RIFF 2022 - INDUSTRY DAYS BROCHURE

BACKLASH PANEL:

more info

Welcome to Reykjavik! We are delighted to welcome you to RIFF, whether you are local or international, a returning friend or a first-timer, whether you work in front or behind the camera, in documentaries or fiction. RIFF brings together professionals from around the world and all branches of the film industry.

We are proud to present to you the 2022 Industry program. The Industry program consists of the Industry Days, 5-8th of October, and selected screenings and events throughout the festival. The Industry Days are designed to create new spaces for the exchange of ideas

MISSION

RIFF Industry Days are a series of events and talks held during the festival. Their prime objective is to create a platform for the exchange and circulation of ideas. Industry Days aim to connect Icelandic filmmakers to the rest of the world and vice versa. The Icelandic film industry is thriving and we want to introduce international professionals to all it has to offer.

between Icelandic and International film professionals. RIFF aims to facilitate a meeting place for the (Nordic) industry and offer a platform for the presentation of new works and thoughts. In this booklet you will find the full program and information on each event. On the back of this booklet you find the schedule and the date, time and location are also mentioned on the page of each event. Make sure to check out our festival brochure as well which contains the details of the incredible selection of films screening at RIFF from the 29th of September until the 9th of October. Please keep in mind that last minute changes are part of the business, so make sure to check our website for the latest information: www.riff.is

In 2022, RIFF is also increasing its focus on shedding light on matters of injustice and environmental issues. Films have the power to shake up conversations and call out wrongdoings. We aim to cross the bridge between film professionals, activists and representatives of societal organisations: together we can implement storytelling in the fight for social and environmental justice.

Ráðhús Reykjavíkur (City Hall Reykjavik)

Háskólabíó (University Cinema)

Mál og Menning

Tjarnargata 11, 101 Reykjavik

Hagatorg, 107 Reykjavik Laugavegur 18, 101 Reykjavik

WORK IN PROGRESS

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Wednesday 5th of October

Time: 09:30-13:30

The annual WIP showcase is held in collaboration with the Icelandic Film Centre showing excerpts from upcoming Icelandic film and TV productions. Since 2021, the WIP is open to projects from Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the High North Territories. A selection of projects from Spain, RIFF’s 2022 Country in Focus, will also participate in this year’s showcase. WIP is curated and moderated by Fréderic Boyer and Hrönn MarinósdóttirRIFF Program Director.

FREDERIC BOYER PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Frédéric Boyer is the Program Director of RIFF since 2020. Artistic director of the Tribeca Film Festival since 2012 and of the Les Arcs European Film Festival since 2009. Prior to that he was the Artistic Director for two years and Head of Programming for six years of the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. Boyer’s infatuation with cinema began when he frequented the Cinematheque Française in his youth. He attended the master classes of critics of French New Wave cinema at the Universities of La Sorbonne and Censier.

HRÖNN MARINÓSDÓTTIR

FOUNDER AND FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Hrönn Marinósdóttir studied Political Science in Berlin. Founder and festival Director of the annual Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF). Previously a journalist in Iceland and news correspondant from Berlin. Gives lectures on cinema and film related subjects.

RIFF

NATATORIUM

FEATURE | IN PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland

more info and tickets at riff .is and on the app

A young girl arrives in the city by bus to stay with her estranged grandparents while she auditions for an international art performance group. Her grandparents welcome her with much love, but her father and his twin sister get anxious once they hear about her stay at their parent´s house and try to convince her to leave. When the girl is accepted to the performance group, her grandmother decides to throw a surprise family dinner for her. While the family is gathered in the house to celebrate, dark family secrets emerge, and the evening ends with an unpredictable tragedy.

HELENA STEFÁNSMAGNEUDÓTTIR

DIRECTOR

Helena has run her own independent film production company, Wonderland Films, since 2003. Alongside making short films and documentaries, she has worked as a freelance video artist, making videos for all the biggest theatres in Reykjavík, the opera and the smaller independent theatre companies. Furthermore, she has exhibited a few video art pieces in art galleries.

SUNNA GUÐNADÓTTIR

PRODUCER

Sunna Guðnadóttir is a film producer with over 10 years experience in project management, marketing and business/product development within the cultural and creative industries. Now Sunna runs her own production company, Bjartsýn Films.

ÓSKAR ÞÓR AXELSSON

OPERATION NAPOLEON

FEATURE | IN POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland, Germany

Young Icelandic lawyer Kristin gets drawn into the vortex of an international conspiracy when she receives grainy footage of an old airplane wreck, recently revealed by the melting of one of Iceland’s largest glaciers. The old German World War II plane not only brings ruthless criminals onto the scene, but also CIA vice director William Carr, who had already been secretly trying to remove the wreck for a long time. Kristin places herself in great danger, refusing to rest until the key has been discovered that will solve the riddle of Operation Napoleon...

DIRECTOR Óskar Þór Axelsson is a native of Iceland and a graduate from NYU’s Film Program. His NYU graduation film Misty Mountain won 3 NYU Craft Awards including for directing, and was a Student Academy Awards nominee. Óskar then wrote and directed his feature debut “Black‘s Game” which premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2012.

TINNA PROPPÉ

PRODUCER

Tinna Proppé is an established producer having worked in the film industry since 2009. In addition to film production she has a background in book publishing. Tinna‘s work include titles such as Legends of Valhalla with her latest project the TV series Sisterhood.

PRODUCERS: HILMAR SIGURDSSON, DIRK SCHWEITSER, ANITA ELSANI

IN THE LAND OF MEADOWS

FEATURE | IN PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland

Based on the Vinland Sagas, In the Land of Meadows is a genre-bending narrative that tells the story of Leifur Eriksson and his half-sister Freydis. It details their discovery of The New World and the subsequent clash between the Icelanders and the first nation peoples in the year 999 A.D.

ÞORBJÖRG JÓNSDÓTTIR

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Þorbjörg Jónsdóttir films and video works contemplate ethnographic narratives via abstract formalism, discerning preternatural states in which oral mythology and landscapes collide. Þorbjörg’s films have screened in galleries and the film festival circuit in Europe, Asia and the United States.

LEE LYNCH

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Raised in Redding, California, Lee Lorenzo Lynch has been making films since the age of 13. He holds a BFA in Film from California Institute of the Arts and an MFA in Fine Art from USC. His films have been shown at galleries and film festivals such as Sundance, FIDMarseille, International Film Festival Rotterdam, Full Frame, The Viennale and Tribeca, Steve Turner gallery in LA and MOCA.

PRODUCER: LOGI HILMARSSON

SMÁRI GUNNARSSON

DIRECTOR

Smári Gunnarsson began creating his own work and further honed his skills in the UK through initiatives at The NFTS and BFI Network.

LOGI SIGURSVEINSSON

THE HOME GAME

DOCUMENTARY | POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland

The Home Game is a feel-good sports documentary about one man’s dogged attempt to finish his father’s mission to finally stage the first home game, on the football pitch he made 25 years earlier in their small Icelandic fishing village. We follow the growth of an endearing team of underdogs, as Kari Vidarsson attempts to honour his community and his retired father’s dream. Embracing his dad’s old coaching philosophy for their big game in the FA Cup, Kari is determined to let everyone play who wants to, no matter their age, gender or skillset.

DIRECTOR

Logi Sigursveinsson works freelance as a cinematographer, editor and VFX artist.

SILVER SCREEN

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Silver Screen is a film-production company based in Reykjavik producing independent non-fiction and fiction as well as providing production services throughout Iceland.

PRODUCERS : STEPHANIE THORPE, ELFAR ADALSTEINS, HEATHER MILLARD, FREYJA KRISTINSDÓTTIR

2022 more info and tickets at riff .is and on the app

DOCUMENTARY | IN PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland

Icelandic country singer, Johnny King, is at crossroads in his life. Even though national stardom was never reached, he gained a solid base of enthusiasts, and his name was well-known. During his upbringing he suffered plenty of ordeal. To suppress past trauma, the character Johnny King had been created. The documentary about Johnny King explores his character, what is behind his persona and how to break out from that alter-ego.

ÁRNI SVEINSSON

DIRECTOR

Árni Sveinsson has been an independant filmmaker for over 20 years, during which he has both created his own projects as well as taken projects under his wing. He has taught at The Icelandic Film School. His works include “Óli Prik”, “Son of the Day”, “Backyard” and “Í Skóm Drekans”.

ANDRI FREYR VIÐARSSON

SCRIPTWRITER/CO-PRODUCER

Andri Freyr Viðarsson is one of the most prominent radio hosts of Iceland. He is currently a leading figure in “Menningin”, a radio show that focuses on what is currently happening in arts and culture. Andri attended Prague Film School.

