Issuu

í Reykjavík

24.09.— 04.10.26

TALENT LAB 1

WELCOME

Welcome to Reykjavík We are delighted to have you join us for this edition of the Reykjavík International Film Festival. We’ve curated an exciting lineup of masterclasses, panels, discussions, and networking events that we hope you’ll take full advantage of

throughout the festival. Inside this brochure, you’ll find essential information about the Talent Lab program, an introduction to your fellow participants, and some helpful practical details.

A MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR It’s a true pleasure to welcome you all to Reykjavik for this year’s Talent Lab. I’m excited to meet so many passionate spirits, eager to embark on a journey of creative exploration. I hope this will be an opportunity for you to reflect on your work in fresh, innovative ways and build meaningful connections that will inspire your future endeavors. Together, we’ll push boundaries, challenge traditional approaches, and dive deep into the many facets of

storytelling, production, and pitching. And while you’re here, don’t forget to embrace the incredible beauty of Iceland and Reykjavik - what I like to call a dash of our “Icelandic nature sauce.” I’m excited to witness the outcomes of this lab and look forward to challenging you, and being challenged in return, to ensure this experience holds lasting value for the creative adventures that lie ahead on your path.

GREEN INITIATIVE At RIFF, we’re committed to eco-friendly practices and aim to set the standard for sustainability among Icelandic festivals. That’s why we’ve reduced the number of printed brochures, using fewer pages and environmentally responsible paper.

This Talent Lab brochure is only available in digital format. You can find more information about our green efforts at riff. is.

About Talent Lab

The RIFF Talent Lab is a dedicated section of our festival, designed for emerging filmmakers working on their debut feature film. Over five dynamic days, participants will engage directly with film producers and industry professionals for invaluable advice and consultation on their first feature. They’ll also connect with fellow filmmakers from diverse backgrounds around the globe, creating an inspiring and collaborative environment. Attendees will join exclusive masterclasses and discussions led by renowned figures in the film industry. Education and entertainment blend seamlessly, with a packed schedule of films, workshops, events, and more. This year’s Talent Lab will take place from September 29th to October 3rd, 2026, hosting 37 talented participants from across the world.

Each year, the Talent Lab offers a unique and exciting blend of masterclasses, panels, workshops, screenings, and social events. Masterclasses this year feature RIFF’s some of RIFF’s honorary guests, an exclusive Masterclass from producer Chris Auti as well as some of Iceland’s top filmmakers. Throughout the lab, participants will be guided on their journey to grow as filmmakers, gaining the skills and insights they need to take the next step in their careers - alongside good company.

The Golden Egg

Participants also have the chance to submit their short films to the prestigious Golden Egg competition. Selected films, chosen by our screening committee, will be featured in the festival’s official program, competing for the coveted Golden Egg Award.

The Mission RIFF’s core values—Innovation, Networking, and Dialogue—come to life in the Talent Lab. The lab celebrates and promotes the innovative work of emerging filmmakers, while creating essential networking opportunities with buyers and distributors. It also provides a platform for participants to exchange ideas and experiences with peers from across the globe.

The Program

General Schedule TUE 29.09.2026

WED 30.09.2026

THUR 01.10.2026

FRI 02.10.2026

SAT 03.10.2026

SUN 04.10.2026

15:00 - 16:30 Arrival & Check-In ASKJA

9:00 - 9:30 Welcome & Orientation ASKJA

9:00 - 10:00 Baldvin Z. ASKJA

9:00 - 10:00 Blerta Basholli ASKJA

9:00 - 10:00 ISL GUEST ASKJA

until 11:00 Check-out ASKJA

17:00 - 19:00 TL + Arctic Script Lab mixer Háskólabíó Foyer HB

09:30 - 10:45 Andri Óttarsson ASKJA

10:15 - 11:15 Ólöf B. Torfadóttir ASKJA

10:15 - 11:15 Pitch-Prep ASKJA

Pitch Preparation Clinic

11:00 - 12:00 Amanda Kernell ASKJA

11:20 - 12:20 Edgar Medina ASKJA

11:30 - 12:30 Óli Poppoli ASKJA

11:30 - 12:30 LUNCH

12:00 - 13:00 LUNCH

12:20 - 13:15 LUNCH (& travel)

12:15 - 13:15 LUNCH

12:30 - 16:00 Final Pitch Forum ASKJA

13:00 - 14:30 Vala Ómarsdóttir & Hlín Jóhannesdóttir ASKJA

13:15-14:45 From Festival Selection to Sales —A FilmmakerDistributior Conversation Nordic House NH 15:15 - 16:45 Film as Weapon Nordic House NH

