RIFF - Reykjavík International Film Festival
RIFF – Reykjavik International Film Festival – is one of the largest and most diverse cultural events in Iceland. RIFF is an independent and non-profit festival. The RIFF staff works year-round in preparation, but as the festival approaches, numerous volunteers from all over the world join in, and the festival owes much to them.
For eleven days every autumn, Icelanders flock to the cinema to see the best and freshest in international filmmaking. Furthermore, guests are invited to engage in discussions with directors about their works, attend seminars and lectures, concerts and art exhibitions, and watch films under unconventional conditions – in a swimming pool, a cave, or even in the living room of a renowned filmmaker!
The program highlights young filmmakers and progressive cinema. The festival’s main award, the Golden Puffin, is, for example, dedicated to a filmmaker for their first or second film.
RIFF is also a significant platform for Icelandic filmmakers to showcase their works to the world. Many foreign journalists and industry professionals attend the festival annually, and their interest in Icelandic films is evident.
The festival strives to feature the past year’s productions, premiere the latest films, and elevate Icelandic short filmmaking. The best Icelandic short film receives an award from RÚV, which purchases its broadcasting rights, while the Golden Egg is awarded to the best short film participating in the RIFF Talent Lab.
At RIFF, we believe that cinema can change the world. Documentaries are increasingly prominent in the festival program, and feature films that particularly address human rights, quality of life, and environmental issues are given substantial space.
See you at the movies!
Historical background and location
Saga
The Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) was founded in 2004 by Hrönn Marinósdóttir and a group of film enthusiasts. They envisioned a festival that could bridge cultural gaps, promote Icelandic cinema on an international stage, and create a space for young talent to showcase their work and skills. This dream has now come true. RIFF has grown rapidly to become one of Iceland’s largest cultural festivals, attracting filmmakers and film enthusiasts from all over the world.
In just over two decades, RIFF has welcomed numerous esteemed honorary guests, including famous directors such as Milos Forman, Werner Herzog, Darren Aronofsky, and Jim Jarmusch. Many world-class talents have thus contributed to building the festival's reputation as a key event for innovative and progressive films.
The Oscar-winning film "Poor Things," directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, is an artistically and emotionally impactful work that garnered acclaim from critics and audiences worldwide. The film had a special premiere at RIFF, a festival particularly favored by the Greek director.
In addition to these renowned guests, RIFF has, year after year, brought together a diverse group of filmmakers, actors, and professionals from the film industry, creating a vibrant and fertile community. This community has fostered valuable connections and laid the groundwork for successful collaborations.
One of RIFF's unique features is its emphasis on creating memorable and different experiences for guests. This is evident in the festival’s various special events and screenings held in unconventional locations such as swimming pools, natural settings, historical sites, and even private homes. These unique screenings and the exceptional team that brings them to life make RIFF a distinctive cultural festival.
Location
The hub of RIFF in 2024 is Háskólabíó, a historic cinema in Reykjavík that was built in 1961. Háskólabíó provides the perfect setting for the festival's diverse program. The cinema has long been a cornerstone of the cultural life in Reykjavík’s West side, hosting a wide range of events from film screenings to concerts and various special events.
In addition to Háskólabíó, RIFF offers screenings and events at various locations throughout the city. The Nordic House, designed by the world-renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, is another key venue for the festival, hosting special events in the heart of the city with unique proximity to nature in Vatnsmýri wetland park. Libraries and nursing homes are also utilized as screening and event venues, ensuring that RIFF fulfills its mission of providing cinema for everyone and reaching a broad and diverse audience.
RIFF is committed to ensuring accessibility for as many people as possible by hiring an accessibility officer, implementing a new accessibility policy, and developing a sustainability policy. The RIFF Around Town project is part of this effort to increase access to the festival, with screenings traveling to locations such as libraries, nursing homes, and even prisons.
The RIFF office is located at Tryggvagata 11, 101 Reykjavík, on the 5th floor.
HONORARY GUESTS
RIFF 2023
Vicky Creeps
Last December, German-Luxembourgish actress Vicky Krieps (b. 1983) was honored as Best Actress at the 35th European Film Awards held in Reykjavík for her portrayal of Empress Elisabeth of Austria in Marie Kreutzer's Corsage (2022). Krieps' career began to blossom in the middle of the last decade when she won one role after another in various major film projects. She showed her talent in The Young Karl Marx (2017) and Gutland (2019), but it was her amazing performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-winning Phantom Thread (2017) that catapulted her to stardom. Her captivating presence on the silver screen was evident in Bergman Island (2021) and More Than Ever (2022), Gaspard Ulliel's penultimate film. In her latest film, Krieps returned to her German roots, playing the title role in Ingeborg Bachmann – Journey into the Desert (2023), directed by legendary German filmmaker Margarethe von Trotta. For her brilliant performance and innate ability to portray different characters, Vicky Krieps won the RIFF Award for Outstanding Artistry.
