RIFF 2020 - INDUSTRY DAY BROCHURE

SUBMERGE YOURSELF

RIFF 2020

The RIFF Industry Days are back with an exciting program of panels, Riff Talks and the first ever Icelandic Market Forum.

Table of Contents Detailed schedule Information for live and online attendees Eric Reis, coach for actors Icelandic Market Forum: Work in Progress VOD & TV Series panel Film in Iceland panel RIFF Talks Contact

Detailed Schedule Sunday Sept. 27 Eric Reis, Coach for Actors @ the Nordic House Private Event in Collaboration with FĂ­l 10:00-18:00 Thursday Oct. 1 Icelandic Market Forum: Works-in-Progress (WIP) @ the Nordic House and via private link through invitation 13:00-15:30 VOD & TV Series: New Models, New Trends panel @ the Nordic House and live-streamed on all our channels 17:00-19:00 Friday Oct. 2 Film in Iceland panel @ the Nordic House and live-streamed on all our channels 15:30-17:00 RIFF Talks @ the Nordic House and live-streamed on all our channels 18:00-20:30

Please Note:

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year RIFF INDUSTRY DAYS and the ICELANDIC MARKET FORUM (IMF) events will be a hybrid program between online and on-site activities.

We will have small physical events for domestic participants, but most events will be live-streamed in our channels, to ensure safety measures.

We hope you understand this difficult decision and we can’t wait to welcome you in person to the Reykjavík International Film Festival next year!

If you would like to register for the small in-person events (i.e WIFT, VOD & TV Series Panel, Film in Iceland, RIFF Talks, IMFWork in Progress), please make sure to register through our website’s links. If you have registered to attend an event but see yourself no longer attending IN PERSON, please unregister. https://riff.is/industry-days/ REMINDER: all events except IMF-Work in Progress will be live-streamed in our channels.

The Nordic House in Reykjavík is a cultural institution opened in 1968 and operated by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Its goal is to foster and support cultural connections between Iceland and the other Nordic countries. To this end the Nordic House organizes a diverse program of cultural events and exhibitions.

The house is the venue for front row activities in the Icelandic cultural calendar: Reykjavík International Film and Literary Festivals, Iceland Airwaves and The Nordic Fashion Biennale— launched by the Nordic House.

The Nordic House is designed by acclaimed Finnish modernist architect Alvar Aalto (18981976). The house is one of his later works, a hidden gem among the better-known masterpieces, and features most of Aalto’s signature traits. These are evident in the ultramarine blue ceramic rooftop that takes its organic shape from the mountain row in the background, the central well in the library and the extensive use of tile, wood and white plaster throughout the building.

Alvar Aalto also designed the furnishings in most of his buildings. In the Nordic house, all installed furnishings, lamps and almost all of the furniture are by Aalto.

To know more about the Architect & Building, follow our Special Event: Alvar Aalto Documentary & Guided Tour

https://riff.is/event/aalto-guided-tour/ Sæmundargata 11, 101 Reykjavík

ERIC REIS

Sunday Sept. 27 10:00-18:00

COACH FOR ACTORS SPECIAL INDUSTRY EVENT COACH FOR ACTORS

BY ERIC ALEJANDRO REIS

PRIVATE WORKSHOP This workshop is an introduction to the on-camera acting technique developed by Bob Krakower and taught at some of the most important training programs in the United States, including Juilliard, Yale, and New York University. Selected actors will perform scenes on camera, and discussions will follow. Topics include script analysis, auditioning, and self-tapes. The workshop is designed for advanced professionals, but actors, directors, and writers of all levels are welcome to attend.

Eric Reis is a respected acting teacher based in New York City. His clients include multiple Emmy, Tony, Screen Actors Guild, and Drama Desk Award winners, and have performed leading roles in the Broadway productions of Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Miserables, Rock of Ages, Waitress, and Mean Girls, among countless others. He regularly works behind the scenes prepping actors for their roles on successful TV shows on The USA Network, CBS, HULU, and NETFLIX, among others.

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

IMF - WIP ICELANDIC MARKET FORUM WORK-IN-PROGRESS With the Icelandic Film Centre as our partner, RIFF introduces a diverse Work-in-Progress showcase, presenting excerpts from the latest Icelandic film and TV productions, curated by RIFF’s head of programming Frédéric Boyer.

