Albert Serra is a Catalan artist and filmmaker born in 1975 in Spain. He is well known for his theatre and cinema work as a writer, director and producer. European myths, history and literature are recurrent themes in his works. He has been diligent in filmmaking since 2004 and has made award-winning movies, such as Honour of the Knights (2007), The Death of Louis XIV (2016), Story of My Death (2013), which won the Golden Leopard, the main prize of Locarno Film Festival, and Freedom (2016) which got the special jury award in Cannes 2019.
Serra is a fun and mysterious eccentric, who has raised many people’s attention with his remarks, such as when he half-jokingly states that actors are unintelligent and weak. As a matter of fact, he employs amateur actors whenever possible. His films, however, don’t depict strong opinions or messages – but are on the other hand characterized by their slow artistic rhythm without a plot. In his new film, Pacifiction, we see a sign of a turning point in his career and also in the art of cinema. His unique approach now represents a storyline and a dangerous atmosphere in this quiet and artistic thriller.
Pacifiction / Tourment sur les îles
Albert Serra FR, ES, DE, PT, 2022, 162 min |
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 In Tahiti, the High Commissioner of the Republic and French government official, De Roller, navigates the high-end ’establishment’ as well as shady venues where he mingles with the locals. Especially since a persistent rumor has been going around.
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Birdsong / El cant dels ocells
Albert Serra ES, 2008, 93 min |
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 A witty contemplation of the Three Wise Kings on a search for the newborn baby Jesus and their journey takes on epic proportions as they meander along the desert-like terrain with fortitude and stoicism.
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Honour of the Knight / Honor de cavalleria
Albert Serra ES, 2006, 104 min |
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 Don Quixote and Sancho pursue their travels in search of adventure day and night. They ride through fields, talking about spirituality, chivalry and daily life. A growing bond of friendship unites them. |
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 Alexandre O. Philippe holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and is the creative director at Exhibit A Pictures. He has made several award-winning shorts, the most notable one is Left: the first film in history to be recorded, edited and mixed in the best possible resolution (192kHz / 24-bit) for Dolby TrueHD 5.1. surround sound technology and won an award at a short film festival in Japan to honour Akira Kurosawa.
Philippe is known for his documentaries, in which he dissects and studies pop culture, important films and scenes, including the post-modern masterpiece 78/52 which deconstructs the famous shower scene in Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock. Other noteworthy films include The People vs. George Lucas and Doc of the Dead. Apart from directing films, Philippe conducts lectures, seminars and serves as a jury member at several film festivals.
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Lynch / Oz
Alexandre O. Philippe US, 2022, 108 min |
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 We explore one of the most fascinating puzzles in the history of motion pictures: the enduring symbiosis between America’s primordial fairytale, The Wizard of Oz, and David Lynch’s singular brand of popular surrealism. Is David Lynch trapped in the land of Oz?
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78/52
Alexandre O. Philippe US, 2016, 91 min |
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 A documentary about the single most extraordinary and mysterious scene in cinema history: the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. 78/52 tells the story of the man behind the curtain and his greatest obsession.
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Doc of the Dead
Alexandre O. Philippe US, 2022, 82 min |
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 Could there be a real zombie outbreak? If so, Doc of the Dead can help you prepare. This definitive guide to all things undead delves deep into the evolution of the zombie genre in film and literature, as well as its impact and influence on pop culture. |
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Left
Alexandre O. Philippe US, 2006, 10 min |
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 An impressionistic short film largely inspired by Andrew Wyeth’s paintings Christina’s World and Overflow, Left centers around the heartbreaking separation between a woman and the man she loves.
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The Spot
Alexandre O. Philippe US, 2008, 17 min |
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 November 22, 1963. A day that America and the world will never forget. Four decades later, as the rest of Dallas makes strides as a 21st-century city, the spot where President Kennedy was shockingly assassinated remains eerily and forever frozen in time. |
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Vera, opening film at RIFF
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The award-winning film Vera, by directors Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel, is the opening film of the 19th edition of RIFF. The film explores the dark side of nepotism, cruel beauty standards and the shaping of identity from being the child of famous parents rather than an individual with her own dreams and aspirations.