PRODUCERS : LÁRUS JÓNSSON, HALLDÓR HILMISSON, ÁRNI ÞÓR JÓNSSON, ADA BENJAMÍNSDÓTTIR

KRESHNIK JONUZI

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Kreshnik Jonuzi is an Albanian/ American filmmaker. His feature directorial debut was in 2017 with “Triumph”. The film premiered at Warsaw Film Festival and won the Audience Award at Dokufest in 2018.

DOCUMENTARY | POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland, USA

Facing the aftermath of deportation, a family tries to reunite while the youngest son and daughter endure the emotional journey to adjust in a place they’ve never known as home.

SÆVAR

GUÐMUNDSSON

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Sævar Guðmundsson is an Icelandic director who started with short films that gained massive attention in Iceland. He began directing and editing commercials in Iceland and later internationally. “Inside a Volcano‘’ was his first fulllength documentary which premiered at Warsaw Film Festival in 2016.

PRODUCERS : LEJLA KORÇA, ANNA KAREN KRISTJÁNSDÓTTIR

WHEN SPRAKKAR RISE UP

DOCUMENTARY | IN DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Canada, France

What if the answer to our future survival isn’t for capitalism’s dogma of incessant growth to lead the way but to put the environment and the common good front and centre in every decision? On the volatile Icelandic landscape women have been rising for generations. At this crucial moment in history, women are standing up to manifest their wisdom and inner strength and convert chaos into a motor for change. In Iceland, they have had a head start allowing this film to show the world what is possible when women truly rise.

GREENLAND

TASIILAQ

TV SERIES | SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Greenland, Denmark

Tasiilaq, East Greenland, is a town with a horrible reputation. A place synonymous with alcoholism and abuse. But Tasiilaq is also just a small town like any other, where young people act out their lives. We want to create a youth fiction series together with young people and teenagers from Tasiilaq. The youth of the town will be directly involved in developing the story, writing the script and act in front of the camera. We want to hand the microphone to a group of people who are often marginalized and let them tell the world their own story for once...

DIRECTOR

Sylvie Van Brabant is a major Quebec director and producer. She has written and directed some of Quebec’s major documentaries most of them dealing with crucial social issues. She is a champion of social, political and artistic works that are pertinent, eloquent and poetic. She is also an accomplished producer with over 40 documentaries under her belt.

SYLVIE VAN BRABANT DORIS BUTTIGNOL

DIRECTOR

Doris Buttignol is an accomplished documentary filmmaker who, since 1990, has written and directed over 20 films.

PRODUCERS: CAROLE MANGOLD, ELODIE POLLET

CHRISTOFFER STENBAKKEN

DIRECTOR

Christoffer Stenbakken grew up in Tasiilaq. For the last five years he has worked as a freelance screenwriter and director in Denmark. He has primarily written and directed youth fiction and television series for the Danish Broadcasting Corporation such as REPLAY and OVER GRÆNSEN 2. He has a series in production at TV2 and has also made short films at Hyæne Film.

ALBERTE PARNUUNA LINGS SKIFTE

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Alberte Parnuuna Lings Skifte comes from Nuuk with Greenlandic/Danish roots. She is a director and screenwriter and is currently developing the fiction series SILA, which takes place in Nuuk, for Netflix. She has a master’s degree in Visual Culture.

2022 more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

TV SERIES | IN DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Faroe Islands

The charismatic Magnus Tindhólm is a former farmer with a humble upbringing and has newly been appointed prime minister of the Faroe Islands. Despite his lack of experience as a state leader, he is a quick learner and equally comfortable in a sharp suit, as he was in his old Wellington boots and fisherman’s jumper. But soon, Magnus will face the most challenging and important moment of his life, one that could change the course of history and the future of the Faroese people, but also endanger his family and the life of his disabled son.

TORFINNUR JÁKUPSSON

CREATOR, WRITER, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Torfinnur Jákupsson is a Faroese screenwriter, showrunner and executive producer with a background in journalism and music. He is also CEO of GRÓ Studios, the first studio of its kind in the Faroe Islands. Represented by Danske Dramatikere and Swedish boutique agency Albatros, Torfinnur is the creator and head writer of the first ever Faroese TV drama series, award-winning eco-crime thriller TROM.

JÓN HAMMER

PRODUCER

Jón Hammer first cut his teeth at Lars von Trier’s Zentropa, before moving on to independent powerhouse Adomeit Film Denmark and founding his own production company Kykmyndir / KYK Pictures. Jón is a member of European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) and the Faroese producer of the first ever Faroese TV drama series, award-winning eco-crime thriller TROM, shown on Viaplay, DR, BBC, ZDF/Arte, AMC+ and SBS among others.

FEATURE | IN DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Faroe Islands

In a fit of fury, disillusioned local newsman Einar has a nervous breakdown on national radio, causing a massive rush-hour car pile-up. Dressed up in a traditional Faroese suit, he subsequently flees his own 45th birthday party on his teenage daughter’s brokendown bike with local police soon on his trail. As we follow him on a backbreaking and breathtaking crosscountry journey, the reason for all of this becomes clearer: he has set out to confront and kill his father, before he dies.

GRÓ STUDIOS

PRODUCTION COMPANY

GRÓ Studios is the first film and television studio of its kind in the Faroe Islands, involved in all aspects of development through production and sales, and is a joint venture of head of development and executive producer Torfinnur Jákupsson and head of production Jón Hammer. Joining forces in 2018, together, they were the driving force behind bringing the first ever Faroese drama series to the screen. Working closely with the Nordic and international industry, GRÓ prides itself on seeing and identifying great value in the often undervalued and in championing and harnessing local talent and local stories for a global audience.

NIGHT I CONQUERED

CITY OF THEBES

FEATURE | PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Spain, Portugal

António wants to tell Jota that he is afraid of being alone when Jota leaves for university. Aurelio does not know whether he wants to desert with Pompeyo or leave to the war front. Tonight, at the thermal baths, a 21st century boy and a 1st century Roman soldier share a warm bath and the fear of losing their best friend.

GABRIEL AZORÍN

DIRECTOR

Gabriel Azoríns’ films have been selected at festivals such as San Sebastian, Entrevues at Belfort, the Seville European Film Festival, Ficunam, Zinebi, Curtocircuíto or Porto/Post/Doc among others. “Last Night I Conquered the City of Thebes” is his first fiction feature film.

CARLOS PARDO ROS

PRODUCER

Carlos Pardo Ros is a Spanish filmmaker who works as a director and producer. In 2017 he founded DVEIN Films. He has so far produced short films premiered and awarded at festivals like Locarno, San Sebastián, Mar del Plata, Visions du Reel, FIDMarseille or Viennale.

ON A

FEATURE | POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Spain

Marta returns home for the summer. She meets Pablo again. They start meeting to the point of considering resuming their relationship. Leo, Marta’s partner, visits her. Her relationship with Pablo falls apart. She goes back to Madrid and Leo.

DIEGO LLORENTE

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Pola de Siero has a degree in French Philology from Oviedo University. In addition to publishing two books, he has directed five short films, including “casa” (New Filmmakers Award from FICX) and “saturday”. Recently, his first feature premiered at the Atlántida Film Fest. His short film “Agostu” was selected among others, in the Official Section of the Ibero-American Film Festival of Nicaragua and in the thirty-fourth edition of the Bogotá Film Festival. His short film “Carolina, Friday, August 18, 2017, NY” has been exhibited at festivals in Colombia, Mexico and Argentina. His latest feature film, “Entrialgo”, has been screened at the Indie Memphis Festival, at the FICX at the Uruguay International Film Festival and at the BAFICI.

YOUNGER DAYS

FEATURE | SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT

COUNTRY: Spain

At the end of the summer, Alex, a young and ambitious struggling musician, decides to escape the pressures of the music industry and journey through Iceland. There she meets Sigrun, a troubled bass player mourning the loss of her best friend. Bonding through music and friendship, Alex and Sigrun travel the northern landscapes to find themselves and get back on their feet.

GERARD VIDAL BARRENA

DIRECTOR

Gerard Vidal Barrena is a film director, screenwriter, playwright and musician. “Les dues nits d’ahir” (“Yesterday’s Two Nights”) is his feature film debut as a co-director, co-writer, co-producer and composer of its original soundtrack. The film won for Best Direction and Best Actor at the Malaga Film Festival, in the Zonazine section.

DAVID AYMERICH

PRODUCER

Ayhe Productions is a new production company founded by producer and director David Aymerich. In 2018, Aymerich wrote and directed his first feature film, which was distributed in cinemas by Splendor Films and is currently available on Filmin.