13:30 - 14:30 Maria de Medeiros ASKJA

17:00 - 18:30 Closing Ceremony and Film Nordic House NH

15:00 - 16:30

Closing Party

14:45 - 16:00 Pitch kick-off & workshop ASKJA

Co-Producing Differences: Iceland, Portugal and the Logic of Small Markets

Nordic House NH 17:00 - 18:30 17:00 19:30 RIFF talks Brace Your Heart + Will-o’Háskólabíó 3 Masterclass with the-Wisp + HB Amanda Kernell Masterclass Háskólabíó 1 with João Pedro HB Rodrigues Háskólabíó 2 HB 19:20 18:00 - 20:00 Industry Days Erik Hemmendorff Masterclass Party - Portuguese Háskólabíó 2 Háskólabíó Foyer HB HB 21:40 Golden Egg Háskólabíó 4 HB

10:00 - 11:30 ASKJA

Venue

Num. Location

Address

Description

Hotel Reykjavík Askja (ASKJA)

Nauthólsvegur 52, TL 102 Reykjavík Accommodation

Háskólabíó (HB)

Suðurgata, 107, Reykjavík

Norræna húsið Nordic House (NH)

Sæmundargata 11, Events Venue 102 Reykjavík

RIFF Main Cinema

Walking from ASKJA 0 min (0km) 30 min (2.2km) 25min (1.7km)

THE GOLDEN EGG: FILMS Golden Egg is a competition category featuring a selection of short films from up-and-coming directors and producers participating in the RIFF Talent Lab

A Heartwarming Comedy About Depression, Lunacy and Unfulfilled Dreams (22 mins) Slovakia Director: Michal Ďuriš

Synopsis: Two adolescent sons and their parents. A family whose members know each other so well that their affection for one another often develops into an oppressive relationship. They all have their dreams but perhaps more important than fulfilling these aspirations is the fact that the others should recognise them as something worth striving for.

Animals (7 mins)

Canada Director: Michael Makaroff Synopsis: A coming-of-age drama exploring how societal pressures shape young men’s understanding of boundaries and consent after one member of their friend group commits an act of abuse.

THE GOLDEN EGG: FILMS Nine Times Better (8 mins)

Sweden and Italy Director: Lorenzo Follari and Emma Dock Synopsis: Venus has lost hope in love and decided never to fall in love again. But when a stranger knocks on her door, she immediately forgets her vows and gets caught in a whirlwind of love, sex, and passion... until she is disappointed. Again.

Ultraviolet (24 mins)

Belgium and the Netherlands Director: Veerle De Wilde Synopsis: Teenager Mathilde and her father ride on a motorcycle along an endless Flemish road, on their way to visit Mathilde’s mother, who has been admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Mathilde doesn’t know how to deal with this situation. As the hot summer and first love beckon her, she is torn by longing and remorse.

THE GOLDEN EGG: FILMS Fissure (14 mins)

Spain Director: Eva Justine Torkkola Synopsis: A mother clings to the routines of family life as fractures appear in the world she shares with her children. As their home crumbles around her, she must confront what remains when the people she built her world around are ready to let it go.

Left Behind (13mins)

Greece Director: Yannis Karpouzis Synopsis: Nefeli, a young Greek activist, creates a heartfelt diary film to say goodbye to her last relationship. By resignifying the last images and memories they shared, she sheds light on her way of understanding care, empathy, and ultimately, the need for collectiveness in a system that is collapsing.

THE GOLDEN EGG JURY RÚNAR GUÐBRANDSSON

Rúnar Guðbrandsson is a seasoned Icelandic actor and acting teacher. He has appeared in numerous films and television series, including The Deep, Black’s Game, Fractures, and most recently IceGuys. Alongside his screen career, he has directed and performed in dozens of stage productions in Iceland and abroad. He was the first Professor of Acting at the Iceland Academy of the Arts and was Head of Acting at the Icelandic Film School for many, where he trained a generation of Icelandic actors.

HLÍN JOHANNESDOTTIR

Hlín has worked in film production since year 2000. She has worked with many of Iceland ́s most successful directors on feature films and documentaries as well as focusing on upcoming talent. Hlin owns and runs the production company Ursus Parvus in Reykjavik, established in 2015.