Participants will also have exclusive access to market screenings of selected projects as well as B2B meetings.

PROFESSIONALS ONLY. STRICTLY UNDER REGISTRATION ON OUR WEBSITE-

Register Here

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

ICELANDIC MARKET FORUMWORK-IN-PROGRESS

FEATURE FILMS

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

SKJÁLFTI/ QUAKE

Saga, a single mother in her late thirties, gets hit by a fierce epileptic attack walking in a public park with her six-yearold son resulting in a total memory loss. Afraid of being considered unable to take care of her son, Saga attempts to hide her state from others and occupies herself digging for the answers she needs. As she struggles to gather bits and pieces from her forgotten life, repressed memories that Saga unconsciously blocked as a child suddenly start to come back, revealing a painful truth about herself and her past.

Directors name: Tinna Hrafnsdóttir (writer/director) Producers: Hlín Jóhannesdóttir, Ursus Parvus Category: Feature Contact info: tinna@internet.is hlin@ursusparvus.com

Director’s Statement:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

Quake is an adaptation based on the award winning and bestselling novel Grand Mal by Auður Jónsdóttir, one of Iceland’s most accomplished writers today. It’s a psychological story, with the tension of a thriller, and reveals to us one of the most challenging journeys in life, the journey from denial to acceptance.

I myself have been through that journey, so when I read the book I instantly felt a strong connection to the story and what Saga, the main character, goes through. The path I chose to work with makes the film a kind of investigative story, a mystery if you will, but an inward one – where the goal for Saga is to reveal the self to herself. Primarily. But to achieve that the characters surrounding her are key participants. They withhold elements and possess important keys to the mystery which unfolds step by step in a chronological way, although crucial flashbacks serve as crucial revelation. It is my focus and intention, as a filmmaker to tell stories that reveal the complexity of human nature.

About the Director: Tinna Hrafnsdóttir is an Icelandic director, actress, writer and producer. She is an alumnus of Iceland University of the Arts, Reykjavik University (MBA), TIFF Filmmakers Lab and runs her own film production company, Freyja Filmwork.

Tinna has made two awardwinning short films, Helga (2016) and Munda (2017), and is currently developing her first miniseries, Home is where the heart is. Quake is her first feature.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

WOLKA

Thirty-two-year-old Anna is released from a Polish prison after serving fifteen years for homicide. Finally free, Anna has only one goal, but to achieve it she must break parole, break the law, sacrifice everything, and head on an unforeseen journey to the remote island of Iceland.

Directors name: Árni Ólafur Ásgeirsson Producers: Hilmar Sigurdsson, Beggi Jónsson Category: Feature Contact info: hilmar@sagafilm.is

Director’s statement:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

Being Icelandic, but having both studied and worked in Poland for years, I’ve been fascinated by the idea of making a film about Polish people living in Iceland, and exploring how these two worlds of mine meet, and either fuse or contrast with one another. Also, Iceland has a huge Polish immigrant population, and I have also been puzzled over the idea of why all these Poles chose, from all the countries in the world, to immigrate and work on this strange, cold, end-of-the-world island.

I´ve come up with many ideas, and plots over the years, of how to tackle this theme in a film, but none have satisfied me enough. Not until I came up with the idea which is the base for the story WOLKA, I finally felt confident that I had a story that justifies the fusion of these two worlds that I know so well, and are so dear to me.

Most importantly though, WOLKA is a family story that touches upon human emotion and inter-relationships between characters that are, whether they like it or not, bound to share destinies. It is a story of a strong woman, who has a crystal-clear goal, and who is willing to sacrifice anything to achieve it, even those she holds dear.

A universal theme that I believe knows no borders and is crosscultural, that will not only speak to Polish and Icelandic audiences, but people from all cultures.

It is my wish to tell a human story, in which the main character’s outer, physical journey mirrors in fact her inner journey of growing up and coming to terms with herself and the world around her.

About the Director:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

Arni Ólafur Ásgeirsson is a graduate of the Polish National Film School.

He wrote and directed both short films and co-wrote screenplays, before debuting with his first feature film in 2006, entitled Thicker than Water, a co-production between Pegasus Pictures, Zentropa and Thalamus Pictures, which made it in the official selection at Toronto and was in competition at many prestige festivals around the world.

