Tickets sales have now begun for RIFF (Reykjavik International Film Festival), which begins on September 28th and will run until October 8th at Háskólabíó. This was announced at a press conference held on September 18th at Hagatorg near Háskólabíó. The opening film is 'Tilverur,' a debut by Ninna Pálmadóttir, and the closing film is 'Poor Things' by Yorgos Lanthimos, which received the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month."
We will celebrate the 20th edition of RIFF! Over 80 feature films will be screened, along with a number of short films from 63 different countries. RIFF will host a multitude of Nordic premieres, and many of the films come from the most prestigious festivals around the world, such as Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Rotterdam. This is a unique opportunity to see the best films of the year, as most of them will not continue to be shown in local theaters!
Screenings during these eleven days will take place at Háskólabíó, which is the main venue of RIFF, as well as at the Nordic House and Slippbíó. Additionally, RIFF's film schedule will extend throughout the city – in small shops, libraries, the Lækjartorg greenhouse, whale-watching boats, and hotels – under the name RIFF around town. Furthermore, the RIFF project extends across the entire country of Iceland.
These films are said to reflect the very best that international filmmaking has to offer. They include new quality films of various genres by well-known directors such as Luca Guadagnino, Wim Wenders, Werner Herzog, Catherine Breillat, Angela Schanelec, and Yorgos Lanthimos, alongside innovative films by emerging directors competing for the Golden Puffin. These are true masterpieces where often new paths are explored in the art of filmmaking.
A large number of exciting titles
Among the films that RIFF is showing this year, there is the Finnish comedy film "FAMILY TIME," which is the debut work of Tia Kouvo and gained recognition at the Berlinale earlier this year. "SWEET EAST" by Sean Price Williams, which received awards since its premiere at Cannes last spring, "BAAN" by Leonor Teles, which premiered to critical acclaim at Locarno this summer, "MAY DECEMBER" by Todd Haynes and Natalie Portman, "The Taste of Things" by Anh Hung Tran, starring Juliette Binoche, "ANTARCTICA CALLING" by our honored guest Luc Jacquet, which premiered at the prestigious Rotterdam Film Festival recently, "ON THE ADAMANT" by Nicolas Philibert, which won the Golden Bear in Berlin, "ORLANDO My Political Biography" by Paul B. Preciado, "LA BETE" by Bertrand Bonelle, featuring Léa Seydoux in the lead role and garnered critical acclaim at its premiere in Venice earlier this month, "L’ETE DERNIER" by Catherine Breillat, "THEATER OF THOUGHT" by Werner Herzog, "ANSELM" by Wim Wenders, "WHAT REMAINS" by Ran Huang, starring Gustaf and Stellan Skarsgård in the lead roles, and "SIDONIE IN JAPAN" by Élise Girard, featuring Isabelle Huppert in the lead role. The latter film made a significant impact in Venice, where it had its world premiere.
In celebration of its 20th festival, Icelandic short films that have received awards at RIFF throughout the years will be screened. Additionally, a beautiful photography exhibition showcasing RIFF's history will be held at the Nordic House, with installations on display in Pósthússtræti. Háskólabíó will also be transformed into a comprehensive cultural center with art exhibitions, charity dining options for the hungry, and a cozy cinema atmosphere. Competitions will be held for most films at RIFF, and participants will be invited to a grand closing ceremony on October 7th to mark the end of the festival.
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.
France in Focus
French filmmaking takes the spotlight at RIFF this year, and we offer our audience a rich and intriguing selection of contemporary French films and short films.
France boasts one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world. The history of French cinema is intertwined with the history of filmmaking itself, as it was French brothers, Auguste and Louis Lumière, who held the world's first public film screening in Paris in 1895. Ever since, the French have been at the forefront of film development, with many internationally renowned filmmakers such as Georges Méliès, Jean-Luc Godard, François Truffaut, Agnès Varda, Brigitte Bardot, and Gérard Depardieu, to name just a few. In RIFF 2023, over 30 full-length films from France will be showcased, celebrating the rich heritage of French cinema.
RIFF by numbers
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- This year, RIFF is taking place for the twentieth time, and the festival will present a total of 248 film works. 248 film work.
- 87 features will be shown and 161 short movies.