ÓLÖF BIRNA TORFADÓTTIR

Ólöf is an Icelandic writer and director whose career launched with an international debut, of her first short film, that earned Best Foreign Film at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. With two successful feature films, How to be a Classy Tramp (2021) and Top 10 must (2024), and a television series Skvíz (2024), already to her credit, she has established herself as a formidable creative force within Iceland’s premier production writing rooms. Defined by a sharp, sarcastic wit and a commitment to fierce female-led narratives.

SPEAKERS & GUESTS HRAFNKELL STEFÁNSSON

is a prominent screenwriter and educator, contributing to the Icelandic film industry since graduating from the London Film School in 2007. He was Head of the Screenwriting Department at the Icelandic Film School from 2011 to 2025, mentoring future filmmakers. Known for films like Polite People (2011) and City State (2011), Hrafnkell is actively involved in various projects, enhancing his reputation as a versatile writer in contemporary cinema.

ANDRI ÓTTARSSON

is an Icelandic screenwriter and TV creator best known as co-creator and co-writer of the crime drama Case (2015). He has writing credits on notable Icelandic series including Stella Blómkvist and Black Sands. Andri works as Content Director and executive producer on Glassriver projects and has helped develop several Nordic-noir productions. He received an Edda nomination for Case. Before entering television he worked as a police officer, criminal attorney, and served as a political party secretary-general.

VALA ÓMARSDÓTTIR

is an Icelandic director and performance maker working across film, theatre, and dance. Trained at Goldsmiths, Central School of Speech and Drama, and The Icelandic Film School, she creates works blending narrative and experimental forms. Her short Ég/Í screened at over 30 festivals worldwide, winning awards including Best Fiction Short at RVK Feminist Film Festival and honors at Outfest LA, Trans Pride Brighton, and Vancouver IWFF. She was nominated for Director of the Year at the Icelandic Performing Arts Awards in 2022 and is developing her debut feature Bara barn.

SPEAKERS & GUESTS BALDVIN ZOPHONÍASSON (BALDVIN Z)

is an award-winning Icelandic director, writer and producer working across film and television. His feature credits include Jitters (2010), Life in a Fishbowl (2014) and Let Me Fall (2018), with the latter two premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival. Life in a Fishbowl was also selected as Iceland’s submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. His television work includes Case, Trapped, Journey and Black Sands. Black Sands ran for two seasons and premiered internationally at Berlinale, while Journey received nominations for both the Rose d’Or and Venice TV Awards.Across his film and television career, his work has received more than 40 international awards and 22 Edda Awards. Baldvin is also a cofounder of Icelandic production company Glassriver, where he continues to develop and direct film and television projects. His current feature project is Dark Ocean, an Icelandic-Canadian seafaring drama planned for production in 2027.

AMANDA KERNELL

is a Swedish-Sámi writer-director and one of the leading voices in contemporary Nordic cinema. Her feature debut, Sámi Blood (2016), premiered at Venice and received numerous international awards, while Charter (2020) premiered in competition at Sundance and was selected as Sweden’s submission for the Academy Awards. Her third feature, Brace Your Heart (Garrat du váimmu, 2026), was selected for the Platform competition at Toronto International Film Festival.

ERIK HEMMENDORFF

is a Swedish producer and CEO of Plattform Produktion, which he co-founded with director Ruben Östlund in 2002. Their long-running collaboration includes Palme d’Or winners The Square and Triangle of Sadness, both also Academy Award-nominated. He is currently producing Östlund’s The Entertainment System Is Down, their most ambiious production to date. Hemmendorff’s credits also include Fantastic Machine, Pleasure and Mia Hansen-Løve’s Bergman Island. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the European Film Academy.

SPEAKERS & GUESTS EDGAR MEDINA

is a Portuguese producer, screen-writer and showrunner, and the founder of Arquipélago Filmes. A graduate of the London Film School, he has worked across independent cinema and television. His credits include the acclaimed series South, Natural Law and Dogpack, the latter selected for Berlinale Series Selects in 2024. He also co-wrote Ivo M. Ferreira’s feature Letters from War, which competed at the Berlinale and earned him a Sophia Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

MARIA DE MEDEIROS

is one of Portugal’s most respected film artists—an actor, director and singer with an international career spanning more than four decades. She first attracted international attention as Anaïs Nin in Philip Kaufman’s Henry & June (1990). She later directed, wrote and starred in April Captains (Capitães de Abril, 2000), an acclaimed film about Portugal’s 1974 Carnation Revolution that premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes. She became known worldwide as Fabienne in Quentin Tarantino’s Palme d’Or-winning Pulp Fiction (1994).