His second film BRIM (Undercurrent) came out in 2010 to win and be nominated for numerous prizes around the world. The film was a coproduction between Zik Zak Filmworks (IS) and Kid Film (PL). The film was awarded Best Film at the Icelandic EDDA Awards. Árni´s third film, the 3D animated feature Ploey – You Never Fly Alone won an EDDA´s award for Best Children´s Film in 2019 and had global theatre release in over 50 countries. Árni is active in the film community in Iceland, teaching and lecturing as well as writing screenplays in the Nordic Region. Árni has also worked extensively as a director for TV commercials with more than 100 spots under his belt for both local and international clients such as McDonald´s, Burger King, KFC, Orange, T-Mobile, Skoda, Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Unilever, IKEA and many more. Árni is a board member of the Icelandic Film & TV Academy and member of the Icelandic Director’s Guild and a Member of the European Film Academy.

Producers: Hilmar Sigurdsson, Beggi Jónsson Hilmar Sigurðsson is the CEO of Sagafilm. He has a wealth of experience in management in the creative industries in Iceland, Italy and Denmark. Most recent projects include The Minister, The Flatey Enigma and two of the largest cinematic projects to be done in Iceland, the animated feature films Legends of Valhalla– Thor and Ploey–You Never Fly Alone. Hilmar long served as Chairman of the Icelandic Film & TV Academy and SÍK, the Association of Icelandic Film Producers.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

ICELANDIC MARKET FORUMWORK-IN-PROGRESS

DOCUMENTARIES

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

BAND: THIS IS NOT A BAND

BAND is the make-it-or-break-it story of an Icelandic female band that probably will not make it and isn’t really a band. They are having a hard time breaking through. Sure they get a chance to play the odd gig but they hardly ever get paid. Which would be fine if the band members were 20 something and not moms close to 40 years old. If they had secure corporate jobs during the day and could play music in the evening just for fun, if they didn’t have masters degrees from art school and if they weren’t moms.

So, why don´t they quit, stop whining and find other projects to work on? When the band comes together something magical happens. The audience feels it too.

These four women manage to overcome their failures by dwelling on them and cut through their fears with such force that the audience cannot escape being swept with them into the light. What is this? A band? Therapy? Performance Art? Witch-craft or a heartbreaking comedy? The Post Performance Blues Band is all of these things. We follow the band for one year as they fight for their place in the music industry. One year to make it – that is the goal they set themselves.

They make a promise to be playing in a big venue in one year’s time for thousands of people. Will it be their last concert ever?

Directors name: Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir Producers: Heather Millard, Þórður Jónsson Category: Documentary Contact info: heather@compassfilms.is

Director’s statement:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

To get through life you need to be willing to come apart every once in a while.

The Post Performance Blues Band (PPBB) are experts in chaos and anti-climaxes. They are totally into rejection, disappointment and mistakes both on and off the stage but tackle it with force, joy and humor.

In this film about my band I am going to focus on the beauty and the possibilities that resistance brings. It is hard to understand why we are still playing. We get rejected over and over again, making us the perfect antagonists for a film. It is hilarious to be such losers, I mean how many „no-s“ can one band get? It would be a tragedy if it were a solo project, there is nothing funny about failing alone. But bring four together, and a camera and we have a heartbreaking comedy.

The audience will witness our attempt at reaching fame in one year.

Considering how we have been doing so far, it is highly unlikely that we reach our goal. But we are sick of brushing our defeats under the carpet, it is time to bring all our shit out there and find pride in giving it all we can no matter what the outcome will be. Lets have the audience cry over our failed attempts, squirm in their seat when we overshare our loser moments and hopefully connect with these women on their quest for recognition. We have nothing to hide.

Since this is my point of view on this story of me and my girlfriends they might disagree with my portrayal of them. Will our collaboration and bond hold right to the end? Nothing is certain, but this frailty is exactly what I want to capture in my documentary.

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

About the Director: Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir is an Icelandic director, writer and performer. She is a trained actress and has an MFA in Performing Arts. She has had a successful acting career in film, tv and theatre in Iceland for the past 20 years. In the beginning of 2020, she directed the stage play Mothers which became a huge success and she has since been contracted to direct a new children’s musical in the City Theatre of Reykjavik in 2021. Álfrún has written plays, developed a script for a tv series, written and codirected commercials and made a music video for her band. She is a member of the The Post Performance Blues Band, an all-female performance art band that are renowned for their dark but hilarious, dysfunctional but fun performances. Her debut film is about the Band.