- 113 movies are made by women and 130 are made by men.
- RIFF shows images from 63 different countries such as:
- RIFF is truly an international festival, featuring films from Iceland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Finland, Sweden, Chile, France, Denmark, Spain, Vietnam, Singapore, Lithuania, Israel, Portugal, Germany, Argentina, Mexico, Serbia, Romania, Croatia, Austria, Greece, and many more countries.
- This year, RIFF is taking place for the twentieth time, and the festival will present a total of 248 film works.
Awarded Titles
- Numerous films that have already won international awards will be screened at RIFF 2023. Here are a few examples.
- "Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell" by Thien An Pham, winner of the Camera d'Or for Best Picture at Cannes. by Thien An Pham – Camera d'Or winner for best picture at Cannes.
- The Settlers by Felipe Gálvez - FIPRESCI award
- The Taste of Things By Tran Anh Hùng – Besti Director at Cannes
- Orlando, My Political Biography By Paul B. Preciado – Berlinale Encounters: Special Jury award
- The Klezmer Project by Leandro Koch, Paloma Schachmann – Best debut in documentaries at GWFF
RIFF 2023 awards
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.
The Green Puffin (Græni Lundinn) is an environmental award given to individuals who have contributed to nature conservation through their work in filmmaking. This year, the recipient of the Green Puffin at RIFF is Luc Jacquet.
RIFF 2023 will feature an annual competition for Icelandic short films, with awards provided by RÚV and Trickshot for the best film. The screenings of these films will take place in two parts, with each part being shown in its entirety. The screenings will occur at Háskólabíó on September 30 for the first part and on October 1 for the second part. RIFF holds an annual competition of Icelandic short films and RÚV and Trickshot will award the prize for the best film. The films will be screened in two parts, each of which will be screened in its entirety. The screenings will take place at Háskólabíó on September 30th for the first part and October 1st for the second.
Honorary awards will be presented at RIFF to honor the special guests who come to Iceland for the festival. The President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, will present the awards at Bessastadir on behalf of RIFF.
Special Events
- RIFF is known for hosting a variety of special events each year, and this year is no exception. One of the unique events will take place at the ice caves of Langjökull, where on October 4th, an event called "jöklabíó" (glacier cinema) will be held. The documentary "Into the Ice" by Lars H. Ostenfeld will be screened during this event.
- Additionally, there will be a unique opportunity to attend "hellabíó" (cave cinema) at Raufarhólshellir on September 30th. The screenings will include both the animated film "Scarygirl" from 2023 and the horror classic "Arachnophobia" from the year 1990. cave cinema in Raufarhólshellur which will take place on September 30th with screenings of both the animated film Scarygirl from 2023 and the horror Arachnophobia since 1990.
- For those seeking a more relaxed and cozy atmosphere, there will be an opportunity to enjoy a visual dining experience at the Nordic House. Sónó catering will prepare delicious dishes in connection with the screening of the animated film "Ratatouille" on September 30th and October 1st.
- "Sorgarstiga" live concert (October 4): "Sorgarstig" live music (October 4th): In this unique musical event, the harmonica player Þorleifur Gaukur Davíðsson will perform alongside the pianist Davíð Þór Jónsson and guitarist Skúli Sverrisson, delivering music inspired by the short film "Sorgarstig." The musical piece "Sorgarstig" tells the story of a group of talented musicians who come together in the aftermath of a personal loss at an abandoned power station, channeling their emotions into a live jam session.
RIFF 2023 Categories
- New Visions
- For the open seas / Open Seas
- A Different Tomorrow
- Documentaries
- Music Movies / Cinema Beats
- Smart7
- France in Focus
- Masters and Honorary Guests
- Iceland in perspective / Icelandic Panorama
- Icelandic Winner's Through the Years
- Films From the North
- Animations from Latvia / Latvian Animation
- Midnight Thrills
- International Shorts
Standing Ovation
RIFF would not be possible without the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, the City of Reykjavik, and Creative Europe, as well as the significant contributions from companies and institutions such as Iceland Hotel Collection By Berjaya, RÚV (Icelandic National Broadcasting Service), Hertz, Luxor, Icelandair, TVG Zimsen, numerous embassies around the world, and many others. Their involvement is crucial to the success and sustainability of the festival.