BLERTA BASHOLLI

is a Kosova-born writer and director. During the war, she took refuge in North Macedonia and Germany. Her early works include short films Mirror,Mirror... (2006), Gjakova 726 (2009) and Lena & Me (2011) which were selected and awarded at many international festivals. Her debut feature film, Hive (2021), premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it made history by winning the Grand Jury Prize, the Directing Award, and the Audience Award in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition, the first film ever to sweep all three awards in that category. The film has since been sold in over 50 territories worldwide.Dua is her second feature.

SPEAKERS & GUESTS ÓLI POPPOLI

participated in numerous film projects, including both feature and documentary films. After working for two years for a production company, focusing primarily on TV documentaries, he founded the independent production company Poppoli Pictures. Headed by Johannesson as director and producer, the team created Blindsker that won the “Best Documentary” in the Icelandic Film Awards 2004 and Africa United that won the same prize in 2005.He was nominated as the best Icelandic Filmmaker in 2005 and 2006 at cultural DV (newspaper) awards and best director in 2005 at the Icelandic Film Awards. Selected for the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2003 and 2004.

SPEAKERS & GUESTS: PITCHING PANELS ARNAR BENJAMÍN KRISTJÁNSSON

is an Icelandic film and television producer at Sagafilm. He has produced more than 40 projects across feature films, television, documentaries and short films, including the hit feature Villibráð (2023) and the acclaimed television series Afturelding, which he co-produced. He previously worked as a producer and managing director at Zik Zak and has been with Sagafilm since 2023.Arnar holds an MA from MetFilm School in London and a master’s degree in marketing from Bifröst University. In June 2026, he was elected Chairman of the Icelandic Film Producers Association (SÍK) for a two-year term.

KRISTÓFER DIGNUS

is an Icelandic screenwriter, director and producer, and cofounder of Kontent Productions. He has worked extensively in Icelandic film and television, with a particular focus on characterdriven comedy and comedy-drama. His credits include Fólkið í blokkinni, Jarðarförin mín (My Funeral), Brúðkaupið mitt (My Wedding), Erfðaskráin mín (My Will) and Kennarastofan, with his work receiving both nominations and wins at the Icelandic Edda Awards.Through Kontent, Kristófer continues to develop and direct new scripted projects. His recent work includes directing the RÚV comedy series 20 og eitthvað, and he is attached to direct the television adaptation of Joachim B. Schmidt’s internationally successful Kalmann novels.

HLÍN JÓHANNESDÓTTIR

is a veteran producer with over 20 years of experience in various roles across the film industry. Since 2000, she has collaborated with successful Icelandic directors and founded her production company, Ursus Parvus, in 2015. Hlín has produced notable works like The Minister II (2023) and Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (2023), which premiered at Sundance. Her projects have received recognition at major festivals, and she remains a pivotal figure in Icelandic cinema, nurturing new talent.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Shane Bannon

is a writer and director based in Los Angeles by way of San Francisco. His work focuses on people who seek connection in a world that encourages isolation. Since 2025, he has led Company of Wolves, a production company, alongside his creative partner, Celina Bernstein. His short films have played at festivals including Fantasia, Dances With Films, and Grimmfest, as well as on Alter, where they have accrued over 200,000 views.

Eleonore Belasi

is an Italian-Austrian-Brazilian writer and director whose work moves between theatre and film. She studied philosophy in Vienna, earning her master’s degree in 2022. Her debut play won the prize at the Autorentheatertage in 2019 and premiered at Deutsches Theater Berlin; she has since directed her own theatre productions and received numerous grants and stipends for her work. She now writes and directs for film as well, working primarily in horror and thriller. In 2025, her screenplay Castigo was awarded the first-stage prize in the Vienna Screenwriters’ Forum’s competition, and her other film projects have attracted further funding and script support. She is currently directing her short film Blueberry Milkshake. She is drawn to the strange, the unsettling and the absurd.