Producers: Heather Millard, Þórður Jónsson Co-founder of Compass Films, Iceland, Heather Millard has produced a variety of internationally awardwinning documentary films, feature films and service produced international television series. Heather has been working in the film & television industry in the UK since 2005 and relocated to Iceland in 2009 where she continues to produce international content.

Her feature films and theatrical documentaries include co-producing Of Good Report (TIFF 2013) producing YARN (SXSW 2017) and Future of Hope (IDFA 2010).

Her productions have been licensed internationally to broadcasters and SVOD platforms and released theatrically in numerous territories. Heather is now in production with the Icelandic feature film Summerlight and then comes the night directed by Elfar Adalsteins scheduled for release in 2021, and in pre-production with BAND directed by Álfrún Örnólfsdóttir and in production with the short animated film Chasing Birds directed by Una Lorenzen.

Heather Millard is a member of the European Film Academy and was Iceland’s Producer on the Move in Cannes 2015.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

HÆKKUM RÁNA/ RAISE THE BAR

A girls’ basketball team aims to break down cultural barriers. Their training program is intense and controversial, and they are led by an overqualified and unusual coach who constantly raises the bar. The team achieves remarkable results and the girls are becoming strong, independent, and are ready to change the world.

But is the world ready?

Directors name: Gudjón Ragnarsson Producers: Margrét Jónasdóttir Category: Documentary Contact info: margretj@sagafilm.is

Director’s statement:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

My motive for making this film is to show people what kids are capable of. I have been shooting for four years and I have seen the amazing development of the girls. They have grown emotionally and physically, on and off the field. The main goal with this story is to give people an insight into this revolutionary project.

I chose to direct this film because I saw the amazing strength of character these girls possess. Watching children go through difficulties has always in my mind been painful but once I got to know these girls my mindset changed on the matter. I want this film to encourage children and young people to find their talents and shape their own future.

While watching this film, I want the viewer to experience shock, laughter, motivation and above all, a sense within themselves to take a stand and have an opinion. The film will show the truth about this team’s journey and the people who have been a part of it.

About the Director: Gudjon Ragnarsson, has been working in the film industry in Iceland since 2005 as a runner, AD, gaffer and set builder.

Since 2017 he has been working as a director, actor, writer and producer.

His short film debut Instinct premiered in 2019 but Raise the bar is his first full length documentary film. Gudjon has a degree in acting from New York Film Academy. He is currently working on several new projects.

About the Producer:

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

Margrét Jónasdóttir is one of Iceland’s most experienced documentary film producers. She is the executive producer of documentary production at Sagafilm, the largest production company in Iceland. Margret has produced a dozen TV-series and documentaries for broadcasters in Iceland, the Nordic countries, several documentaries for BBC Storyville, worked with NDR/ARTE, VPRO and many other international TV stations.

She has been on the board of Nordic Panorama and a juror at International Film Festivals. She is a historian by education and holds an MA in Modern History from UCL in London.

Margret filmography includes: The Battle for Iceland (in preproduction) for BBC Storyville, VPRO, DR, SVT and RÚV. Raise the bar (in post-production). The Vasulka Effect (2019) RÚV, CZECH TV, SVT, DR, BBC Arts, Out of thin air (2017) in co-pro with Mosaic Films in the UK for Netflix, BBC Storyville and RÚV, The Show of Shows (2015) a music Archive film with band members of Sigur Rós for BBC Storyville, RÚV and SVT. Distributed by Dogwoof.

Taste the North Atlantic (2014) for NRK, RÚV and YLE. Last Days of the Arctic (2011) for NDR/ARTE, BBC Storyville, NRK, SVT, AVRO, ITVS and RÚV and many more.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

ICELANDIC MARKET FORUMWORK-IN-PROGRESS

TV SERIES

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

SYSTRABÖND/ SISTERHOOD

In Sisterhood we follow the three main characters in their everyday lives and witness the news of the remains being found shatter their calm existence. The priest Elisabet portrayed by Lilja Nótt Þórarinsdóttir, the chef Anna Sigga, portrayed

by Jóhanna Friðrika Sæmundsdóttir, and the practical nurse Karlotta, portrayed

by Ilmur Kristjánsdóttir, have gone through their lives carrying the heavy burden of guilt over a horrible crime they committed in their teenage years; guilt that has marked them all in different ways.

