The juries have completed their work and selected the films that will compete in the short film competition Stockfish Spretfiskur 2023.

A total of 78 works were submitted to the competition and the selection was difficult for the four juries, but the following works stood out when considering all aspects.

Played material – a work of fiction:

BYLUR

In the middle of winter, Hallur and his son Áki are hunting in the Icelandic highlands when their truck breaks down, leaving them vulnerable and in need of shelter. The oncoming storm forces them to seek refuge in an abandoned mountain cabin nearby.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Óttar Thorbergsson, Fannar Birgisson. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Óttar Thorbergsson, Fannar Birgisson. LENGD: 17:56 mín.

MY PROMISED LAND

In occupied Iceland during WW2, up and coming singer Bjork performs at the forbidden underground club “Camp Tripoli” run by US Marines.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Siggi Kjartans. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Thelma Torfadóttir. LENGD: 17:17 mín

FELT CUTE

11 year old Breki is at constant odds with his older sister, but all he wants is her validation. One day when she is out, Breki sneaks into her closet and makeup, leaving the room a mess.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Anna Karin. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Erlendur Sveinsson og Kári Úlfsson. LENGD: 15 mín

POPPP

Nonni is excited for the evening. The love of his life is coming for dinner. Dinner like in the old days. But time has passed and their history and memories live only in one of them.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Signý Rós. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Einmitt einmitt. LENGD: 10 mín.

SURPRISE

Ragnar takes Hildur on a supposedly pleasant road trip on her birthday. A blinded promenade in the geothermal wilderness reveals that their love has become hellish.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Kolfinna Njálsdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Þórunn Guðjónsdóttir. LENGD: 11:26 mín

PRINSIPESA

Júlía is invited for a dinner party at her father’s house after not seeing her family for years. Her father is one of the richest men in Iceland. During the dinner party he tells them that he is dying.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Katla Gunnlaugsdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Stefán Arnar Alexandersson. LENGD: 21:04 mín. DÓMNEFND: Björn Thors, Tinna Hrafnsdóttir, Ragnheiður Erlingsdóttir 27. mars. Kl. 17:00 Bíó Paradís & Norrænahúsið 28. mars. Kl 15:00

Documentaries:

INTRUDUCING DRONEFEST

Five friends come together for a night in the studio.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Elísabet Íris Jónsdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Elísabet Íris Jónsdóttir. LENGD: 15:58 

mín

ROTTEN STRAWBERRIES

Two girlfriends talk about real emotions. One shares her darker feelings and the other offers to help her heal. That escalates to an unexpected scenario and we’re left with the question: When does our help to heal someone else become traumatic or triggering?

LEIKSTJÓRI: Thelma Marín Jónsdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Thelma Marín Jónsdóttir. LENGD: 09:34 mín

NÚMER 127

Follows a young lamb born on a rural Icelandic farm during the Icelandic lambing season. We witness the lamb’s first steps and struggle for survival, shedding light on the challenges faced by these vulnerable newborns in their early days of life.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Magdalena Ólafsdóttir. LENGD: 11:54 mín

KEEP F****** GOING

In this documentary about mental health and the relevance of friendship, the light is cast on people being vulnerable while exploring the meaning of “belonging”.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Marie Lydie Bierne. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Marie Lydie Bierne. LENGD: 27:23 mín

NÁTTÚRUVÆTTIR

Belief in elves has always persisted in Iceland. Elves have a strong relationship with nature and they teach us to respect it. Elves make life more mysterious, exciting and alive.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Þórhildur Lárensínusdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Þórhildur Lárensínusdóttir. LENGD: 10:50 mín

DÓMNEFND: Ingibjörg Halldórsdóttir, Álfrún Helga Örnólfsdóttir, Víðir Sigurðsson.

Bíó Paradís 27. mars. Kl. 19:00 & Norrænahúsið 28. mars. Kl. 17:00

Experimental work:

MOTHER MELANCHOLIA

A multi-layered portrait of four women and a eulogy for the planet set to, and inspired by Sóley’s album of the same title, a self-proclaimed soundtrack for the end of the world as we know it.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Samantha Shay. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Hallfríður Þóra Tryggvadóttir. LENGD: 29:34 mín

STEINRUNNIN (PETRIFIED)

Steinrunnin (petrified) is a lyrical exploration of collective and cultural eruptions in commemoration of Westman islands’ (Southern Iceland) volcanic outburst fiftieth anniversary.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Tonik Ensemble, Chris Paul Daniels and Anton Kaldal Ágústsson. FRAMALEIÐANDI: Ágústa Þórarinsdóttir. LENGD: 10:30 mín.

STORY OF A BLUE GIRL

Out of a magical tree a blue girl is born. A handcrafted fantasy world comes to life through stop-motion animation.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Alda Ægisdóttir. LENGD: 10:50 mín.

DUNHAGI 11

Dunhagi 11 is a short film containing three vignettes about death.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Magnús Leifsson. FRAMLEIÐANDIi: Magnús Leifsson. LENGD: 10 mín

BJÖRN KRISTLEIFS

The video is based on fourteen drawings and paintings, and four sculptures of architect Björn Kristleifs made by Trausti Valsson.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Jakob T. Arnars. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Trausti Valsson. LENGD: 5:58 mín.

DÓMNEFND: Hilke Rönnfeldt, Sunneva Weishappel, Vigdís Jakobsdóttir.

Bíó Paradís. 27. mars. Kl. 20:45 & Norrænahúsið. 28. mars. Kl. 18:45

Music Videos: 

ER ÞETTA ALLT OG SUMT?

A music video for the song: Er þetta allt og sumt? by K.óla.”

LEIKSTJÓRI: Ernir Ómarsson. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Katrín Helga Ólafsdóttir. Lengd: 3:41 mín

JELLY BELLY

About the sore numbness of hiding from one’s own feelings or covering them up in shame, the heavy burden of rigid concepts of unhealthy peer pressure are thrown overboard.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Ugla Hauksdóttir. FRAMLEIÐANDI: BSÍ. LENGD: 4:04 mín

DEVIL NEVER KILLED

Broken by a tragic loss, a young man turns to a fight club to battle his inner devil through physical violence, but he risks losing himself in the process.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Tómas Nói Emilsson. FRAMLEIÐANDI: Hermann Jónsson, Theó Paula, & Tómas Nói Emilsson. LENGD: 5:44 mín

ASGEIR – SNOWBLIND

It’s a dystopian tale about a family journeying through the mystical landscape of the Icelandic highland, escaping their past in search of a higher power.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Erlendur Sveinsson. LENGD: 4:01 mín

ON OUR KNEES

Song by Virgin Orchestra. An extraterrestrial entity, on a quest of self discovery, is influenced by the current state of the world.

LEIKSTJÓRI: Alvin Hugi Ragnarsson. LENGD: 6:06 mín

DÓMNEFND: Eilífur Örn Þrastarson, Hrefna Hagalín, Dóra Jóhannsdóttir.

Bíó Paradís 27 mars. Kl. 22:30 & Norrænahúsið 28. mars. Kl. 20:30.

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