Jamie Benyon

is an award winning writer/ director from London, UK. His last short ‘Two Minutes’ won the Audience Award at the BFI London Film Festival, multiple Best Comedy prizes and gained 20+ Oscar/ BAFTA and BIFA selections around the world. The feature length expansion of ‘Two Minutes’ is currently in development after being selected in Film London’s New Talent Strand. Jamie is also in post-production on his next short film, ‘GURU’ which stars Kola Bokinni (Ted Lasso). As a writer, his scripts have won the IMDb Script To Screen Award, shortlisted by the BBC Comedy Writersroom and Slick Films Fund.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Celina Bernstein

is an actor, writer, and producer from Paris based in Los Angeles. Upcoming films include the period piece, Oma, and the social media body horror TIPS, by Emma Pasarow (Along for the Ride, Netflix), which will be releasing under Company of Wolves, her new production company co-founded with Shane Bannon. Other notable projects include Needle (Fantasia 2026) & The Perfect Place to Cry (Fantasia 2023) Her first feature script won Best Unproduced Screenplay at Filmquest 2022.

Greta Bertauskytė

is a Lithuanian film director who attended FAMU in Prague and holds an MA in Film Directing from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 2023, she participated in FIDMarseille’s programme for emerging filmmakers, where her short film Mommy was presented. Starting out in documentary, she now works primarily with fiction, drawing on contemporary Eastern European realities, social isolation and complex family dynamics. She is currently in postproduction with Strawberry Winter, supported by Creative Europe MEDIA and the Lithuanian Film Centre.

Wai Yu Cheung

is a music graduate from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and an alumna of Busan Asian Film School, CHEUNG began her career as a writer at Television Broadcasts Limited in Hong Kong, expanding into film production, distribution, marketing, and exhibition. Her written feature “When C Goes With G7” (2013) was selected for the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival. She founded Oh Hi Mark! Screening Association to host the legendary cult film “The Room”’s Asia premiere in 2018. Her directorial debut feature in development, “Mama Mia Let Me Go!”, won the Taipei Film Commission Award at 2026 HKIFF Industry Project Market.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Dani Church

co-wrote the 2018 short film, The Quantified Self, which premiered at the Atlanta Film Festival. More recently, Dani wrote the short film, The Bluest Hour, which premiered in 2024 at the Oscar-qualifying Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and was an official selection at American Cinematheque’s Proof Film Festival. Dani lives in LA where she writes vertical content, works as a script reader, and is a working member of SAG. She is in development on her first feature to direct.

Veerle De Wilde

is a Dutch/Belgian filmmaker based in Ghent. Since her graduation with honors from KASK School of Arts in 2020, she has written and directed two award winning shorts: ‘Spaceboy’ and ‘Ultraviolet’. Both films were selected for numerous film festivals around the world, including Brussels Short FF, Sarajevo FF, Giffoni and Vienna Shorts. Meanwhile Veerle has been participating in international programs such as Interfilm Berlin Script Pitch and LIM. She is currently working on her debut feature film.

Patryk Dróżdż

is a Polish cinematographer working across narrative film, documentary, commercials and music videos. His short war thriller “Signal” received 13 international awards, including four for Best Cinematography. His feature-length work includes the independent “Memento Mori” (2019) and documentary “UN/BOUND” (2026). Experienced in aerial cinematography, underwater camera operation and analogue workflows, he combines traditional film craft with specialised camera techniques across fiction and documentary. He graduated in Cinematography from the Academy of Film and Television in Warsaw.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Michal Ďuriš

is a film director, and director of photography with worldview shaped by background in nonprofit, humanitarian organizations and theater. he specialize in artistically ambitious, author-driven films and is passionate about using cinema as a poetic tool for social advocacy that inspires change. With his works, he aims to foster dialogue among people from different backgrounds, nurturing deeper mutual understanding and tolerance.

Cíana Fitzgerald

is a Writer, Director and Visual Artist from Ireland. Informed by her own near-death experience, she’s a background as a multi-award winning artist and graduated with first class honours at National College of Art and Design. In 2026, her debut 16mm short film ‘Refractive Hymn’ shot in Iceland has its premiere at the Academy Award and BAFTA qualifying Cork International Film Festival. She is currently in development with her debut dark fantasy feature film in development.

Lorenzo Follari

is a director and screenwriter born in Rome and based in Stockholm. He has directed music videos, fashion films and short films which screened at festivals such as Vancouver International Film Festival, Bogoshorts, Aesthetica and In the Palace. His latest film won the main Italian prize for fashion films and was featured on Vogue Italy. He is currently in development of his first feature film.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Conor Forrest

is a Toronto-based Canadian, Chinese, and British writerdirector and a York University BFA Film Production graduate (2021). His work has screened at LA Shorts, Catalina, Forest City, and Yorkton. His short Used Furniture was acquired by CBC Gem, and his documentary Unravelling The Ravelled Mind released on Amazon Prime Video. He has participated in Sundance Collab and the RBC Yorkton Mentorship Program.

