Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.09.2019, Blaðsíða 38

Moviegoers and
Fanatics Unite
It’s RIFF O’clock
Words: Tara Njála Ingvarsdóttir Photo: Art Bicnick
Movie Festival
RIFF returns for its sixteenth year
and will be held from September
26th through October 6th. The
festival offers an expansive program
of screenings, Q&A sessions, a
masterclass with legendary director
Claire Denis, and more.
The official schedule will be released
on September 16th. Get your tickets
here: https://riff.is/shop/
It’s that time of year again! The
Reykjavík International Film
Festival (RIFF) returns for its
16th year running, meaning that
it’s showcase time for Interna-
tional and local filmmaking
and storytelling at the festival’s
main hub and Reykjavík’s finest
art-house cinema Bíó Paradís.
RIFF continuously offers
film-fanatics space to stum-
ble upon and binge some of the
year’s best films. The RIFF or-
ganizers spend the year travel-
ling to film festivals creating
the schedule. “We try to get the
films that pick up the most ex-
citement at the festivals, we also
select from hundreds of applica-
tions,” shares Börkur Gunnars,
one of RIFF’s team members.
Noteworthy features include the
2019 Cannes prize Winner, “Par-
asite” directed by Bong Joon-ho
and Cannes fan-favourites like
“Lighthouse” by Daniel De Faux
and “The Dead Don’t Die” by Jim
Jarmusch, which has an all-star
cast.
Börkur continues, “We also
have many exciting documenta-
ries like ‘Push’ (2019) by Fredrik
Gertten, which follows the rental
crisis in major cit-
ies,” Börkur contin-
ues. “The mayor of
Copenhagen start-
ed making changes
to their legislation
after seeing that
one. These films
have tremendous
effects around the world.”
“Then there’s ‘Cold Case Ham-
marskjöld’ (2019), in which the
murder of the Secretary-General
of the United-Nations is inves-
tigated. The investigators solve
the crime after all these years.”
Elfar Aðalsteins’ first feature
film, “End of Sentence” (2019),
will open the festival on Sep-
tember 26th, marking the film’s
debut screening in Iceland. Elfar
and Academy-Award nominee
John Hawkes will attend the
opening and hold an audience
Q&A after the screening.
The Great Claire Denis
Every year RIFF highlights the
works of an esteemed filmmak-
er and this year Börkur takes
particular pride talking about
the VIP. “This year, French di-
rector Clare Denis is celebrated
as RIFF’s guest of honour. She’s
a French-hero.” RIFF will screen
a retrospective of her work in-
cluding, “High Light” (2018); “Let
the Sunshine In” (2017); “Nénette
and Boni” (1996) and “Chocolat“
(1988). Denis will also host a
masterclass where the audience
will have the chance to talk to
her about what drives her, gain
insight into her process and the
making of her films.
TerroRIFFic
This year, Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi
thriller “The Host” (2006) will
be re-discovered and re-appre-
ciated, if it gets too spooky you
can always take breaks and go
into the sauna. “Step into the
deep waters of Horror. It will be
terroRIFFic,” Ólafur Ásgeirsson,
this year’s swim-in
host, of the Swim-
in says mischie-
vously.
Speaking of
spooks, the RIFF
team is introduc-
ing the exciting
new horror cat-
egory, Arctic Chills, focusing
on Nordic horror and thrillers.
Including films like “Koko-
di Koko-da” (2019) directed by
award-winner Johannes Nyhold
and classics of the genre like
“Evil Ed” (1995).
Time to Wander
RIFF’s schedule is packed, you
can and you should try to nav-
igate its extensivity. While we
recommend scouring the sched-
ule and making a wish-list,
These are to be marked on your
schedules but you won’t be dis-
appointed by just stumbling in
and out of the screening rooms.,
as RIFF’s magic is to be found in
wandering between unexpect-
ed worlds. (be so bold as to toss
aside the schedule!)
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Börkur Gunnars spreads the good word
“These films
have tremen-
dous effects
around the
world.”
MORE INFORMATION AT:
centerhotels.com/centertainment_events
CENTERTAINMENT
events in the of Reykjavik
SEPTEMBER
SCHEDULE
SEP 18TH, WED | 19.00 - 21.00
BJÓR & BLÖÐ
HAPPY HOUR & BAR OFFERS
CENTERHOTEL MIÐGARÐUR
LAUGAVEGUR 120, 105 REYKJAVÍK
SEP 6TH, FRI | 18.00 - 19.30
WINE & FOOD
PAIRING - LIMITED SEATING
ÍSAFOLD RESTAURANT
ÞINGHOLTSSTRÆTI 5, 101 REYKJAVÍK
SEP 4TH, WED | 20.00 - 22.00
DRINK & DRAW
HAPPY HOUR & BAR OFFERS
CENTERHOTEL MIÐGARÐUR
LAUGAVEGUR 120, 105 REYKJAVÍK
THURSDAYS | 18.00 - 20.00
MUSIC
IN THE GARDEN
LIVE MUSIC, HAPPY HOUR & OTHER BAR OFFERS
CENTERHOTEL MIÐGARÐUR
LAUGAVEGUR 120, 105 REYKJAVÍK
ÍVAR SÍMONARSON PLAYS LIVE GUITAR
MUSIC
IN THE SKY
SATURDAYS | 18.30 - 20.30
SKÝ RESTAURANT & BAR
INGÓLFSSTRÆTI 1, 101 REYKJAVÍK