumsýning / Premiere
This unique cinematic experience delves deeply into the work of German artist Anselm Kiefer, revealing his journey of life, inspiration, and creative process. The film explores his fascination with mythology and history. Past and present intertwine, blurring the boundaries between film and painting, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the grand world of one of the most significant contemporary artists.
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-3XRc7WE0