Harris Gurny

is a New York-based film director and producer whose work has premiered at Sundance, Venice, Tribeca, and SXSW. His feature directorial debut, Adulting, a coming-of-age dramedy starring Jake Ryan, Dagmara Dominczyk, and Kelsey Asbille, is currently in post-production. As a producer, his credits include Coup! (Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen), which premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, and On The End (Tim Blake Nelson, Mirielle Enos), which screened at TIFF Industry Selects and Hamptons in 2025. He also produced the Sundance 2026 short film Seniors.

Jessica Hinkson

is an independent filmmaker whose films have received numerous international accolades. They have been broadcast on CBC, Prime, Super Channel, and Highball TV. A graduate of The Neighborhood Playhouse and T. Schreiber Studios. Her short film, Sara, was created as a proof of concept for Concrete Marshmallow, winning HollyShorts FF Women in Film Screenplay Award in ‘21, where it had its world premiere. Jessica was selected Women In the Directors Chair Story & Leadership Program ‘24.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Camila de Ilhéus

is an artist from Ilhéus, Brasil. A citizen of “in-betweens,” Camila explores what is lost, what is left and the continual negotiation of cultural identity. She is a Torino NEXT Film Lab and Tomorrow’s Filmmaker Today Fellow, a recipient of the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund and the Rubys Artist Grant. In her free time, she likes to ride motorcycles and drink chocolate strawberry milkshakes.

John Lewis James

is a London-based writer-director. Since 2015 he has worked at a steady pace, producing shorts that have played at festivals in Canada and Europe. His most recent short film Quiet Loud Quiet Loud screened at the Next Step Film Festival in Cannes and The Romford Short Film Festival. He is currently working to develop this and another project about the 2008 financial crash into feature films.

Erik Jasaň

is a Slovak film director and screenwriter whose work explores intimate stories with social themes. His debut film, The Professional Parent, qualified for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best Live Action Short Film category. His work has been officially selected by festivals including Balinale – Bali IFF, HollyShorts FF, Tirana IFF, Huesca IFF, Odense IFF, and Out On Film: Atlanta’s LGBT FF, among many others. Erik won the Distribution Award at the FEST – New Directors Festival Pitching Forum, and received Best European Film at Navarra IFF and Best International Film at New York Shorts IFF.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Jewel Karinen

is a director whose work fuses high-concept whimsy with bittersweet comedy. She recently completed her new short film “What Happens in Vegas” supported by a $5,000 grant as part of the Silver Lake Shorts Fellowship program. Jewell was a participant in the 2025 Women in Media Activate Impact Initiative program for emerging filmmakers, and the 2019 WhoHaha Spring Creators Lab. Jewell also hosts and produces the Parasocial Social Club podcast with Charlie James.

Yanni Karpouzis

specializing in multidisciplinary approaches to filmmaking, Yannis works in Athens as a director and producer. His debut feature documentary “Poems on the Tape-recorder”, won the Newcomer Filmmaker Award at the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival. Since 2025, he is an alumnus of Sarajevo Talents, Berlinale Talents and Torino Film Lab. His work often explores themes of political identity, time travel, and melancholy.

Florian Kasperski

I grew up in and around Zurich where I also completed my BA in English literature. An anglophile at heart, the UK and especially London have always been calling and I followed in the end and relocated to the land of Shakespeare and Mr. Bean. I completed an MA in filmmaking at the London Film School and now divide my time between London and Zurich, perpetually jumping back and forth between the two cultures. Likewise, I am drawn to ultimately uplifting stories about misfits and outsiders.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Luda Kuropyatnikova

is a cinematographer born in Saint Petersburg in 1996. She completed a program at the Rodchenko Moscow School of Photography and Multimedia in 2012, and in 2019 graduated from the Russian Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) with a five-year specialist degree in Cinematography. She took part in the Terre di Cinema workshop in Sicily, Italy, in 2024. Working primarily with analog film formats, Luda develops a visual language rooted in atmosphere, memory, and the physicality of light. Her work often explores the tension between observation and intimacy, combining precise visual composition with an intuitive sensibility. Films shot by Luda have been screened internationally, including La Semaine de la Critique (Cannes Film Festival), International Film Festival Rotterdam, and at Academy Award-, EFA-, and BAFTA-qualifying festivals.

