At the 22nd Reykjavik International Film Festival (RIFF), which ended on October 5th, a wide variety of films from around the world were screened. Led by founder and director Hron Marinosdóttir and program director Frédéric Boyer, the 10-day event offered audiences a unique look at the history of film through a blend of the festival’s new hits and the works of visiting directors.
The films selected for the opening night of Alexandre O. Philippe’s documentary “Kim Novak’s Vertigo” created an atmosphere that questioned the past of cinema. Unfortunately, Hollywood icon Novak was unable to attend due to illness, but a panel of contemporary filmmakers including Anton Corbijn, Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Ursula Meyer, known for carving her own path, shared some of their past work and conducted masterclasses.
Five films were screened directly from their Venice premieres, with France’s Olivier Assayas making a whirlwind 24-hour journey to screen his latest film, “The Magicians of the Kremlin.”
Switzerland, a notable country, won more than a dozen titles. Directors such as Lionel Baier (The Safe House), Claudia Reinicke (The Queen), and the adorable identical twins Ramon and Sylvain of Zürcher (The Curious Kitten, The Girl and the Spider, The Sparrow in the Chimney) joined Ursula Meyer (The Sister, Home) to show off the diversity of their homeland’s goods and languages.
In addition to Iceland’s unusual landscapes and unique cuisine, RIFF guests were delighted to see iconic locals such as musician Björk and film director Fridrik Thor Fridriksson attending screenings and social events. Director and screenwriter Marziye Meshkini was thrilled that the aforementioned singer even stayed for the Q&A after the Iranian film “The Day I Became a Woman.”
The festival also featured Icelandic filmmakers. Marinosdóttir says about 34 Icelandic titles were screened between the feature and short films. Among them is “The Ground Beneath Our Feet,” director Ilsa Roka Fanberg’s tender and contemplative documentary set in a Reykjavík care home, which was screened domestically for the first time after winning multiple awards at international festivals.
Screenings in unconventional environments are part of the festival’s tradition. This year, the family film and claustrophobic classic “Descent” was screened in the Raufalhorscherir lava tunnel for the brave “fallers.”
For those who prefer a more traditional moviegoing experience, the main screening room, strategically located near the university campus, was targeted at a younger audience. Meanwhile, the stunning Nordic House, designed by Alvar Aalto, attracted scores of student filmmakers for panels and masterclasses.
In New Visions’ first and second feature competition, Spanish director Jaume Claret Mouxato won the Golden Puffin Award for his lyrical coming-of-age film about the discovery of desire. The jury of the “A Different Tomorrow” series, which focuses on works that respond to the challenges of our time, praised the documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” which exposed the extensive propaganda machine used by Russia’s leadership to deceive its people.
In conclusion, Marinosdóttir said: “We are satisfied with the results of this year, which brought together industry from all over the world to meet Icelandic industry. This gives us strength and courage to continue our work.”