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Vera, the daughter of a famous Italian filmmaker lives in the shadow of her father in the upper echelons of society. Despite a strong desire to connect with other people and have meaningful relationships, most people see Vera as a chance to get rich and make good connections with the elite. Vera is tired of this superficial life and when a taxi in which she is a passenger hits a young boy, she forms a tense relationship with the boy and his father. They live in a completely different reality from hers. Vera will soon have to ask herself the same question as before, does she only have exploitative value for others?
The film premiered at the international film festival in Venice, being a Nordic premiere at RIFF. |
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Worldpremiering Exxtinction Emergency
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A new documentary, Exxtinction Emergency, by Sigurjón Sighvatsson and Scott Hardie, will have its world premiere at RIFF in early October.
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 Following a striking report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeIn a campaign group, Extinction Rebellion, was founded in the UK in 2018. The group takes on climate change built on rigorously researched methods for achieving social change. They purport to know how to succeed where other groups have failed, and despite 4 years of struggle they continue to lead the now global movement.
The movement fights through non-violent protest action, civil disobedience, to control the regime and force political action against climate change and environmental degradation. The advanced age of the protestors makes it difficult for the government to deal with the disobedience.
This is Sigurjón's first film as a director but he is a veteran producer with over 50 feature films and television series to his credit, is the founder of Palomar Pictures, an independent production company, as well as the Chairman of the Scandinavian film distributor Scanbox Entertainment. |
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 The satirical comedian Hugleikur Dagsson hosts the podcast series RIFF-cast, which started on September 8. In the episodes, broadcasted weekly, Hugleikur dives into the different niches of filmmaking and talks to experts. In the first episode, Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, film editor, talks to Hugleikur about her career and explains film editing. In short, it's more than just cutting and pasting. This week, Hugleikur talks to Lovísa Lára Halldórsdóttir about horror films, but they are bulky at RIFF this year, with the category of Inuit Chills and Thrills. Don't miss these fun and informative programs curated by Hugleikur Dagsson. The episodes are in Icelandic and will be available on all major podcast venues. You might not be able to understand what is going on but the episodes can ease you into the excessive use of consonants before you join us at RIFF 2022.
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Episode 1: Elísabet Ronalds - Editing - 8.sept
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Episode 2: Lovísa Lára - Horror Films - 13.sept
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Episode 3: Gísli Darri - Animation - 15.sept
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Episode 4: Andrea Björk - Icelandic Films - 20.sept
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Episode 5: Ása Helga - Direction - 22.sept
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Episode 6: Páll Óskar - Cult Films - 27.sept
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Icelandic Shorts at RIFF 2022
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RIFF's short film competition is particularly exciting this year. The films selected for the category are characterized by a wide range of subjects and different themes. The category is divided into two parts to be watched separately. Many of the directors of the Icelandic shorts have attracted well-deserved attention at film festivals around the world. The RIFF festival will take place in Háskólabíó at Hagatorg this year and around 200 films from 40 countries will be screened.
Other categories at RIFF 2022:
● New Visions
● Open Seas
● A Different Tomorrow
● Icelandic Panorama
● Documentaries
● International Shorts
● Midnight Thrills
● Inuit Chills and Thrills
● Animated
● Spanish Focus
● Cinema Beats
● Young RIFF
● EFA Shorts
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Toutes les deux / Just the Two of Us
Clara Lemaire Anspach FR, 2022, 20 min |
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 Alma knows that if her mother persists in not taking the new treatment offered to her, she will die. Alma decides to go on one last mother-daughter journey to the south of France in which she will have to find the strength to let her mother go.
