RIFF | INNOVATION – NETWORKING – DIALOGUE
The aim of Reykjavik International Film Festival is to become one the foremost film festivals in Europe, placing continued emphasis on presenting not only progressive, independent cinema and a wide range of documentaries touching on explosive subjects, but also a young and unusual Capital in a country bursting with energy and creativity. The geographic location makes RIFF a naturally ideal meeting point for filmmakers from either side of the Atlantic Ocean. “We want to see you in Reykjavík!”

Innovation The festival’s Grand Prix category, entitled New Visions, is limited to first and second works only. RIFF has thus carved a significant niche for itself among film festivals in terms of presenting and promoting new talent. Each edition, RIFF has also developed a program called Minus25, where the focus is on filmmakers and film enthusiasts under 25 years of age. The program consists of a Stop-motion Workshop for pre-school children, Short Film Workshop for children of Grade School age and from fall 2011 a Short Film Workshop for high-school children will also be organized. The goal of the Minus25 program is to activate the imagination and creativity of the younger generations, and engage the cinema litteracy of children in Iceland who have long been exposed to a rather monotonous cinema culture.

Networking is an important part of the festival’s activities, between young filmmakers and those with experience; between Icelandic (Nordic) cinema and international cinema; and between filmmakers and international studies of film and culture. RIFF also manages a market for films where new Icelandic film productions are presented to international industry professionals such as buyers and distributors. Location scouting is also provided during the festival and several collaborations have materialized from such meetings between Icelandic and foreign professionals.

Dialogue has from the beginning been a basic theme in each edition of RIFF. The festival has always seen it as a duty to initiate a dialogue with the community and about it, between filmmakers and festival guests, between different cultural worlds, between different artforms, between film studies and filmmakers etc. The festival has always emphasized the screenings of documentaries, especially those that revolve around environmental themes and human rights. RIFF organizes panel talks, lectures and debates about various subjects concerning our society, culture and other contemporary affairs. We believe that by this means a valuable connection is forged with the community and knowledge is both absorbed and distributed; RIFF, in it’s own way, is a knowledge generation hub.