CouchFest will showcase short films in 40 cities worldwide at its fifth annual festival on November 10.

The festival screens films in people’s homes all over the world on the same day. Viewers are encouraged to discuss the films after each movie.

Previously run from Seattle, festival director Craig Downing is now based in Reykjavík and says Iceland’s capital is host to the largest number of screening locations in the one place.

Sixty-five films, all unreleased shorts from the festival circuit, will screen at around five (larger) venues, rather than at people’s homes, in Reykjavík this year.

In an interview with Iceland Review Street Edition, Downing said he and his colleagues view hundreds of films to bring viewers the best of the best. “We watch between 500 and 800 shorts each year before picking the cream of the crop for the festival.”

The first screenings of the day will take place at 2 pm at the Mountain Bike Club on Brekkustígur 2. The one-hour program will feature films in the Experimental and Intense category.

At 4 pm Special Tours at the Reykjavík Old Harbor will screen films from the Truth and Fiction category, Hostel International Reykjavík at Vesturgata 17 and Sundlaugavegur 34 will screen animation films at 6 pm and Harpa concert hall will host the Comedy section at 8 pm.

For details on films being screened at this year’s festival visit the CouchFest website.

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