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 Marinósdóttir - RIFF 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 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.

Invitation only

FREDERIC BOYER

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

HRÖNN MARINÓSDÓTTIR

FOUNDER AND FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

WORK IN PROGRESS

NATATORIUM

RIFF 2022

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

FEATURE | IN PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland 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.

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...

HELENA STEFÁNSMAGNEUDÓTTIR

DIRECTOR

Helena has run her own independent fi lm production company, Wonderland Films, since 2003. Alongside making short fi lms 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 fi lm 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

DIRECTOR

Óskar Þór Axelsson is a native of Iceland and a graduate from NYU’s Film Program. His NYU graduation fi lm 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 fi lm industry since 2009. In addition to fi lm 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.

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.

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

ÞORBJÖRG JÓNSDÓTTIR

LEE LYNCH

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.

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.

DIRECTOR

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

LOGI SIGURSVEINSSON

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

WORK IN PROGRESS

RIFF 2022

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

THE OUTLAW

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 suff ered 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.

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.

ÁRNI SVEINSSON

DIRECTOR

Árni Sveinsson has been an independant fi lmmaker 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 fi gure 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

MOTHERLAND

DOCUMENTARY | POST-PRODUCTION

COUNTRY: Iceland, USA

KRESHNIK JONUZI

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

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

SÆVAR GUÐMUNDSSON

DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Sævar Guðmundsson is an Icelandic director who started with short fi lms that gained massive attention in Iceland. He began directing and editing commercials in Iceland and later internationally. “Inside a Volcano‘’ was his fi rst 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 fi lm to show the world what is possible when women truly rise.

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 fi lmmaker who, since 1990, has written and directed over 20 fi lms. PRODUCERS: CAROLE MANGOLD, ELODIE POLLET

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 fi ction 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...

CHRISTOFFER STENBAKKEN

DIRECTOR

Christoff er Stenbakken grew up in Tasiilaq. For the last fi ve years he has worked as a freelance screenwriter and director in Denmark. He has primarily written and directed youth fi ction 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 fi lms 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 fi ction series SILA, which takes place in Nuuk, for Netfl ix. She has a master’s degree in Visual Culture.

WORK IN PROGRESS

RIFF 2022

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

TINGANES LÝ

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.

LAST NIGHT I CONQUERED THE 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.

NOTES ON A SUMMER

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.

WORK IN PROGRESS

RIFF 2022

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

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.