Innovation and creativity are at the forefront in the Icelandic film industry these days, with eight brand new Icelandic productions, both documentaries and feature films, premiering at the Reykjavik Film Festival<\/b><\/p>\n
First on the list is the film <\/span>Wolka<\/b> by the recently departed director \u00c1rni \u00d3lafur \u00c1sgeirsson, a national favourite. Many people have waited for this release with bated breath as \u00c1rni was widely admired and respected in the Icelandic film industry. This film gives an insight into the Polish community in Iceland, which has grown considerably in recent years. Wolka is an Icelandic \u2013 Polish cooperation project and the actors are almost exclusively of Polish origin. However, the Icelandic \u00c1sgeirsson directed the film and the music, costumes, set design and production were all overseen by Icelandic professionals.<\/span><\/p>\n TRIBUTE<\/span><\/p>\n Out of the eight films in the category there are two feature films, <\/span>Owls<\/b>, city <\/span>Teitur Magnusson<\/b> spirit <\/span>Come to Harm<\/b> village <\/span>Asgeir Sigurdsson<\/b> spirit <\/span>Anton Karl Kristensen<\/b>. Both of these films are their creators debuts in the category of full length feature films. The film Owls tells the story of widowed P\u00e1ll, who meets a woman experiencing violence at the hands of her boyfriend. When P\u00e1ll tries to come to her aid, he is forced to face his own past. Come to harm is about a young man who needs to search for his brother in the underbelly of Reykjavik city when their mother passes away. Come to Harm has already been invited to attend several film festivals and was awarded the "Directorial Discovery Award" at the Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Three Icelandic documentaries will be world premiered in this category at RIFF, all of which are very distinctly different from the others. <\/span>Acting Out<\/b> village <\/span>Asthildur Kjartansdottir<\/b> is the tragicomic story of <\/span>Edna Lupita<\/b> that demonstrates how one can live a relatively normal and meaningful life in spite of being on the brink of suicide. The movie <\/span>Are You Icelandic?<\/b> village <\/span>Magnea Bj\u00f6rk Valdimarsd\u00f3ttir<\/b> gives the audience an insight into the lives of four women who have all lived in Iceland for twenty years. Born in Bosnia, Jamaica, Poland and Turkey - they all have a story about what brought them here and how it is to be a foreign Icelander in Iceland today.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The third documentary, <\/span>Interment<\/b>, city <\/span>Anna Maria Bogadottir<\/b> is a very different tale, as it tells the story of the building of the Bank of Industries in L\u00e6kjargata, Reykjavik, that was erected in the 1960's influenced by the ideologies of international futurism. Just over half a century later we witness the demolition of the building - and the bank - with the backdrop of the city's usual hustle and bustle.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally there are two full length documentary feature films that are produced in an Icelandic-foreign partnership. The first is The Butterfly Swing, or Lille Sommerfugl in the language of origin. This is an Icelandic-Danish partnership project which tells the story of a stubborn pig farmer and his wife who throw a party at their farm to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The family harbors many secrets that are revealed as the evening wears on.<\/span><\/p>\n Furthermore, the <\/span>concluding film at RIFF,<\/b> blockbuster <\/span>Margrete \u2013 Queen of the North<\/b>. This film is the most expensive film project that has ever been produced in the Nordic countries and is a Nordic cooperation project. <\/span>Charlotte Sieling<\/b> is the director of the film but she is renowned for her direction of The Killing, The Bridge and Borgen, to name a few of her better known works. Trine Dyrholm acts the leading role and Icelandic actresses Halld\u00f3ra Geirhards and Tinna Hrafns carry out supporting roles. Trine will be an honorary guest at RIFF and will attend the screening of the film.<\/span><\/p>\n