DABRUNEBA

DOCUMENTARY | POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Spain

Sofiko’s life is about to turn upside down. At the age of 24 and after getting engaged to her boyfriend Akaki, she is thinking of returning to her country of origin, Georgia. She decides to retrace, in the opposite direction, the migratory route that 18 years ago brought her from Tbilisi to Barcelona. The people, landscapes and borders she crosses on this journey, both physical and emotional, speak of the invisible consequences of a war that forced her parents to leave a place she still perceives as home.

MAR GARRO LLEONART

DIRECTOR

Mar Garro is a film director, graduated in Audiovisual Communication from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. She works in the communication and impact department at the film production company Alba Sotorra SL and has participated in the production of documentaries. She is also an audiovisual educator for a group of young people in an audiovisual and education project coordinated by Ruido Photo.

JÚLIA FARRÀS RIU

PRODUCER

Júlia Farràs Riu is currently an educator and coordinator of the participatory audiovisual project formed by diverse-youth at Rudio Photo, as well as leading the communication of the innovation hub Innomads.

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date

Iceland is naturally geolocated between North America and Europe, making it a perfect place to link continents, industries and professionals. The Producers’ Day builds a bridge between regions and offers an innovative space for creative exchange and a breeding ground for new partnerships.

With a focus on Nordic and EU co-productions, producers from these regions will talk about the challenges and opportunities of their line of work, as the world emerges from a pandemic and new injustices present themselves. In line with the Spanish Focus of RIFF 2022, a Spanish delegation will be present at this year’s Producer’s Day.

LILJA BJÖRK GUÐMUNDSDÓTTIR MODERATOR

Lilja Björk Guðmundsdóttir works for the Federation of Icelandic Industries. She is the Key Account Manager for the Association of Icelandic Film Producers (SÍK) working closely with the board as well as members towards the best possible economic, legislative, and regulatory environment for the Icelandic film industry.

ICELANDIC DELEGATION

AGNES JOHANSEN

After 15 years of working in television, Agnes Johansen was recruited as line producer on Baltasar Kormakur’s The Sea (2001). Subsequently she joined his production company Blueeyes Productions as producer and has continued to produce under the label of RVK Studios since its launch in 2012. Production credits include: Jar City (2006), White Night Wedding (2008), Reykjavik Rotterdam (2008), The Deep (2012) Virgin Mountain (2015) and The Oath (2016), as wll as television series Trapped (2016-2022) and Katla (2021).

ANTON MÁNI SVANSSON

Anton Máni Svansson co-founded Join Motion Pictures in 2007 with the ambition to forge close working relationships with upcoming writer-director talents. Over the last 15 years, he has worked as a producer and CEO of the company, and his productions have sold worldwide and been selected for many of the most prestigious film festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, San Sebastian, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, BFI, IDFA, Telluride, and Toronto. These films have collected around 200 awards and many nominations.

ARNAR BENJAMÍN KRISTJÁNSSON

Arnar Benjamín holds a MA degree in Business and Producing from the Met Film School and a MMM degree in Marketing from Bifröst University. He has been a producer at Zik Zak Filmworks since 2018.

RIFF 2022 more info and tickets at riff .is and on the app

BIRGITTA BJÖRNSDÓTTIR

Birgitta Björnsdóttir was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland. After finishing her BA in English at the University of Iceland, she subsequently started an MA in Filmmaking at the London Film School. After graduating, she started working at the Icelandic production company Zik Zak Filmworks. In 2011 she co-founded Vintage Pictures. Birgitta was chosen as a Producer on the Move by the European Film Promotion for Cannes in 2018 and was selected as one of Screen Daily´s 25 Global Future Leaders in 2018 for their Cannes Issue.

HEATHER MILLARD

Co-founder of Compass Films, Iceland, Heather Millard has produced a variety of internationally award-winning documentary films, feature films, shorts and animated films as well as service produced international television series. She has been working in the film & television industry in the UK since 2005 and relocated to Iceland in 2009. Her productions have been licensed internationally to broadcasters and SVOD platforms and released theatrically in numerous territories.

HLÍN JÓHANNESDÓTTIR

MINNINGAR / MINNEN

SIGHVATSSON

Hlín Jóhannesdóttir has worked in film production since 2000. She has worked with many of Iceland ´s most successful directors on feature films and documentaries. Hlín owns and runs the production company Ursus Parvus in Reykjavik. Hlín is the co-founder and head of production of JONAA.org and serves as the Head of Production at The Icelandic Film School. Hlín has been the chair of The Icelandic Film & TV Academy since 2016. She is now working for Pegasus Pictures as a producer.

Sigurjon (Joni) Sighvatsson, a veteran producer with over 50 feature films and television series to his credit, has worked with some of the most successful filmmakers in the industry, including David Lynch, Kathryn Bigelow, Jim Sheridan and Julian Schnabel. Among his films are Brothers, Z for Zachariah, Killer Elite, as well as classics such as Wild at Heart, Arlington Road, and Basquiat. More recently, Sighvatsson has branched out into documentary directing and he is making his directorial debut with Exxtinction Emergency.

CARLOS PARDO ROS

Carlos Pardo Ros is a Spanish filmmaker who works as a director and producer. In 2017 he founded DVEIN Films. He has so far produced short films premiered and awarded at festivals like Locarno, San Sebastián, Mar del Plata, Visions du Reel, FIDMarseille and Viennale. He is a member of Lacasinegra Collective (together with Gabriel Azorín, María Antón Cabot and Elena López) and is also a member of DVEIN together with Teo Guillem. His first feature film as director, “H”, premiered at Visions du Réel in 2022.

MARINA LAMEIRO

Marina Lameiro holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication from the URJC and a Master’s Degree in Creative Documentary from IDEC-UPF and a Postgraduate Degree in Audiovisual Editing from the same university. She was part of the Collaborative Studio of UnionDocs in New York City as an artist in residence. She is the producer, director and screenwriter of several documentaries including the feature film Young & Beautiful that, among other awards, won the Special Audience Award at the Punto de Vista Festival in 2018.

RAFA MOLÉS VILAR

Rafa Molés Vilar is a director, scriptwriter and journalist. He has a Bachelors in Information Sciences with 20 years of experience in the audiovisual sector. In 2012 he received the award Journalist of the Year in the III Edition of the Journalistic Awards of the Valencian Community. Together with Pepe Andreu, he is the creator of the audiovisual production company SUICAfilms where they direct and produce all their projects. He has been recognized twice as Best Producer of the Year at the PROA Awards.

RIFF 2022 more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

DYVEKE BJØRKLY GRAVER

Dyveke Bjørkly Graver worked at Cinenord between 2009 and 2017, where she produced and co-produced 8 feature films and worked with several tv-series. In 2017 she started as a producer at Oslo Pictures, and during the fall of 2019, became CEO of the company. In Oslo Pictures she has executive produced “The Worst Person in the World”, which premiered in Cannes Competition in 2021. The film won the Best Actress award in Cannes and was later nominated for two Oscars.

JASMINE NAGHIZADEH

Jasmine is a graduate of The Danish School of Media and Journalism under their Media Management programme. She has worked with a number of different production companies, both in fiction as well as in documentaries. Since 2019, she has produced exclusively for Nimbus Film where her slate includes having produced the feature film MY ROBOT BROTHER (2022) and an upcoming series for DR, while also having served as development producer on the Viaplay series WHERE WERE YOU (2022).

JÓN HAMMER MARK LWOFF

TORFINNUR JÁKUPSSON

MINNINGAR / MINNEN

Jón Hammer first cut his teeth at Lars von Trier’s Zentropa, before moving on to independent powerhouse Adomeit Film Denmark and founding his own production company Kykmyndir / KYK Pictures. Jón is a member of European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE) and the Faroese producer of the first ever Faroese TV drama series, award-winning eco-crime thriller TROM, shown on Viaplay, DR, BBC, ZDF/Arte, AMC+ and SBS among others.

Founded in 2007 and led by producers Misha Jaari and Mark Lwoff, Bufo has produced a number of films of which many have received international recognition. Based in Helsinki, the ambitious and thrill-seeking company concentrates on plot-driven and meaningful stories that can also entertain big audiences. Bufo’s films all share the elements of clear artistic vision, innovation and high quality.

Torfinnur Jákupsson is a Faroese screenwriter, showrunner and executive producer with a background in journalism and music. He is also CEO of GRÓ Studios, the first studio of its kind in the Faroe Islands. Represented by Danske Dramatikere and Swedish boutique agency Albatros, Torfinnur is the creator and head writer of the first ever Faroese TV drama series, award-winning eco-crime thriller TROM, shown on Viaplay, DR, BBC, ZDF/ Arte, AMC+ and SBS among others.