Laura La France

is a filmmaker based on Treaty 6 Territory in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Laura is interested in telling true stories using analog processes, particularly Super 8mm film. Laura shoots music videos and a variety of commercial work, and she is currently completing her first major documentary film with help from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts and Edmonton Arts Council. Laura also sits on the board for Northwest Film Fest and works as a projectionist for the Metro Cinema.

David Ledger

is a British filmmaker from and based in London. His debut short film ‘Rejoyce!’ was nominated for best short at BFI Flare 2024 and was acquired by Channel 4. His sophomore short ‘Odd Socks’ starring Paterson Joseph (Peep Show), Sandi Toksvig (QI) and Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting) is currently on the festival circuit and has been selected for Oscar qualifying HollyShorts 2026 and BAFTA qualifying Bolton FF, amongst others. David has two features in development: a feature version of ‘Rejoyce!’ and ‘The Whole Tooth’ which is being developed at TorinoFilmLab this year. He trained at Drama Centre London.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Michael Makaroff

has an extensive track record of directing music videos, collaborating with Grammy and Juno Award-winning and nominated artists. His commercial portfolio includes projects with renowned companies such as Arc’teryx, BC Cancer, AeroPress and P&G. He recently completed Animals, a mental health grant project exploring toxic masculinity, which premiered at the Whistler Film Festival in 2025. The film has since screened at festivals including the Sundar Prize Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Short Circuit Film Festival, and Canadian Film Fest, and was nominated for the IMDb Best Filmmaker Award at the Bath Film Festival as well as the Golden Egg at RIFF. His previous short, The Dog, garnered international acclaim, winning Best BC Film and Best Performance at VISFF, as well as Best Screenwriting at VSFF, among other accolades. He has also been published as a short fiction writer.

Adam Pavlovic

born in Bratislava, Slovakia, Adam studied film in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy. In 2023, he served as a juror at Giornate degli Autori, held alongside the Venice Film Festival. His work focuses on grounded human dramas clashing with extreme, sometimes supernatural elements. His debut feature, Go Play in Hell, currently in development, is a single-location revenge tale about grief, identity, and selfacceptance.

Ina Morken

is a writer and director tracing silver linings of humour in contemporary tragedy, with a focus on women’s stories and themes of intimacy and identity. After studying Film & TV in Edinburgh and working in Scottish TV, she moved to Berlin for love in 2022. Since then, she’s made four short films, most recently screening at Short Nights of Berlin and Love, Sex and Cinema. She currently is developing her next short with Little Lark Productions, and scheming her first feature.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Soňa Nôtová

graduated from the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. She further enriched her education in Bulgaria, Indonesia, and Norway. Soňa’s workcenters on sensitive topics, including the refugee crisis and feminist perspectives, with her films having been presented at festivals such as Febiofest Bratislava, FIDE Paris, Zlín Film Fest, and Echoes of Katyn in Poland, among others. She’s a graduate of the Ex Oriente Series and DOX IN VITRO workshops.

Dániel Puskás

is a Hungarian filmmaker based in Iceland. With 20 years of experience in historical reenactment and research, his work is rooted in history, folklore, and period authenticity. He has directed music videos for Icelandic artists and worked as a stunt coordinator assistant on King & Conqueror. His debut short Hamrammr, shot independently in Iceland and spoken in Old Norse, explores grief and revenge. He is developing historical drama and folk horror projects.

Dan Silov

is an emerging writer and film director from Latvia. In 2000’s Dan spent ten years living in the US and then the UK. There he enrolled into Manchester Film School but didn’t finish it as he decided to return to Latvia following his heart, that was eventually broken. As a way to cope with the break-up he made his first short film, an ambitious sci-fi love story “Disposable Darling”.

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Zoë Stiletano

is an Argentine producer who has worked in the Scandinavian film industry since relocating to Denmark in 2016. She holds a Master’s in Film from Edinburgh Napier University and trained at the NFTS in London and ECAM in Madrid. She has produced a number of short films, most recently The Way of the Lamb (2026), as well as award-winning music videos including Avalanche (2025) and King (2023). She also works as a Development Producer and co-creator on an upcoming Swedish TV series. She has worked in film and tv productions such as Jack of Spades (2027), The Way of the Runner (2026), Norwegian Offspring (2023), Mulm (2024), and Drenge (2022). She is currently in development on her feature debut SOL which was selected at CineNido and Extremadura Film Residency in Spain.