Clara Lemaire Anspach first worked as a director in France and Iceland before turning to writing after going to scriptwriting school. Since then, she has been working as a scriptwriter for TV and cinema, and is also working on her own projects as a director.
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When the Trees Come
Berglind Þrastardóttir IS, DE, 2022, 15 min |
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 In Iceland where trees are starting to grow over the barren landscape, rumors are spreading that with the trees the werewolves are coming back!
After finishing a Master in Clinical Psychology, Berglind abruptly left her studies and decided to apply her knowledge in creative pursuits. Her work aims to encourage complexity in seeing, both introspectively and out into the world around us. She is currently studying Directing at the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin.
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Fractures
Vala Ómarsdóttir, María Kjartans IS, 2021, 14 min |
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 A woman is recovering from a mental illness. She has isolated herself far away from everyone and tries to take care of herself but after countless attempts to reconnect with the world, she gradually starts to break down.
Vala Ómarsdóttir graduated from Goldsmiths College in London (M.A. in performance making) and from Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London (M.A. in Performing - Advanced Theater Practice). She was recently nominated for the Best Director Awards at Gríman 2022 in Iceland.
María Kjartans graduated from the Iceland Academy of the Arts in 2005 and the Glasgow School of Art in 2007 (MFA). She has since exhibited her photographs and short films in dozens of group exhibitions, solo exhibitions, and art events around the world, most notably at the Arken Museum of Modern Art in Copenhagen, the Museum de Nervi in Genoa, Italy, the Arsenal Gallery in Poznan, Poland and the Ljungberg Museum, Lyngby. María has won first prizes for her photography series at Magnum Photos, Ideas Tap, the Art Elite Signature Art Prize in London, and the Helsinki Photo Festival in Finland.
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Our Journey
Arnar Freyr Tómasson IS, 2021, 20 min |
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 Tumi, a blind man, travels to a place that reminds him of his lost wife. On his way back home, he has to face some obstacles he didn't see coming.
Arnar Freyr Tómasson graduated from the Icelandic Film School in 2017. His graduation film, Sif, won the prize of the best film in his department. Since then he has made two short films: What Have We Done (2019) and Our Journey (2021).
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Hide
Margrét Seema Takyar IS, 2022, 15 min |
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 Overwhelmed with news about domestic abuse, Sigurbjörg decides to put an offer out on Facebook: "If you find yourself in need I can come." When she receives a message from an unknown person that asks her to come now, she decides to comply.
Margrét Seema Takyar is an Icelandic-Indian director, director of photography and screenwriter who lives in Reykjavík. She holds a BA(hons) in Performing Arts and Dance from Middlesex University in London and an MFA in Acting and Directing from the New School for Drama/Actors Studio in New York. Most of her work revolves around understanding people, animals and situations in order to challenge certain status quo.
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Guts
Álfgerður Malmquist Baldursdóttir DE, IS, 2022, 22 min |
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 Everyday Ómar starts his workday an hour before everyone else, to sing his opera in secret and everyday he looks at Kristín when she walks by the window. One day everything changes when a video of him singing goes viral.
Álfgerður Malmquist Baldursdóttir is a cinematographer, film director and writer from Iceland. She grew up on a farm in East Iceland, surrounded by nature and animals. Now she lives in Berlin where she recently graduated with a B.A degree in Film Production at Catalyst Institute for Creative Arts and Technology. In her films she likes to find creative ways to show the simplicity of life. In most of her work you'll see a strong connection to nature.
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In a State of Change
Donal Boyd, Frank Nieuwenhuis IS, 2022, 26 min |
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 As climate change shrinks the Icelandic glaciers, a photographer struggles with the impact of his advocacy work. How do we communicate the most critical issue of our time? A reflection on the role of beauty in nature and the implications of the changing landscape.
Donal Boyd, a wildlife photographer and conservationist, and Frank Nieuwenhuis, a cinematographer, have collaborated on several film projects relating to nature and wildlife advocacy. Like their first film, Volcano for the People, and their newest documentary, In State of Change, their productions tend to focus on the connection between humans and significant natural events.