SOUND DESIGN

Each edition of Producer’s Day will spotlight one other branch of the industry. In 2022 we celebrate sound

VILLAVIEJA

BJÖRN VIKTORSSON

designers and we have a conversation about their line of work. Come meet our musical and audio talents!

Amanda Villavieja worked as a sound technician and sound designer in more than fifty fiction and documentary films. She graduated in Audiovisual Communication from the Autonomous University of Barcelona with a Master in Creative Documentary from the Pompeu Fabra University. Teacher of sound design, Amanda has given sound seminars at different film festivals such as Curtocircuito in Santiago de Compostela and at the Muestra de cine de Lanzarote.

Björn Viktorsson is an independent sound designer and sound mixer. Since 2001 he has worked in all fields of sound for film and television, be it pre-production, production, post-production or sound design. He has been involved in the sound of numerous films, TV series, documentaries and commercials. Björn studied audio engineering at SAE (School of Audio Engineering) in Glasgow. After studying, Björn worked at RÚV (The Icelandic National Broadcast Company) and then for Cinema Sound ltd. in Iceland.

GUNNAR ÁRNASON

Gunnar Árnason founded his sound company “Upptekid” in 1987 which is still running. In 2017, he started building his new studio in Kópavogur, with one booth, one small edit studio and in January 2021 he got Dolby Atmos Feature Certified Studio license for the big studio. That was the seventh Scandinavian studio to receive this certification. For over 40 years, Gunnar has worked in all kinds of sound departments: answer machines, audio books, music, documentary, video games, TV drama series and feature films.

For over forty years Nick has dedicated his career to the recording/ production/mixing of all things audio. He started working at Mayfair Recording Studios. In 1984 he founded Clock Studios, in London. Back to Iceland, Nick remained freelancing in music and record production until 1997 when he accepted a job offer at Sagafilm. In 2010 he chose to leave Sagafilm and form his own audio post-production company called Nýbúi. Nick has also built up several relationships with international productions.

NICK CATHCART JONES

STUDIO TOUR

Date: Thursday 6th of October

Time: 14:00-17:30

Departure: from Ráðhús

Hop on our RIFF bus and tour the studios of Reykjavik!

The film industry in Iceland is flourishing. The trip is designed to take RIFF’s International Guests to the front lines of all that our Industry has to offer. We will be visiting three studios and taking in the sights of the city along the way!

Invitation only. This event is exclusively for participants of the Producer’s Day and RIFF’s International Guests.

UPPTEKIÐ

TRICKSHOT

info and tickets at riff .is and on the app

RVK STUDIOS

Gunnar Árnason founded his sound company “Upptekid” in 1987 which is still running. In 2017, he started building his new studio in Kópavogur, with one booth, one small edit studio and in January 2021 he got Dolby Atmos Feature Certified Studio license for the big studio. That was the seventh Scandinavian studio to receive this certification. For over 40 years, Gunnar has worked in all kinds of sound departments: answer machines, audio books, music, documentary, video games, TV drama series and feature films.

/ MINNEN

Trickshot is a full service digital post-production boutique located in a spacious facility in Reykjavík, Iceland. Our infrastructure allows us to work in every format that production can bring into the shop, and tailor the pipeline for any delivery specification and schedule required. Trickshot is a Dolby Vision Certified Facility. We offer the following services: color grading, conform & delivery, dailies, sound mixing and recording.

RVK Studios is a production company with focus on film and television. The company has produced movies like Jar City, The Deep, Virgin Mountain and the Oath. It has also produced Baltasar Kormákur‘s Two Guns, Everest, Contraband and Adrift. RVK Studios first 10-part crime series Trapped launched in 2016 with international success. RVK Studios offers full production services for films, television and photoshoot in Iceland.

The North is at the forefront of climate change. Communities living near and above the Arctic Circle are among the first to experience the effects of global warming first-hand. Traditional ways of living are threatened by the disappearance of land ice, the rising sea temperature and the increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Livelihoods built on the cycle of the seasons are in danger and cultural values are at risk of disappearing forever.

As the media tells us that humanity is now facing its biggest challenge yet, the constant bombardment of dooming narratives leaves most individuals feeling either overwhelmed, guilty and anxious or in denial and stuck in passivity. Cue film! Non-fiction films can contribute to a larger global understanding foundational to the continuous fight against climate injustice.

Films have the potential to not only raise awareness, but make a concrete impact when seen by the right audiences. Many filmmakers have successfully walked the path from cinema to impact by launching an impact campaign alongside the release of their film. Nordic storytellers specifically have the power to use their films to influence the global climate debate and change behaviour and policy.

THINK-FILM

Thus, Impact of the North was born. Six environmental documentaries in production have been selected to participate in a two-day workshop designed to support the filmmakers in further developing their impact strategy and connect them to relevant players in the film industry and beyond.

On October 6th the selected participants will follow a closed workshop by Think-Film Impact Production. COO Amy Shepherd and Senior Impact Strategist Thomas Walsh will lead an interactive session in which the filmmakers work on their strategies. On October 7th the six projects will be pitched during Impact Day.

Films have the potential to stimulate positive change in society through storytelling by reaching the right audiences. To support this promising potential RIFF has created Impact Day to bring attention to the power of film. Besides the pitches, Impact Day consists of two panels: Stories with Impact and Backlash: What the F is Going On?!

Finally, through extended Impact Talks we discuss the role of storytelling in the context of human rights and further explore the issues portrayed in the films selected for A Different Tomorrow.

AMY SHEPHERD

Think-Film Impact Production is a market-leading impact media company with specialist expertise at the intersection of film and social change. World in 2050 Innovation Olympics 2020 prize-winners, and co-pioneers with Cannes Marché du Film of impACT in 2021, Think-Film works with worldleading film, television, VR, AR and music projects empowering art to deliver socio-political impact at the highest levels of international governance.

Amy Shepherd is the COO of Think-Film and is a highly experienced creative strategist with an extensive professional background in international law, politics and social justice advocacy. A graduate of Cambridge University and Utrecht University, she trained first as a barrister and later worked for a number of international NGOs before finding a home for her analytical and creative talents in film impact. Amy’s film impact credits include The Territory, Navalny, The Scars of Ali Boulala and iHuman.

THOMAS WALSH

Thomas Walsh is the Senior Impact Strategist at Think-Film Impact Production and has been working in impact media since 2017. He brings his experience and passion to filmmakers to design creative impact campaigns that connect with key audiences and achieve real political outcomes in different arenas. He has worked on over 20 impact film and multimedia projects at different stages of development, including award-winning productions and a diverse range of mediums, styles and issues.

NORTH:

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Friday 7th of October

Time: 11:30-13:00

2022 more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

SKULD

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Iceland

A young couple risks their financial situation and relationship, when they start working as independent fishermen on their small fishing boat, Skuld. Does Iceland’s oldest industry have a future or will it disappear with the coming generation?

RUT SIGURÐARDÓTTIR

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Rut has made a name for herself as a photographer, both in Iceland and in Berlin, where she lived and worked for some time. She was the head of the photography depart ment of Birtíngur, one of Iceland’s largest publishing companies, and received several awards during that time. She soon began to mix filmmaking with her field of work and specializes in documentaries and tv-shows. She also teaches filmmaking at the Icelandic Film School.

KRISTJÁN TORFI EINARSSON

COMPOSER/PROTAGONIST

Kristján Torfi Einarsson, composer/ protagonist. Kristján Torfi is a reporter turned fisherman turned musician. He is one of the two main characters in the film and the film’s composer/musician.

REBEKKA NYSTABAKKAN

DIRECTOR

WOOLLY

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Norway

This film is about a little sheep farm in Norway that will be transferred to the next generation, from father to daughter. It is about making important life choices, about retiring when the time is right and about being part of a long tradition. And it is about Sheep.

Rebekka Nystabakk grew up on the sheep farm Nystabakkan in Nordland county, Norway. She is an actress, and has studied acting at The Norwegian Theatre Academy and Oslo National Academy of the Arts. Since her graduation, Rebekka has worked with both theatre and film. In addition to acting, she is also writing, directing and developing new ideas for film and stage. This is her first film.

BENEDIKTE

BREDESEN

PRODUCER

f(x) productions is an independent Norwegian production company established in 1995. We produce films and serials for established filmmakers as well as new strong voices. Benedikte Bredesen has worked as a producer in f(x) productions AS since 2009.

SONGS OF EARTH

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Norway

Songs of Earth is a symphony. An audio-visual composition of the earth’s primordial forces. It’s a meditative experience where the camera takes you inside of nature’s smallest components and outside to the great wild panoramas.

