Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.06.2017, Síða 65

Fuelling Creativity In
Patreksfjörður
Skjaldborg is a film festival for the curious
Words: Alice Demurtas Photo: Art Bicnick
If there is one thing Icelanders
are masters at, it’s organising a
festival. Music, film and art fairs
pop up regularly on the country’s
event calendar, and though you
don’t need an excuse to go out
with friends, drink and experi-
ence something different, it ’s
even better if you can enjoy mu-
sic or watch a good movie in the
bargain. Granted, some types of
visual arts are a little more niche
and don’t attract as much atten-
tion as Airwaves, but sometimes
that’s for the best. Smaller local
festivals gain charm from their
reclusiveness and can become a
great source of inspiration for all
participants.
Such is the case with Skjald-
borg, the only film festival in
Iceland that focuses on Icelan-
dic documentaries, which will
be held in Patreksfjörður for the
11th time over the first weekend
of June. “It’s kind of a family re-
union,” Helga Rakel Rafnsdóttir,
one of the organisers, tells me.
“It’s a unique meeting point for
people, just to be together, share
knowledge and even start collabo-
rations.”
A young Icelandic filmmaker,
Helga Rakel got involved with
the festival when she made her
first documentary in 2008. So
did Kristín Andrea Þórðardóttir,
a fellow organiser. “We both came
to the festival with a film and have
been coming ever since,” Kristin
says. “You kind of get hooked!”
On a roll
Helga Rakel and Kristín Andrea
have recently taken over the man-
agement of the festival, and have
been working hard ever since to
bring some interesting innovation.
Since Skjaldborg was founded in
the eponymous cinema in Patreks-
fjörður, the audience has had the
privilege to vote for the best docu-
mentary and assign it an award.
This year, however, a panel of judg-
es that includes an international
movie producer and two Icelandic
filmmakers will oversee an addi-
tional jury prize. Considering that
the festival also includes a dance,
a master class and, most impor-
tantly, the opportunity to network,
Skjaldborg has quickly become a
must-attend event for any ambi-
tious filmmaker.
Add to the program the pres-
ence of the guests of honour,
video artists Steina and Woody
Vasulka, and the mix suddenly
becomes explosive. “I think Ice-
landers are waking up to the fact
that they have a true treasure in
the Vasulkas,” Kristín affirms.
“They have an immense legacy
of work dating back to the 60s
and they have often been con-
templating what would become
of it. Steina is just coming home
with her legacy and I just think
it’s time.”
In addition to their master
class, the president of the Na-
tiona l Ga l ler y of Iceland has
curated a selection of works to
be showcased in a design stu-
dio just outside of town. “Aron
Ingi and Julie, who have recently
moved to Patreksfjörður and are
helping organising the festival,
have been working really hard
to finish the house in order to
accommodate it,” Kristín says
w ith a smi le. “In addition to
this, a documentary is also be-
ing made about the Vasulkas and
it will be showcased as a work-
in-progress. So it will be a good
chance for people to familiarise
themselves with their life and
their work.”
Keeping it local
The sense of community evoked by
Kristín and Helga Rakel is power-
ful. “We have often talked about
getting more audience or more
fi lms,” long-term contributor
Janus Bragi tells me. “However I
think the festival is good as it is
and where it is, in Patreksfjörður.
It’s 300 people travelling together,
in a theatre, partying, eating and
drinking together and talking
about documentaries.”
“Yes, if it were held in Reykjavík,
there wouldn’t be the same sense
of camaraderie and knowledge
sharing that there is now,” echoes
Kristín.
There is an interesting duality
in the festival’s atmosphere. Clear-
ly, there is a small international as-
pect to it, with the movies bearing
English subtitles and most guests
of honour having been members of
the international art scene. Never-
theless, the cosmopolitan does not
take over.
“It sound as if we’re coming
from Reykjavík to the Westfjords
and we put up a festival like invad-
ers, take over the place and then
go,” Janus explains. “But last year
for example, when we had a beach
party, the locals and the partici-
pants suddenly jelled together. Ev-
erybody stayed up until five or six
dancing on the beach. It was magi-
cal, even though it was completely
outside of the theatre experience.”
Sharing stories and fuelling
creativity at the edge of the world
seems even more spellbinding
when Janus and Kristín describe
it. Does the future hold even more
magical surprises? “The founders
have recently handed us over their
baby,” Kristín tells me earnestly.
“We just want to make a really
great festival even better. What we
truly want is to bring this baby into
adulthood.” With that dedication
and an everlasting twinkle in their
eyes, this team seems more than
up to the challenge of introducing
Skjaldborg to a new phase of its life.
Skjaldborg will be held in Patreks-
fjörður from June 2nd to 5th.
65The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 09 — 2017
FILM
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