The police detective Vera is responsible for investigating the mystery of the remains along with her partner Einar and the audience follows them as they uncover the case and get nearer the truth in each episode. As the investigation goes on, big questions are raised that prove difficult to answer. Questions about guilt, innocence, the human condition and the connection we all have with our community and surroundings. These questions evoke raw and true feelings that reflect the deep fear our characters feel – a fear that could shatter their world.

This is a powerful story about frail characters in modern day society, about women that tackle everyday life as we know it, but do so in the shadow of their past.

Directors name: Silja Hauksdóttir Producers: Tinna Proppé, Anna Vigdís Gísladóttir, Hilmar Sigurðsson, Kjartan Þór Þórðarson Category: TV Fiction Contact info: tinnaproppe@sagafilm.is

Director’s statement:

Sisterhood is a story about guilt and shame and how living with yourself and your past can be a complicated task. The three women are not only connected through the violent actions of their youth, but also through the harsh reality of past generations that still affects them in different ways. Sisterhood is a reflection on what it is to live in the shadow of dishonesty and how reaching out will set us free.

About the Director:

SILJA HAUKSDÓTTIR is a writer/director from Reykjavík. Silja studied graduated with a bachelor degree in philosophy at the University of Iceland 1999. After freelancing in production for several years, Silja studied film making at FAMU, Prague and participated in a script development course at The Binger Film Lab in Amsterdam in 2007 and graduated with a MFA in Performing Arts from the Icelandic Academy of

the Arts in 2018. Silja lives with her family in Reykjavík and is a great admirer of mundane autobiographies and karaoke singing.

Silja directed her first feature film, Dís, in 2004.

Dís was adapted from a best-selling novel, which Silja co-wrote. Silja has written and directed several comedy TV series and shows, among them Ríkið, Stelpurnar and Ástríður, which received the Icelandic Film and Television award.

Silja premiered her latest feature film, Agnes Joy, in 2019 which was the highest grossing Icelandic film of the year. She is currently in post production with the TV series Sistherhood to be released in 2021. Silja is also in development with her third feature film and will premiere a new Icleandic play at the National Theatre in September.

About the Producer: TINNA PROPPÉ has worked in the film industry since 2009. She was a production manager on the film ALMA and the TV series THE FLATEY ENIGMA and a line producer on the films HEMMA and PITY THE LOVERS.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

VEGFERÐIN/ THE JOURNEY

The Journey is a tale of two friends going on a road trip to strengthen their bond. The journey takes a surprising twist where their friendship is put to the test and forces them to confront their masculinity, emotions, and pride.

Director: Baldvin Z Producers: Andri Ómarsson, Arnbjörg Hafliðadóttir, Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Víkingur Kristjánsson Category: TV Fiction Script: Víkingur Kristjánsson Executive Producers: Hörður Rúnarsson, Baldvin Z, Andri Óttarsson Production company: Glassriver Contact info: Hörður Rúnarsson - hordur@glassriver.is

Detailed Schedule

Director’s statement: The Journey is a strangely beautiful series. Very male dominant in terms of cast but unlike most series it is about two middle aged men dealing with their emotions. It is based on a real friendship of two men, actors and their emotional interpretation of stereotypical views, pride, co-dependence and a confrontation with masculinity - both toxic and non-toxic.

When I read the scripts I immediately realised that these scripts were written with real and intimate feelings. The series has a big heart but with humour and goofiness as well.

The Journey was a fantastic challenge for me as a director to step out of my comfort zone which I feel is important to continue developing as an artist. Like with all my projects I dig deep to find the most vulnerable feeling and the heart of the project.

When I find that the other elements fall into place.

I find the series extremely relevant to today’s discussion about gender roles but also to focus on what is most important to us and offers an escape from reality especially in the wake of the global pandemic.

About the Director:

Detailed Schedule

The director of The Journey is the award winning Baldvin Z who has been one of the most prominent directors in Iceland for the past decade. Delivering three feature films (writer and director) and two television series (director) with over 40 film awards, both international as well as 18 Edda awards (the Icelandic Film and Television Academy Awards). In 2018 he released his third feature “Let Me Fall” at Toronto Film Festival, which has been met with universal praise. Before that, he directed the music documentary with Olafur Arnaldsson “Island Songs” for Universal Studios and “Beyond Strength”, an independent documentary.