MARGRETH OLIN

DIRECTOR

Margreth Olin is a director and producer with a large cinema audience in Norway. She has made 13 films, which have received critical acclaim, participated at numerous festivals abroad, and won several Norwegian and international awards. Margreth has managed to catalyze important dialogues with the topics her films shed light on. She has personally received 26 honorary awards for her commitment and focus on human rights.

LYNX MAN

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Finland, Estonia

Lynx Man is a documentary about pensioner Hannu’s entrancing journey towards finding a connection with the Eurasian lynx hiding in the forests. With his trail cameras, Hannu opens a gateway into the Finnish nature and towards a genuine connection with environment. In his attempt to save lynx from extinction, Hannu finds himself becoming one.

PRODUCER

Katrine Mykløen Ødegård is the production coordinator. She has a master degree in Strategic Communication.

JUHA SUONPÄÄ

DIRECTOR

After the villages in the Arce Valley Juha Suonpää is an Adjunct Professor in Art, Environmental and Nature Photography, a photographer and filmmaker. Suonpää has exhibited internationally and published documentary films, numerous academic monographs and articles and researched, for example, topics related to photography, visualizing science and the construction of the identity of a place. Suonpää’s earlier film Wolfman premiered at Visions Du Reel Film Festival in 2013.

KATRINE MYKLØEN ØDEGÅRD HELENA YLI-KYYNY

PRODUCER

Helena Yli-Kyyny has worked mainly as a freelance editor, but has also written a book about a documentary film project in Finland and published a report about funding an education project that was created to encourage Finnish documentary filmmakers to do impact work with their films.

THE WHALE MYSTERY

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Denmark, Norway, Iceland

In search for the truth about the many whale strandings, photographer Klaus Thymann is on a diving trip around the globe, collecting and analysing the evidence of what he is sure will provide the answer to the mysterious strandings. In his attempt to understand and think like the whales, he will become like one.

more info and tickets at riff .is and on the app

PALM OIL IN THE LAND OF ORANGUTANS

DOCUMENTARY

COUNTRY: Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia

A random encounter on a plane between a biologist and a businessman marks the beginning of an unusual partnership. Bridging the gap between industry and nature, using Science and biological means, the two men have set out on an ambitious journey towards a responsible and sustainable production of palm oil.

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Peter is a Danish director and producer, with a focus on environmental issues, cultural perspectives and often controversial political themes. His latest film as producer, The Mole - undercover in North Korea, has thus still made headlines in the media worldwide.

BJARTE TVEIT

PRODUCER

Bjarte Mörner Tveit is a Norwegian producer, director and writer. Last year he established his own production company, Von Mörner where he focuses on creative and challenging documentaries with high artistic levels and with a social conscience. Before establishing his new company, Bjarte has for 15 years, been one of two producers in the Norwegian company, Piraya Film.

PETER ENGEL MARIANNE ABILDGAARD

PRODUCER

Marianne Abildgaard joined CFC, and is currently working as an assistant producer, focusing on making impact films and raising funds for CFC Short & Doc.

MALIKA FEROT

PRODUCER

While making documentaries, she believes her passion for social, economic and environmental change comes with much more accessible medias.

IMPACT TALKS

Impact Talks are deep dives into the social and environmental issues portrayed in A Different Tomorrow. Join the directors and other speakers after the

A MARBLE TRAVELOGUE

A TASTE OF WHALE

ETERNAL SPRING

screenings in an attempt to further understand the dynamics at play and the role of film as a tool for social change!

4-OCT 17:00 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

DIRECTOR: SEAN WANG

WE, STUDENTS

SYNOPSIS

With a light touch and wry humour, A Marble Travelogue portrays the Greek and Chinese marble production chain. We see complex connections and highlights the European aspirations of the Chinese middle class in a visually seductive style.

SPEAKERS: Sean Shen Wang (Director) | Guðbjörg Ríkey Th. Hauksdóttir (China-Arctic relations expert)

4-OCT 19:15 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

97 min 85 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: VINCENT KELNER

The fjord’s water, surrounded by stunning green mountains, is turning blood red. It is the “Grind” season again, Faroe Islanders’ ritual slaughter of pilot whales. Two proud Faroese whalers are on one side, two young and passionate Sea Shepherd activists on the other. A Taste of Whale invites you to see past preconceived positions and question what meat-eating is truly about.

SPEAKERS : Sigursteinn Másson (Journalist/IFAW spokesman) | Sigurjón Baldur Hafsteinsson (Professor) | Helga Vala Helgadóttir (politician of the Social Democratic Alliance)

5-OCT 18:00 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ 86 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: JASON LOFTUS REYKJAVIK GRAPEVINE PICK

When members of Falun Gong hack China’s state TV to expose brutal repression – lives are changed forever. Celebrated comic book artist Daxiong tells a story of the resilience of those fighting for religious freedom.

SPEAKERS: Jason Loftus (Director) | Magrét Steinarsdóttir (Director of the Icelandic Human Rights Centre) | Benjamin Julian (Writer)

5-OCT 20:30 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ 83 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: RAFIKI FARIALA

The filmmaker turns the camera on himself and his friends, capturing their everyday life as students of Bangui University. At once clear-eyed and poetic, they share their thoughts about their future in the Central African Republic.

SPEAKERS : Þóra Jóhannsdóttir (President of Hugrún geðfræðslufélag)

| Katrín Sverrisdóttir (Clinical psychologist) | Henri Alexander Henrysson (consultant and advisor in Ethics | online)

RIFF

INTO THE ICE

6-OCT 17:00 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

85 min

SYNOPSIS

more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

THE TERRITORY

DIRECTOR: ALEX PRITZ

GIRL GANG

A grand, cinematic adventure on the Greenland ice sheet with three leading scientists in search of what the ice can tell us about our climate, our past and possible future.

SPEAKERS: Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir (Glaciologist) | Mads Mikkelsen (Head of Programming of CPH:DOX) Þorgerður María Þorbjarnardóttir (Former Chair of the Icelandic Youth Environmentalist Association) | Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson (former President of Iceland and Chairman of the Arctic Circle)

6-OCT 19:30 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

83 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: LARS OSTENFELD

When a network of Brazilian farmers seizes a protected area of the Amazon rainforest, a young Indigenous leader and his mentor must fight back in defence of the land and an uncontacted group living deep within the forest.

SPEAKERS : Will N. Miller (Producer | online) | Amy Shepherd (COO of Think-Film Impact Production) | Orri Páll Jóhannsson (Left-Green Party)

BLACK MAMBAS

7-OCT 17:30 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

97 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: SUSANA MEURES REYKJAVIK GRAPEVINE PICK

A contemporary fairy tale about a 14-year-old influencer from Berlin and her biggest fan. But life as a social media star has a shadow side that the adrenaline, fame and free sneakers can’t make up for.

SPEAKERS : Susanne Regina Meures (Director) | Thelma Trunt (Influencer) | Ingibjörg Eva Þórisdóttir (Chief Analytics Officer at Planet Youth) | Kristin Petursdottir (Actress)

7-OCT 20:15 | HÁSKÓLABÍÓ

81 min

SYNOPSIS

DIRECTOR: LENA KARBE REYKJAVIK FEMINIST FILM FESTIVAL PICK

“Black Mambas” are the first all-female anti-poaching unit in South Africa assigned to protect the Big Five (Elephants, Rhinos, Lions, Leopards, Buffalo) in the Greater Kruger Park. Chosen by the (mostly white male) conservation committees as a vital marketing tool, the women stand at the crossroads of progress and a colonial past.

SPEAKERS : Lena Karbe (Director) | Rósa Guðrún Erlingsdóttir (Senior Policy Advisor at the Icelandic Prime Minister’s Office) | Chaiwe Sól Patiswa Drifudóttir (R.E.C Arts Reykjavík, activist)

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Friday 7th of October

Time: 10:15-11:15

Moderator: Jessica Edwards

Recent years have seen an upsurge in “impact films”: films with the aim to foster change through storytelling. Impact films strive to make a lasting impression by bringing about concrete change: whether the goal is to change minds, behaviours or structures, films have the power to be highly influential. We are joined by four filmmakers whose films all have one thing in common: to engage its audience with pressing social issues. We will discuss the ways filmmakers can strategise impact and stimulate change through filmmaking.

JESSICA EDWARDS

MODERATOR

Jessica is an impact strategist & executive producer with expertise bridging the worlds of film and non-profits. She is currently undertaking a Clore Fellowship in cultural leadership. Until very recently, she was the Director of Impact & Partnerships at Doc Society, helping to establish the Climate Story Fund, supporting and enabling a slate of over 25 projects maximise their creative and impact potential.