Luca Guadagnino
Luca Guadagnino (b. 1971) is an Italian filmmaker known for his heartfelt, heartfelt, and artistic films. Guadagnino's breakthrough came with the romantic drama I Am Love (2009), starring Tilda Swinton, which won a total of 14 prestigious film awards. This marked the beginning of a successful collaboration between the two, which continued with critically acclaimed films such as A Bigger Splash (2015) and the remake of Dario Argento's Suspiria (2018). One of Guadagnino's most famous works is the romantic classic Call Me By Your Name (2017), which won the 2018 Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film played a key role in launching lead actor Timothée Chalamet to stardom, and Guadagnino's collaboration with him continued in his latest film, Bones and All (2022). Guadagnino continues to bring audiences captivating cinematic narratives, with his latest film, Challengers, starring Zendaya, set for release next year. In the meantime, he is finishing up Queer, starring Daniel Craig, in Italy. Luca Guadagnino’s contributions to the art of cinema make him a notable guest of honor at this year’s RIFF, receiving the RIFF Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement.
Isabelle Huppert
Isabelle Anne Madeleine Huppert (b. 1953) is a French film star whose career spans over 50 years and includes over 150 film and television roles. Huppert's career is dotted with awards that reflect her unique talents. In 1978, her performance in The Lacemaker (1977) earned her the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer, and her winning streak continued with two Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival for Violette Nozière (1978) and The Piano Teacher (2001). Huppert received international acclaim for her performance in Elle (2016), which earned her both a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award nomination. In recognition of her enduring influence, the New York Times named Isabelle Huppert the second-best actress of the 21st century, and at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2022, she was awarded the Honorary Golden Bear as a testament to her lifelong dedication to acting. With a name etched in the annals of film history, we are thrilled to honor Isabelle Huppert, her legacy, and her unstoppable source of talent at RIFF 2023.
Nicolas Philibert
One of France's most admired documentary filmmakers, Nicolas Philibert (b. 1951) is known for his artistic and sensitive explorations of everyday human life. Philibert took his first steps as a filmmaker in the 1970s when he assisted renowned directors such as René Allio and Alain Tanner. In the following decades, he made the leap from television production to feature-length documentaries, garnering attention for works such as La Ville Louvre (1990), In the Land of the Deaf (1992) and Every Little Thing (1997). One of Philibert's most successful films, To Be and to Have (2002), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won the Louis Delluc Prize before achieving incredible success internationally. In his latest masterpiece, On the Adamant (2023), which won the Grand Prix at this year’s Berlinale, Philibert provides a fascinating insight into the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities. At the twentieth edition of RIFF, we celebrate Nicolas Philibert’s remarkable career and films – which have repeatedly captured the world through a sincere and investigative lens.
Catherine Breillat
French filmmaker and writer Catherine Breillat (b. 1948) is known for her sensitive and provocative works that explore sexuality, gender relations, and family conflict. Over her 50-year career, she has repeatedly challenged traditional values with her erotic works. Breillat began her film career with a role in Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris (1972). Her directorial debut, A Real Young Girl (1975), based on Breillat's novel Le Soupirail, was banned in many countries due to its graphic sexual content and was not released in theaters until 2000. Some of her later works, such as Nocturnal Uproar (1979) and Romance (1999), also suffered similar treatment. Breillat’s directorial career includes 20 films, including bold titles such as Fat Girl (2001) and Anatomy of Hell (2004), while her latest film after a ten-year hiatus, Last Summer (2023), premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and is currently screening at RIFF. Catherine Breillat’s reputation extends far beyond simple provocation. Her films often explore themes that other filmmakers overlook, and through multi-layered characters, viewers gain insight into a feminine world that challenges accepted values. At the twentieth RIFF, we pay tribute to this bold filmmaker who is always unafraid to show the unsaid.
Luc Jacquet
French documentary filmmaker Luc Jacquet (b. 1967) is the recipient of RIFF’s Green Puffin environmental award. With a single-minded determination and a burning passion for the wonders of the earth, Jacquet’s films take viewers on a breathtaking journey to the wildest ecosystems on the planet. Jacquet’s early interest in nature and the animal kingdom led him to earn a master’s degree in zoology and ecology. This academic background paved the way for Jacquet’s numerous expeditions to Antarctica, where he immersed himself in the ecology of the world’s least populated continent. On one of his expeditions, Jacquet took on the role of cameraman for Hans-Ulrich Schlumpf’s film The Penguins (1993). This marked the beginning of his passion for documentary filmmaking and ignited his interest in showing the natural world on the big screen. Since then, Jacquet's sincere interest in environmental issues has been evident in his award-winning documentaries, including Once Upon A Forest (2015), Ice and the Sky (2015), and March of the Penguins (2005), which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Jacquet's films not only capture the beauty of our planet, but also bring joy and magic to it, leaving a lasting impression on audiences around the world.
Eagle Arnason
Örn Árnason receives the UngRIFF Honorary Award for his contribution to Icelandic children's culture. Örn is one of the country's best-known actors and has delighted young and old with diverse roles in a career spanning almost four decades. Örn is a permanent actor at the National Theatre but was for years a freelance actor, producer, director and author. Among the well-known projects that Örn has starred in are the television series Spaugstofan, the series about Afa, Kardemommubærinn, Ronja ræningjadóttir, Slá í gegn, Umhverfis jörðina á 80 dámina, Óvitar, Spamalot, Dýrin í Hálsaskógir, Ballið á Bessastaðim and Harry and Heimir. Örn has dubbed numerous cartoons for both television and cinema and was one of the founders of the dubbing company Hljóðsetning. He has also worked in television production for many years and has sung on several albums.
AWARDS & JURIES
NEW VISIONS
A DIFFERENT TOMORROW
INTERNATIONAL SHORTS
ICELANDIC SHORTS
THE GOLDEN EGG
THE YOUNG PEOPLE´S JURY