Glassriver’s TV series “Black Sands” will be his next project

About the Producer: Hörður Rúnarsson is spearheading and driving the international finance- sales- and co-production arm of the company, he has produced the award winning “Manners” and “My funeral” as well as serving as an executive producer on „Europark”, „Ordinary People” (seasons 1-3) and „The Journey”. He’s currently working on “Fractures”, “Black Sands”, “Polaris” and the animated movie “14th Santa” as well as “Magaluf”. He holds a Master’s degree in business administration and is vastly experienced in international marketing and sales having worked in international business consulting for global organizations and has held a director position in successful international companies such as Blue Lagoon Iceland and Össur.

IMF- WIP

Thursday Oct. 1 13:00-15:30

ÓFÆRÐ/ TRAPPED

When a brutal murder is committed on private land occupied by a pagan cult, policeman Andri gets a chance to make up for earlier mistakes that have been haunting him for years.

Directors: Baltasar Kormákur, Börkur Sigþórsson, Katrín Björgvinsdóttir Producers: Baltasar Kormákur, Magnús Viðar Sigurðsson, Agnes Johansen Category: TV Series Contact info: Agnes Johansen - agnes@rvkstudios.is

VOD & TV SERIES: NEW MODELS NEW TREND. PANEL Thursday Oct. 1 17:00-19:00

TV series productions have increased internationally over the last

few years as an effective response to the uprising of VOD platforms.

Iceland has produced 10 TV series over the course of 2020.

What are the main changes that the Icelandic film industry had to overcome to adjust its strategy to match this new trend format?

How have audience consumption habits changed?

How has the chain value of film and TV productions been impacted?

Are release strategies now tailored to the individual needs of this format?

With many planned releases scheduled for 2020 shaken up following the outbreak of the coronavirus and the subsequent upending of the film industry, is VOD an efficient solution to this matter or are we on the brink of all-out war between distributors and cinema exhibitors?

PANELISTS

Thursday Oct. 1 17:00-19:00 Pálmi Guðmundsson

Pálmi Guðmundsson is Head of Media at Síminn Ltd. in Iceland.

He is Head Commissioner and leads the acquisition of local and foreign content.

Currently, Síminn is the largest telecom in the territory and operates the biggest SVOD service in the market with around 40% share of homes with subscriptions.

Pálmi has been in the entertainment industry all of his professional life and studied Broadcast Management in the USA at ASU Walter Croncite School of Journalism and Mass Media and Advanced Management at IESE.

Anna Vigdís Gísladóttir Anna Vigdís Gísladóttir (Producer) is an experienced producer of both scripted and non-scripted TV programs. Her many credits for film and TV series include the political drama series The Minister, The Flatey Enigma, the critically acclaimed Stella Blómkvist and the feature film The Falcons.

PANELISTS

Thursday Oct. 1 17:00-19:00

Þóra Björg Clausen Þóra has been in the content industry since 2001 initially working in production but then gradually moving into programming in 2008.

She worked at ITC-Skjarinn for seven years as Assistant Head of Programming but moved to Vodafone Iceland in 2015 to work as Head of Operations for Vodafone‘s non-linear platform. After the merger of 365 Media into Vodafone, Þóra assumed the position of Head of Content and Operations in Channel 2‘s Programming Department working across the company‘s linear and non-linear platforms.

Hörður Rúnarsson

Hörður Rúnarsson is spearheading and driving the international finance- sales- and co-production arm of the company, he has produced the award-winning Manners and My funeral as well as serving as an executive producer on Europark, Ordinary People (seasons 1-3) and The Journey. He’s currently working on Fractures, Black Sands, Polaris and the animated movie 14th Santa as well as Magaluf.

He holds a Master’s degree in business administration and is vastly experienced in international marketing and sales having worked in international business consulting for global organizations and has held a director position in successful international companies such as Blue Lagoon Iceland and Össur.

MODERATOR

Thursday Oct. 1 17:00-19:00

Ásgrímur Sverrisson Ásgrímur Sverrisson is a writer and a director and the editor of film industry website Klapptré (klapptre.is).