SILVIE VAN BRABANT

Sylvie Van Brabant is a major Quebec director and producer. She has written and directed some of Quebec’s most notable documentaries, which primarily address critical social issues. She champions social, political, and artistic works that are relevant, eloquent, and poetic. She dares to tackle controversial issues and bring audiences films that explore deep cultural and social values. She has coproduced and directed several feature films with the National Film Board of Canada, including Earth Keepers. Van Brabant is also an accomplished producer with over 40 documentaries under her belt, many of which have created change in Quebec society through their powerful social impact.

LENA KARBE

Born in St Petersburg, Russia, Lena Karbe is a Germany-based filmmaker. Having studied film internationally, she founded her own production company KARBE FILM GmbH in 2018 with the focus on documentaries for national and international audiences, based in Munich. The mission of Karbe Film’s documentaries is to foster new perspectives and amplify voices and opinions outside the status quo. She has produced several feature films before starting to write and direct.

BLACK MAMBAS, her feature film debut as a writer/ director, premiered at CPH:DOX in Copenhagen in March 2022, where it won the F:ACT Award.

JASON LOFTUS

A Peabody Award-winning filmmaker and four-time Canadian Screen Award nominee, Jason Loftus’ work spans documentary, VR, games, and animation. His feature directorial debut, the documentary Ask No Questions, premiered at Slamdance in 2020. His follow-up film, Eternal Spring, premiered in March 2022 at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, winning both the Fischer Audience Award and the Greek Parliament’s Human Values Award. It then won both major audience prizes at Hot Docs and a dozen festival prizes through spring 2022. In August, Eternal Spring was named Canada’s entry for the Best International Film at the 2023 Oscars—the first animation, documentary, and Mandarin-language film to receive this honour.

SUSANNA MEURES

Susanne Regina Meures is a German/Swiss filmmaker, well known for making films about rebels and pioneers who dare to stand up against systemic political and social repression. She holds a Master in Photography and History of Art from The Courtauld Institute in London. She also holds a Master in Film from Zurich University of the Arts. With RAVING IRAN (2016) her first feature-length documentary, Susanne Regina Meures launched an international festival and box-office success. The film is a portrait about two Iranian DJs who rebel against the regime and escape. The documentary was screened at over 130 film festivals worldwide, won numerous awards and became a box office success.

BACKLASH: WHAT THE F IS GOING ON?!

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Friday 7th of October

Time: 13:30-15:00

Moderator Bogi Ágústsson

BOGI ÁGÚSTSSON

This panel focuses on the uncanny backlashes experienced recently in our community: the climate change neglect, the aggression towards the queer, the withdrawal of women’s reproductive rights, the continuing stigma around mental health issues and the shrinking space for civil society. Our speakers explore the connections between these phenomenons and ponder on what the future may hold.

Journalist and broadcaster Bogi Ágústsson is one of Iceland’s most well known faces. He matriculated from Reykjavik Junior College (the oldest junior college in Iceland) to the University of Iceland where he studied History and Icelandic between 1972-1977. He has been a reporter for Iceland’s national broadcaster RÚV since January 1977. In 2014 he was awarded the Edda Award for Best Television Personality by the Icelandic Film and Television Academy.

LUCIE SAMCOVÁ-HALL ALLEN

Ambassador Lucie Samcová - Hall Allen represents the EU in Iceland since 2020. As a diplomat, she has over seventeen years of experience in foreign policy having previously served at the EU Delegation to the UN in Geneva where she covered a broad multilateral agenda including migration, human rights, humanitarian and economic matters. Since her appointment, her aim is to strengthen the relationship between the EU and Iceland and to foster co-operation in areas of mutual interest.

Dr. Eirikur Bergmann is Professor of Politics at Bifröst University in Iceland. Author of twelve academic books and numerous journal articles he writes mainly on nationalism, populism, conspiracy theories, European integration, Icelandic politics and on participatory democracy. Bergmann is also author of three novels published in Icelandic.

Héðinn Unnsteinsson is currently working as senior policy analyst in the Prime Minister’s office in Iceland focusing on, among other things, macro policy analysis and coordination of governmental policies and plans. Héðinn worked as a technical officer for the mental health programme of the World Health Organization at the European office in Copenhagen from 2003-2007, before entering the Icelandic ministry of health in 2007. Over the last 25 years Héðinn has given over 900 talks on mental and public health worldwide.

Ingileif is the CEO of the production company and creative agency Ketchup Productions. She is also the founder of the LGBT+ educational platform Hinseginleikinn. Ingileif and her wife have been going around the country for the past 6 years to do lectures in schools about the beauty of diversity. They also published a children’s book, Vertu þú (Be you), did a TV show and a podcast.

ÓLAFUR RAGNAR GRÍMSSON

Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson served as President of Iceland for twenty years, 1996-2016; elected five times in nationwide elections. Previously, he was Minister of Finance, Member of Parliament, Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and the first Professor of Political Science at the University of Iceland. He now serves as Chairman of the Arctic Circle, which he founded in 2013 with various Arctic partners.

SIGRÍÐUR DÖGG AUÐUNSDÓTTIR

Sigríður Dögg Auðunsdóttir is the president of The Union of Icelandic Journalists and an award-winning journalist. She works as a presenter of Kastljós, the flagship current affairs news programme on the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, RUV. She has a background in print journalism, specialising in in-depth current affairs stories and politics. Formerly she served as editor-in-chief of a weekly newspaper and as the deputy news editor at the largest newspaper in Iceland.

SÓLEY TÓMASDÓTTIR

Sóley Tómasdóttir is a gender and diversity expert from Iceland, living in the Netherlands, who has been a leading change agent in Icelandic society for decades. She joined the political party the Women’s Alliance at the age of 11, was one of the founding members of the Feminist Association of Iceland in 2003 and has been involved in various formal and informal alliances focusing on gender equality and human rights. She served as a city councillor in Reykjavík for ten years, mainly focusing on gender and diversity.

ÞORGERÐUR MARÍA ÞORBJARNARDÓTTIR

Thorgerdur María Þorbjarnardóttir was chair of The Icelandic Youth Environmentalist Association and is now on the board of Landvernd, the Icelandic Environmental Association. She is raised in Egilsstaðir and from a young age she has been passionate about nature and natural science. She studied geology at the University of Iceland and has a MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge.

RIFF 2022 more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

INDUSTRY PANELS

A series of panels and masterclasses with a focus on the most pressing matters in the field and society at large,

INUIT CHILLS & THRILLS

Venue: Mál og Menning

Date: Tuesday 4th of October

Time: 14:00-16:00

Moderator: Cass Gardiner

CASS GARDINER

brings together professionals from the film industry to exchange ideas and stimulate discussion.

A spotlight on the tales from Inuit Nunaat (Inuit circumpolar arctic) that let our imaginations run wild and maybe give us a scare. The screening of a selection of short films will be followed by an extended panel discussion with filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk and writer Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson. Curated and moderated by Cass Cardiner.

Cass Gardiner is an Anishinaabe Algonquin filmmaker, curator, and writer from Kebaowek First Nation. She produced the short documentary Jewels Hunt, which was supported by ITVS and TFI, and broadcast on Independent Lens. Her curatorial work has led her to collaborate with the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, the Critical Distance Centre for Curators, and the Indigenous Curatorial Collective.

NYLA INNUKSUK

Nyla Innuksuk is a filmmaker, producer and comic book writer based out of Toronto, Canada. Nyla co-created the teenage superhero Snowguard, a member of Marvel’s Champions League with her friend Jim Zub. Innuksuk’s first feature SLASH/BACK is a sci-fi adventure about a group of 14-year old girls from a remote Arctic community who take on an alien invasion. The film premiered at SXSW in March, 2022.

GUNNAR THEODÓR EGGERTSSON

Gunnar Theodór Eggertsson is a film critic and fantasy author from Reykjavík. For his master’s thesis in film theory he combined two of his favorite subjects: animal rights and horror cinema. Gunnar has written numerous books of fantasy and horror for children and young adults and currently works part-time as a writer on a video game inspired by Icelandic folklore.

EFA SHORTS AND KICKOFF

Venue: Mál og Menning

Date: Tuesday 4th of October

Time: 17:30-19:45

The European Film Awards 2022 will take place in Reykjavik in December and it promises to be a special edition under the Northern Lights. Before it’s time to announce the winner on December 10th, RIFF is teaming up with EFA to present a series of events leading up to the ceremony. We’re kicking off during the RIFF Industry days with a special screening of EFA Shorts On Tour followed by a panel discussion on the importance of European co-creation and cooperation.