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Surprise
Kolfinna Nikulásdóttir IS, 2022, 11 min |
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 Ragnar blindfolds Hildur for a road trip on her birthday. It's supposed to be fun, but Hildur is nervous and Ragnar is irritated. A supposedly pleasant surprise becomes a hellish experience.
Kolfinna Nikulásdóttir is a multidisciplinary artist from Iceland. In her work, there is to be found an emanation of the female experience and autobiographical flavor. Kolfinna uses the act of questioning in order to re-envision society and behavior through story. Kolfinna has been nominated and won numerous prizes for her work, most recently she was nominated for the best Nordic short at Nordisk Panorama, for her first short film Surprise.
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A Gray Cat
Bergur Árnason IS, 2021, 5 min |
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 A young woman makes coffee and sits down with her boyfriend to have a discussion but she has a hard time verbalizing her emotions. She reveals to him a dream she had about a cat.
Bergur Árnason was enrolled in the Icelandic Film School from 2017-2019, where he made his first two short films: Gulrætur and Mánudagur. Since graduating, he has worked at The Icelandic national television broadcasting service (RÚV) producing TV programmes for children as well as working on various independent film projects.
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Concord
Kristín Eysteinsdóttir IS, 2022, 20 min |
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 Sigga, an Icelandic artist, is performing abroad at a high end party. Afterwards she goes to the hotel bar where she runs into an Icelandic flight crew and the evening takes an unexpected shift.
Kristín Eysteinsdóttir studied dramaturgy at Aarhus University and theater directing at Goldsmiths, University of London. She has directed more than 20 theater productions; in 2008, she won the Director of the Year prize at the Icelandic Performing Arts Award, for which she was also nominated in 2010, 2012 and 2013. From 2014 to 2020, Eysteinsdóttir was Artistic Director / CEO at the Reykjavik City Theatre. After many successful years at the theater, she left to develop her first feature film, where development is currently underway. She recently completed her first short film, Concord.
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Holes
Oddur Sigþór Hilmarsson IS, 2022, 17 min |
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 While washing dishes, Jón discovers holes in his hands. Ignoring them he soon realizes that they’re spreading. Jón tries to hide them, cure them, but to no avail. Lastly, he accepts his fate, his doom.
Oddur S. Hilmarsson is a director from Iceland. While in high school he directed several short films of different genres, the romance A Love Song [Mansöngur] (2020), the action comedy Fantastic Violence [Stórkostlegt Ofbeldi] (2021) and the sci-fi dystopia Róbot (2021). In his newest film Holes (2022), his first horror film which centers around trypophobia, or the fear of tightly packed small holes.
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Fence / Hegn
Hilke Rönnfeldt DK, DE, 2021, 12 min |
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 Wild boars want to be with farm pigs. A lover wants to be with her love. A short film about what can come in between.
Hilke Rönnfeldt is a writer and a director whose work revolves around rural communities, coming-of-age, intimacy, isolation and the sea.
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Chasing Birds / Að elta fugla
Una Lorenzen IS, 2022, 8 min |
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 When the world turns upside down we have a choice to firmly hang on to old ideas or embrace the new view. A story about a little girl who playfully chases a bird throughout a chaotic and transformational period.
Una Lorenzen is a film director who uses animation to create visual worlds for movies, documentaries, music and theater. In past years she has mostly worked on documentaries, such as the award-winning Yarn (2016) and Rebel Hearts (2021). Her work has traveled to festivals such as SXSWl, Fantasia, Animation Block Party NYC, TrickyWomen, Nordisk Panorama and has been screened at Artforum online. Her personal work has been showcased in art galleries and events such as MoMA, National Gallery of Iceland and Kro Art, Unsound Music Festival and Papaya Gyro Nights. Una studied Graphic Design in Iceland and Experimental Animation at CalArts in California. She has worked on many Canadian animated films as well. |
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