The seventh annual Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) takes place between September 23 and October 3 this year, during which approximately 100 films will be screened. The festival is known to attract thousands of visitors.
Since its inception in September 2004, the festival has grown in national and international stature. Last year the event drew 20,000 people to its screenings. It has also drawn some impressive names from the world of cinema as guests of honor, as stated in an article in the latest issue of Atlantica.
Milos Foreman, double Oscar winning director of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Amadeus turned up to open last year’s proceedings, while this year sees the arrival of none other than the legendary independent American filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, the visionary behind such classics as Night on Earth, Mystery Train and more recently, Broken Flowers.
Jarmusch will be presented with a lifetime achievement award on the opening night by the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.
Screenings will begin 23 September and end 3 October. Prizes are awarded in twelve different catego¬ries, including an Icelandic, youth and documentary section. Another section focuses on the output of particular nations. In the spotlight this year are productions from Sweden and Poland.
Another upcoming festival, the Iceland Airwaves music festival (October 13-17), will be featured at RIFF in the documentary Where’s The Snow?.
The documentary will have its world premiere at RIFF and some of the musicians scheduled to play at Airwaves will perform at the premiere.
Check out the program for RIFF on the festival’s website and click here for recent news about Iceland Airwaves.