MATTHIJS WOUTER KNOL

Since 2021, Matthijs Wouter Knol is the CEO and Director of the European Film Academy. From 2001 onwards, he was involved as creative and associate producer in over 30 documentary films in Amsterdam. For 12 years he formed part of the senior Berlinale team. Since 2017, Diversity and Inclusion have been an intrinsic part of Matthijs’s work. In 2020, he was one of the co-founders of the Anti-Racism Taskforce for European Film. He is also board member of the International Coalition for Filmmakers at Risk (ICFR).

RÚNAR RÚNARSSON

Rúnar Rúnarsson had his debut feature film at the Director’s Fortnights in Cannes 2011 with VOLCANO, which was nominated for the Camera d’Or. His sophomore feature SPARROWS won Concha Ora, Main Award at the San Sebastian film festival. Since then, collecting 20 international awards. His 3rd feature film, ECHO, had a World Premiere in Locarno 2019 and was selected for Cannes Artelier and honored with six international awards. His crossroads trilogy of Short films received around 100 international film awards.

SAMIR KARAHODA

In addition to his work as a photographer, Samir Karahoda is also a cinematographer, tutor and curator of the short film program at the Documentary and Short Film Festival DokuFest. His documentary short film “In Between” was his directorial debut. Displaced is his second short film which premiered at Official Competition at Festival de Cannes where it was EFA nominated in 2021. In 2019, Karahoda was awarded with Annual Cinematography Award from Ministry of Culture of Kosovo.

Venue: Mál og Menning

Date: Friday 30th of September Time: 13:30-14:30

Moderator: Hrönn Marinósdóttir

Vera lives in the shadow of her famous father. Tired of her superficial life and relationships, she drifts through Roman high society. When she injures a child in a traffic accident in the suburbs, she forms an intense relationship with an eight-year-old boy and his father. But soon she must realize that also in this world she is only an instrument for others.

TIZZA COVI & RAINER FRIMMEL

Vera Gemma made her debut as an actress and theatrical author in the early 90s. In the next decade, she acts in several films, working with directors such as Dario Argento and Paolo Virzì. Besides acting in many TV shows, Vera also cooperates with the electronic music group Psycohaven and writes two books. In 2013, she directs and produces a documentary about the life of her father Giuliano Gemma, Italian actor and stuntman. In 2022, she is the protagonist of the film Vera, directed by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel and premiered at Venice Film Festival, where she received the Best Actress Award of the Orizzonti section.

Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel started to work together in 1996 and later founded their own production company Vento Film. They received numerous awards for their documentaries and their first fiction film La Pivellina premiered at the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs in Cannes where it was awarded with the Europa Cinemas Label. Their second feature film The Shine of Day received the Silver Leopard for best actor in Locarno. Mister Universo also premiered in Locarno where it received the Fipresci Award. Their newest film Vera (2022) premiered in Venice.

HONOURARY GUESTS

Venue: Mál og Menning

Date: Friday 30th September Time: 15:00-16:30

Moderator: Nikitta Hamar Patterson

Each year RIFF is honoured to welcome several Guests of Honour: established film professionals whose vision and creative excellency distinguish them from their peers. RIFF’s past honorary guests have included Mia Hansen-Love, Joachim Trier, Debby Harry, Claire Denis and numerous other names from the international film scene. This year we are proud to host Albert Serra and Alexandre Philippe in Reykjavik. Join us for a special masterclass by these two cinematic visionaries!

Albert Serra is a Catalan artist and director. Having studied philosophy and literature, he wrote plays and produced different video works. He gained an international recognition with his first long feature, Honor of the Knights, a free adaptation of Don Quijote played by non-professional actors from his village. The film was presented at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight in 2006. 2022 he returns to Cannes in the Official Selection in Competition with Pacifiction.

ALEXANDRE PHILIPPE

Alexandre O. Philippe holds a Masters in Dramatic Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and is Creative Director at Exhibit A Pictures. Most of his films take on the role of unpacking the most influential works of master filmmakers, and dissecting seminal screen moments. Selected works include Lynch/Oz, Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist, Memory: The Origins of Alien, 78/52, Doc of the Dead, and The People vs. George Lucas.

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Wednesday 5th of October

Time: 14:00-15:00

Moderator: Carolina Salas

CAJIAS

HERCE AND DANIELA CAJÍAS

RIFF is proud to host the SPANISH WAVES, this year’s focus country. Besides our extensive selection of Spanish films, the Industry Days are also infused with Spanish flair. Join us for a special masterclass with two cinematographers and learn how they see the world through their cameras! This masterclass is supported by ICAA.

Daniela Cajias is a Bolivian cinematographer. In 2021 she became the first woman in the 35-year history of the Goya Awards to win the award for best cinematography, for her work on the film Las Niñas de Pilar Palomero.12 In 2017 she was the first director of Bolivian photography to win an international award. Her latest movie is Alcarras, this years winner of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale Film Festival.

Mauro Herce graduated in Engineering (Polytechnics of Catalonia) and Fine Arts (University of Barcelona), before he enrolled at the San Antonio de los Baños (Cuba) and Louis Lumière (France) Film Schools. In 2019, he made the short film LONELY RIVERS also selected at Locarno and with which he obtained the first prize in the official section of Gijón 2019, among other awards and selections at festivals. STRANGE FRUIT will be his second feature film as director, in which he will also be director of photography and screenwriter.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST FEATURE

Venue: Ráðhús Reykjavikur

Date: Thursday 6th of October

Time: 14:00-15:30

Moderator: Þorsteinn Sturla Gunnarsson

Are you working on or dreaming of making your first feature film? This is the masterclass for you. This is your chance to ask all your questions to those that have gone through the process from A to Z. What goes into directing a feature film? How do you bring your ideas to life? How do you develop your story to captivate audiences? How do you collaborate with a scriptwriter? These filmmakers are ready to spill the tea!

David Wagner spent the early 2000s making short films with friends before entering the film industry in 2003, learning how professional films are produced by working in several different roles on film sets. In 2006 he participated in a summer film course at the NYU Tisch School of the Arts before completing a masters degree in directing at the Hamburg Media School. His last film Eismayer is part of the New Visions section and won the Grand Prize at Venice International Critics’ Week 2022.

Rúnar Rúnarsson had his debut feature film at the Director’s Fortnights in Cannes 2011 with VOLCANO, which was nominated for the Camera d’Or. His sophomore feature SPARROWS won Concha Ora, Main Award at the San Sebastian film festival. Since then, collecting 20 international awards. His 3rd feature film, ECHO, had a World Premiere in Locarno 2019 and was selected for Cannes Artelier and honored with six international awards. His crossroads trilogy of Short films received around 100 international film awards.

RIFF 2022 more info and tickets at riff.is and on the app

HALLDÓRA GEIRHARÐSDÓTTIR IN CONVERSATION WITH ROSSY DE PALMA

Venue: Háskólabíó

Date: Saturday 8th of October Time: 15:30-17:00

Moderator: Halldóra Geirharðsdóttir

ROSSY DE PALMA

RIFF welcomes Rossy de Palma as Honorary Guest of the Spanish Waves program. Join us for a talk with the multidisciplinary Spanish icon where she reflects on her career and shares her views on the role of women in cinema.

Rossy de Palma was born in Palma, Mallorca. Eighteen years old she moved to Madrid where she performed with the pop band Peor Imposible. In 1986 she met Pedro Almodóvar. Since then de Palma has acted in many of his films, for example: Law of Desire, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Broken Embraces and his latest film Parallel Mothers. Since then the world has enjoyed Palma’s unique charisma and talents in the many fields of art and as a singer and fashion model.

SUMMER LIGHT, AND THEN COMES THE NIGHT

Venue: Háskólabíó

Date: Sunday 9th of October Time: 13:00-14:30

Moderator: Þórunn Lárusdóttir

ELFAR ADALSTEINS

The village is brimming with stories and if you listen closely it might tell you a few. Perhaps the one about the prominent businessman who starts dreaming in Latin and sacrifices a promising career for astronomy and old books, or the one about the big rock that can break the finely woven thread between life and death.

Elfar Adalsteins is an Icelandic director, screenwriter and producer. Through his production company Berserk Films he has produced several projects. His short film Sailcloth was shortlisted for the 2012 Academy Awards and won Best Icelandic Short at RIFF. Elfar’s first feature film, End of Sentence, was the opening film of RIFF 2019. In his latest release, ‘Summer Light, and then Comes the Night’, Elfar directs an all Icelandic ensemble cast from his screenplay adaptation of Jón Kalman Stefánsson’s eponymous celebrated novel.