FILM IN ICELAND OCT 2 15:30- 17:00

PANEL

Iceland as a postรถCOVID production service role model.

While people have been quarantined around the world during the COVID-pandemic, VOD and in-demand services have had enormous growth and popularity.

Most worldwide productions have suffered a huge cycle contraction and some have even stopped entirely.

By contrast, Icelandic film productions never ceased, and what is more, the industry experienced a flourishing of film & TV productions.

Has Iceland become an international role model for Film & TV production services during and post-COVID age?

What were the challenges and the efforts made to set the country in such a position?

In this event, the Icelandic film commission along with the IFC and key Icelandic production companies will explore the current status of Icelandic productions and provide the audience with detailed information as for why Iceland is

the place to film!

Register Here

PANELISTS

Friday Oct. 2 15:30-17:00 Leifur B. Dagfinnsson

Leifur B. Dagfinnsson, CEO and founder of TRUENORTH, has been in the international movie business for over 30 years.

Having formed close relationships with the industry’s biggest names, he is known today for films such as Star Wars: Episode VII & VIII, Rogue One, Oblivion, Flags of our fathers, Prometheus and George Clooney’s upcoming The Midnight Sky to name a few.

With experience, dedication and an impeccable instinct, Leifur has become one of Iceland’s most successful producers and continues to not only bring Hollywood to the island but also develop his own productions.

Today, TRUENORTH operates in Iceland, Norway, Finland, Spain, Greenland, the Canaries and the Faroe Islands.

Einar Hansen Tómasson

Einar Hansen Tómasson has been the Iceland Film Commissioner since 2004. He is also the Project Leader for Energy & Green Solutions at Promote Iceland.

Einar holds a BSc degree in Business and International Marketing and Masters in Project Management from the University of Reykjavik.

Laufey Guรฐjรณnsdรณttir The director of the Icelandic Film Centre since 2003.

Gudjonsdottir studied Film Theory and Spanish at the University of Copenhagen. In 1985 she joined the Icelandic national television RUV as Acquisition Executive and Sales Coordinator, a position she held for ten years. Between 1995 and 1997, she worked for Channel 3 Iceland as Programme Director, Acquisitions and Productions. She was then recruited by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture to coordinate Icelandic cultural events abroad. In 1999, she returned to RUV as Head of Acquisitions and Programming until 2003 when she joined the Icelandic Film Centre as Director.

She has been and is currently a board member of numerous arts and media bodies, both internationally and domestically.

Baltasar Kormákur Baltasar started out as an actor in the National Theater of Iceland and then directed several critically and commercially acclaimed plays in the Reykjavík Theater circuit during the 90s.

He is best known for directing the films 101 Reykjavík, The Sea, A Little Trip to Heaven (starring Julia Stiles and Forest Whitaker), a film based on the book Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason, Contraband, 2 Guns (starring Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington) and Everest.

In 2020 he has been producing and directing various Tv series in Iceland such Katla for Netflix and Trapped 3.

He is the owner and founder of Rvk Studios.

RIFF TALKS

FRIDAY Oct. 2 18:00-20:30

RIFF TALKS are a series of concise and polished presentations by established creative film professionals who are willing to share their knowledge of “how to break through “ where filmmakers & audiences would be inspired.

RIFF Talks are held in the spirit of TED Talks but with the focus on filmmaking. Each talk is given by speakers who have oversight on the issues and realize the current trends in the world of films. The talks aim to educate, inspire and motivate creatives, as well as challenge decision-makers and those in power to rethink and reflect.

The RIFF Talks end with an open discussion.

We aim for a parity 50/ 50 equal gender rate for the RIFF Talks, in the belief of generating and promoting an equity state in the industry in which men and women voices are balanced.

Confirmed Speakers: Ugla Hauksdóttir, Anita Briem, Sunneva Ása Weisshappel, Vigfús Gunnarsson and more TBC

Register Here

CONTACT INFORMATION Carolina Salas Industry producer industry@riff.is +354 771 6781 Cassandra Ruiz Industry assistant industryassist@riff.is +354 846 6694 Juliana Pezzoni PR assistant pressassist@riff.is +354 766 8517 Don’t forget to follow us for the latest #RIFF2020 news:

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Look forward to meeting you soon!