Dan Thorburn

is a writer-director from the North of England. Originally a painter, he transitioned his practice to film and is currently developing his debut feature Barfly with the British Film Institute. He currently sits as the HOME filmmaker in residence, is a NETWORK@LFF alumni and won the 2023 Sony Future Filmmaker Award. Focusing on regional drama, his other work (Lit & Shattered) have been developed at Stowe Narrative Lab 2025 and in 2023 won Galway Film Fleadh Market.

Eva Justine Torkkola

is a graduate of both the Masters of Film and Television (Directing) and Masters of Screenwriting at the University of Melbourne. She is an Australian Directors’ and Writers’ Guild nominee, and is developing two features and a TV series. Selections: ‘Under the Volcano’ Film Accelerator with Werner Herzog, Spain (2024); MIFF Accelerator Lab (2022); International Filmmaking Academy with Jane Campion, Italy (2019); Looking China Documentary Program (2019). www. evajusttorks.com

TALENT LAB PARTICIPANTS Alexandra Torterotot

is a NYC-based French filmmaker. She has directed awardwinning shorts including The Stairway, Once Upon a Bench, The Mermaid’s Journey and When The Sun Refuses to Shine, with selections at Woodstock, Warsaw Jewish, Bend, Orlando, and NY International Shorts Film Festivals. As a Script Supervisor for 20+ years, she’s collaborated with Spike Lee, Ava Duvernay, Darren Aronofsky, and James Gray to name a few. She is currently developing two feature films.

Eloane Venkatapen

was born and raised in Lyon, France and moved to Vancouver to study Film Production at UBC. Her first feature-film Lanmè is supported in development by the Canada Arts Council, Telefilm Canada and Creative BC. The script was selected for the 2025 Whistler Film Festival Screenwriters Lab and a finalist for Cannes’ Pitch Sans Frontières 2026. Her shortfilm Backlog has received support from the Canada and BC Arts Councils and the NFB, it is currently entering the festival circuit. Eloane was part of the WIDC Career Advancement Module, VIFF Catalyst program and is a founding member of the Francophone filmmaking organization Créaxion.

Sigurður Sölvi Davíðsson (SIGGI)

war born and raised in Iceland. He is a fisher man turned film student, who studied at fine arts at Lorenzo di medici, Florence, Italy and at Akureyri art school. He recently graduated from the Icelandic film school as a director and a writer, where he graduated with his short film “Windows”.

TALENT LAB TEAM

Hrafnkell Stefánsson Artistic Director

Michelle Pröstler Project Coordinator

Instagram: @reykjavikfilmfestival TikTok: @reykjavikiff Youtube: @ReykjavikFilmFest

FAQ WHAT TO PACK

Be sure to bring sturdy shoes and warm, wind-and-rain-resistant clothing for Iceland’s cold climate. Pack swimwear, as outdoor swimming pools, saunas, steam baths, and hot tubs are a big part of Icelandic culture. Don’t forget a laptop for your masterclasses and smart clothes for the closing ceremony and other events.

WEATHER

The weather can be unpredictable, so be prepared for sunshine, rain, and lots of rainbows! You can check the weather forecast (and the Northern Lights forecast!) here: https://www.vedur.is/

GETTING AROUND

Reykjavik is a small city, and most places are within walking distance.

BUS

The Reykjavik city bus, Stræto, is another convenient way to get around. You can buy tickets through the Klapp app, with credit card or cash on the bus (note that drivers don’t carry change), or from various vendors. We recommend downloading the apps before you arrive. Each ticket costs 690 ISK. https://www.straeto.is/ https://www.klappid.is/en

TAXI

24-hour taxi service available in Reykjavik. HREYFILL Tel: +354 588 5522 or via their app. (here)

ACCREDITATION & TICKETS

Have free time? Your accreditation includes a RIFF Festival Pass, which grants access to any regular film screening, even those not in your Talent Lab schedule. You should have received your pass information already, but contact us with any questions. (riff@riff.is) Book tickets here: https://riff.is/

FOOD & DRINK

Food trucks will be parked outside Háskólabíó during cinema hours, so grab dinner there. You can also buy discounted drinks and snacks at the Háskólabíó concession stand. Thinking of buying bottled water? Iceland has some of the purest water in the world—straight from the tap, even from the bathroom sink!

FAQ BENEFITS FOR FESTIVAL PASS, PUNCH CARD, & SINGLE TICKET HOLDERS: • 10% discount at Hygge Coffee & Bakery • Happy hour all day every day at ÆGIR 101 • 15% discount at Bar Bitter Offers valid during the festival upon presentation of a festival pass, punch card, or ticket. Not valid with Happy Hour prices or other promotions.