SVANDÍS DÓRA EINARSDÓTTIR

Svandís Dóra graduated as an actress from The Icelandic Art Academy in 2010. She has starred on a number of TV series, such as Trapped III which was just released on Netflix, Fractures, The Lava Field, The Mayor, Promises, Ordinary People and in the award winning short Playing with Balls. Svandís Dóra role in the feature film In Front of Others, got her a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress at the Icelandic Film Awards Edda. She is impersonating Þuríður in Summer Light, and then Comes the Night.

SVEINN ÓLAFUR GUNNARSSON

Sveinn Olafur Gunnarsson was educated at the Icelandic Art Academy, graduating with a BFA degree in acting in 2006. He had previously studied philosophy at the University of Iceland. Sveinn works equally on stage and in cinema and has acted in films-international and Icelandic, TV-series and theatre productions as well as writing and directing.

Venue

M

RIFF TALKS are held in the spirit of TED Talks but focus on filmmaking, the main aim is to inspire, educate and motivate fellow film professionals, other creatives, and regular movie goers. RIFF TALKS are there to challenge and rethink the current mainstream narratives. Each talk is given by a speaker who has oversight on the issues and the current trends in the world of films. The talks are followed by a panel discussion between the different speakers to exchange ideas and as an opportunity to engage with the audience.

HERA HILMAR

Hera is an Icelandic actress who can currently be seen starring in Steven Knight and Francis awrence’s Apple TV+ series, SEE and as well as soon starring in Asa Hjorleifsdottir’s anticipated REPLY TO A LETTER FROM HELGA and Hilmar Oddsson’s DRIVING MUM to be released in 2023. Previously, Hera starred in Baltasar Kormákur’s THE OATH and was the central lead in Universal’s epic franchise MORTAL ENGINES. Hera gained international notoriety in the Icelandic feature LIFE IN A FISHBOWL.

ÁLFRÚN ÖRNÓLFSDÓTTIR

Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir is an Icelandic director, writer and actress. She has had a successful acting career in film, tv and theatre for the past 20 years. She is also a playwright and theatre director. Álfrún is a member of The Post Performance Blues Band, an art collective that seeks inspiration in failure. BAND, her debut film as a director premiered in 2022 and has been screened in major film festivals around the world. She is currently directing a play at the City Theatre of Iceland and developing a new feature film called Shitballs.

Benjamin Hardman is a landscape photographer and natural history cinematographer based in Iceland. With Iceland as a home base, the fragile, barren and isolated landscapes of the North have become the core focus of his work. After 10 years in the creative sphere, multiple solo exhibitions and more than 30 assignments as a polar expedition photography specialist, Benjamin has now embarked on a new path in cinematography, working on a series of productions for Netflix and the BBC, set be released in 2023.

Cass Gardiner is an Anishinaabe Algonquin filmmaker, curator, and writer from Kebaowek First Nation. She produced the short documentary Jewels Hunt, which was supported by ITVS and TFI, and broadcast on Independent Lens. Her curatorial work has led her to collaborate with the Center for Craft, Creativity & Design, the Critical Distance Centre for Curators, and the Indigenous Curatorial Collective. She has been published in Inuit Art Quarterly, Cherry Bombe, and Compound Butter magazine.

GUDMUNDUR ARNAR GUDMUNDSSON

Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson is a director/producer and co owner of Join Motion Pictures, a boutique Icelandic production company focusing on director-driven films. Gudmundsson graduated in Fine Art and studied screenwriting in Denmark. His short films and features have been showcased and awarded in numerous festivals. Among these accolades are Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Berlinale Film Festival and a nomination for the European Film Awards.

JÓNMUNDUR GRÉTARSSON

Jónmundur Grétarsson is an actor who graduated from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco 2014. Jónmundurs most recent works were Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet at the National Theater of Iceland and Detective Einar in the Tv series Systrabönd. His upcoming work include Tv and film projects alongside the play Íslandsklukkan by Halldór Kiljan Laxness which will be premiered at the end of February at The National Theater. Being part of the first Icelandic generations of actors with different ethnicities, his focus is to push for more diversity within the Icelandic art scene.

SARA GUNNARSDÓTTIR

Sara Gunnarsdóttir is a director and artist who has created animation, music videos, and original artwork for film and television, including Marielle Heller’s celebrated debut feature “The Diary of a Teenage Girl,” and HBO’s Emmy-nominated “The Case Against Adnan Sayed.” Sara most recently directed the animated comedy “My Year of Dicks,” created by Pamela Ribon, for FX Network. The show won Special Jury Awards at SXSW and took home the Crystal for TV Production at Annecy Animation Film Festival.

Tania Zarak Quintana began her career at Tribeca Films, Robert De Niro’s production company. Through the years she has worked on the development and production of films like Pan’s Labyrinth, The Departed, and an adaptation of Gabriel García Márquez’ News of a Kidnapping. She served as Executive Director of Argos Cine until 2009 when she founded Bonita Films. Tania served as Manager of International Originals at Netflix in 2018. She relocated to Iceland and was appointed Vicepresident of Development at Truenorth.

ÚLFUR TEITUR TRAUSTASON

Úlfur Teitur Traustason has been working in the film industry for 20 years. For the last 15 years he has been working full time as an editor on a big variety of projects. From adverts, tv shows, documentaries to feature films. His newest works are 8 part TV series Black Sands, directed by Baldvin Z and 8 part TV series Fractures, directed by Eva Sigurðardóttir. Last year he also edited the short film Heartless which received an Edda award as the best short film of 2021 last month.

RECEPTIONS

Date Time Venue

30th of Sep. 16:30 Mál og Menning Creative Excellency Award Ceremony and Reception

6th of Oct. 17:30 RVK Studios

Producer’s Day Reception

7th of Oct. 19:30 Mál og Menning Industry Days Closing Drinks

Date: Wednesday 5th of October

Time: 15:00-16:30

Departure: from Ráðhús

INDUSTRY TRIP

Date: Friday 7th of October

Time: 10:00-14:00

Departure: from Exeter Hotel

WALKING TOUR TEAM

Join our local guide for a stroll around Reykjavik; get moving and take in the sights! 101 is a delight for foreign visitors: a cozy downtown filled with history, culture, galleries, restaurants and bars. Get a feel for the lay out of the town so you can make the most out of exploring on your own later on.

We know 101 is addictive but if you are ready to venture out of town, join us on the annual Industry Trip. A drive out of town lead by a local guide will take us through some of the extraordinary scenery that Iceland has to offer. We’ll make a few stops to soak in the views (and steam) while our guide shares stories about the surroundings and the use of the Icelandic landscape in film. We’ll stop for a bit before returning to Reykjavik. The Industry Trip is exclusively for RIFF’s International Guests and holders of VIP Industry Accreditation.

EMMA ROMEIJN CRISTIAN CERUTTI ÞÓRUNN LÁRUSDÓTTIR ANIKA JAHREISS ELÍN EDDA

Industry Days Manager Industry Days Assistant Industry Days Consultant

Industry Days

Editorial Design

Industry Days

Editorial Design Assistant

13:30 - 14:30

Masterclass Vera

14:00 - 16:00

Inuit Chills & Thrills

9:30 - 13:30 WIP 9:30 - 13:00

Producer’s Day

10:00 - 16:30

Closed: Impact Training Day

10:00 - 15:00

Impact Day

10:15 - 11:15

Panel: Stories with impact

10:00 - 14:00

Industry Trip

15:00 - 16:30

Masterclass Guest of Honour

14:00 - 15:00

Masterclass with Mauro Herce and Daniela Cajías

14:00 - 15:30

Closed: WIP B2B

Meetings 15:00 - 16:30

Walking Tour

14:00 - 17:30

Studio Tour

14:00 - 15:30

Masterclass First Feature

11:30 - 13:00

Impact of the North. Pitching

17:00 - 19:15

A Marble Travelogue +Impact Talk

17:30 - 19:45

EFA Kickoff

19:15 - 21:30

A Taste of Whale +Impact Talk

18:00 - 20:15

Eternal Spring +Impact Talk

17:00 - 19:15

Into the Ice +Impact Talk

17:30 - 19:00

Producer’s Reception at RVK Studios

13:30 - 15:00

Panel Backlash: What the F is going on?!

20:45 - 23:00

We Students +Impact Talk

19:30 - 21:45

The Territory +Impact Talk

15:30 - 16:30

Closed: Impact of the North: Meetings

15:30 - 17:00

Rossy de Palma Masterclass

17:00 - 19:00

RIFF Talks

17:30 - 19:45

Girl Gang +Impact Talk

19:30 - 20:30

Industry Days

Closing Drinks

SUN 9.10

20:30 - 22:45

Black Mambas +Impact Talk

13.00 - 14:30

Masterclass Summer Light, and then Comes the Night