Since its inception, one of RIFF's main objectives has been to provide young people with opportunities to express their identities through filmmaking. In recent years, the children's festival YouthRIFF has grown and flourished, becoming a prestigious festival for the youth of the country. By offering a diverse and ambitious program of films for children and teenagers and organizing workshops and numerous educational projects, we hope to ignite an interest that will follow these young people into adulthood. We aspire to see many future filmmakers emerge from this group.
YouthRIFF offers children and young people a diverse film program from all over the world, with films that are not usually shown in Icelandic cinemas. Films that deal with social, environmental and youth issues often provoke discussions after screenings. Our goal is to encourage young people to be solution-oriented when facing challenges and increase democratic participation.
YouthRIFF has worked in collaboration with preschools and elementary schools across the country since its inception. The selection of films consists of short films and full-length films, which are specially selected for age groups. All screenings are accompanied by teaching materials to make it easier for teachers to educate students.
YouthRIFF wants filmmaking to be both a fun and educational experience. Our goal is also to increase children's film literacy. The projects are diverse and generally emphasize teamwork, dialogue, and critical thinking.
By focusing on filmmaking for young audiences, RIFF has created a platform where children and youth can experience the power of film and find their own voice in the world of filmmaking.
The key theme of YouthRIFF is co-production and co-creation. Children and young people lead the creation and production of projects and events under guidance. With this idea as a guiding principle, the RIFF Youth Council was established. The aim of the Youth Council is to increase the democratic participation of young people and give them the opportunity to influence the shaping and implementation of the festival. The council consists of five young people aged 12-16 from all over the country who meet once a month, or more often if necessary, to plan and prepare the festival together with the festival project manager.
We proudly introduced the Young Voices Nordic Think Tank, which was held for the first time last year. We invited Nordic participants aged 18–25 to participate in an intensive one-day seminar led by experts, with the aim of rethinking and shaping a more sustainable film industry.
The goal was to create a powerful and safe forum where the voices of future leaders in the film industry could be heard and strengthened. This discussion forum gave participants the opportunity to advocate for a better future in a targeted manner, aiming to change the landscape of the industry to better meet the needs and expectations of young people. Within the Young Nordic Think Tank, fertile ground was created for innovative, fresh ideas and new solutions that are a vital growth spurt for the industry in an ever-changing world.
This project, funded by the Nordic Culture Fund, was in line with RIFF's sustainability strategy, which is based on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The think tank promoted young voices for influence and encouraged young people to become more democratic. The direct participation of Nordic youth created valuable opportunities to support a more sustainable future within the film industry.
You can read the brainstorming report here. Those interested in the project are encouraged to contact the YouthRIFF project manager via the email address skolar(hja)riff.is.
Since its inception, RIFF has offered a wide range of workshops and educational programmes for young people, including one-minute filmmaking, improvisation, and short film production workshops. In 2015, Iceland’s Year of Women, RIFF launched the first Girls Film! (Stelpur filma!) workshop. Various social and cultural factors make girls and non-binary youth less likely to experiment with filmmaking and make their voices heard. Girls Film! was created to help address this imbalance by providing a supportive environment where girls (both cisgender and transgender), trans boys, non-binary, and intersex youth can develop their creative talents and connect with inspiring role models.
Below is an overview of RIFF’s youth filmmaking workshops held since 2022. A total of ten workshops have been delivered for lower secondary school students across Iceland during school hours. Some were designed specifically for girls and gender-diverse youth, while others were open to all students. Most workshops lasted a full week, although some were shorter. Participation has consistently been excellent, and both students and teachers have responded very positively.
Girls Film! (Stelpur filma!)
2022 – Girls Film! (Stelpur filma!) Workshops held in Borgarnes, Hveragerði, Keflavík, and Egilsstaðir
2025 – in Reykjavík
Kids Film! (Krakkar Filma!)
2023 – Workshops held in Borgarnes and Ísafjörður and surrounding communities
2024 – Workshops held in Akranes and Ísafjörður and surrounding communities
2024 – Workshop held in Reykhólar
“The workshop was highly successful. The girls were very pleased, and the education they received will undoubtedly serve them well in the future. Girls Film! is particularly valuable for students in lower secondary school. They are at a sensitive age when many influences in society help shape their attitudes and sense of self. Girls Film! empowers them and strengthens their self-confidence. The workshop was also highly beneficial for teachers.”
Teacher feedback on Girls Film!
