08/10/2025 - Cineuropa takes a closer look at five promising Northern European projects unveiled during this year’s Icelandic gathering

Death of a Horse by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson and Óskar Þór Axelsson (© ACT4)

Held on 3 October, the Reykjavík International Film Festival’s (RIFF’s) Work in Progress Showcase presented a wide array of projects at different stages of development, offering a glimpse into the next wave of Northern European cinema. This year’s line-up included projects from Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Sápmi, Germany and Switzerland. The session was moderated by RIFF’s head of programming, Frédéric Boyer. In this article, we take a closer look at five of the ten projects unveiled at the Icelandic gathering.

Grave – Pietro and Anna Pieri Zuercher (Switzerland/Estonia)
The feature, a darkly comic road movie directed by Swiss duo Pietro and Anna Pieri Zuercher, is being staged by Michela Pini and Olga Lamontanara, of Cinédokké, in co-production with Allfilm and Turnus Film. Set in the fictional Swiss village of Hoftür, the film follows Gunnar, a grieving gravedigger who, after accidentally killing the corrupt mayor, embarks on a surreal journey to return the corpse. He soon crosses paths with Heinz, a hitman fleeing from a botched job. The two men – opposites in every sense – are drawn into an absurd adventure pursued by thugs, a blind priest and a bumbling policeman, while Gunnar begins to question his desire for death and Heinz confronts his own violent past.

Described by the filmmakers as a “bromance born of death”, Grave mixes existential despair with absurdist humour and visual flair. “Death is everywhere, but it’s also the thread that connects two lost souls who find friendship in chaos,” said the directors. The project, budgeted at €4.5 million, has secured €3 million in confirmed financing and is seeking a third co-production partner, as well as world sales and streaming partners.

Porcelain – Ann Holmgren Aurebekk (Sweden/Norway)
Porcelain is the new documentary by Swedish-Sámi filmmaker Ann Holmgren Aurebekk, produced by Andreas Emanuelsson and Tony Österholm, of Iris Film. The story follows Eliel, a man saved as a baby from his dying mother’s womb, who returns to his indigenous community to learn about his mum and, ultimately, himself. Blending documentary and poetic imagery, the film reflects on life, death, belonging and creative rebirth.

“Through Eliel’s eyes, we explore themes of personal struggle, asking what truly matters when everything feels uncertain,” says Holmgren Aurebekk in her director’s statement. “I want to create a poetic film that captures the unique Sámi environment – the vast landscapes and intimate family moments,” she adds.

Currently in development, Porcelain has €475,000 confirmed out of a €1.09 million budget, and is seeking financial partners, sales agents and festivals. Its tone and subject position it within the growing Nordic trend of personal, hybrid documentaries rooted in indigenous storytelling.

Under Endless Skies – Katrine Eichberger, Nikolas Mühe (Germany/Iceland)
Perhaps one of the showcase’s most visually ambitious projects, Under Endless Skies follows two forty-something women, Freyja and Ivy, on a road trip around Iceland that turns into a surreal and emotional journey of self-discovery. Helmed and produced by Katrine Eichberger and Nikolas Mühe via their Berlin-based outfit Telling Stories Productions, the feature blends magical realism, grief and female friendship, as mystical encounters blur the line between life and loss.

“The film celebrates Iceland’s grandeur – its landscapes, sounds, folklore, and the originality of its people – balanced with intimate human moments, offering an immersive, and emotionally and spiritually resonant journey,” say the duo in their directors’ statement.

The project, selected for the upcoming edition of the TorinoFilmLab, is budgeted at €4.5 million and is currently seeking co-production, distribution and festival partners. With its mixture of genre, mysticism and emotional realism, Under Endless Skies promises to appeal to both arthouse audiences and festival selectors.

A Year Without Summer – Flurin Giger (Switzerland/Germany)
Swiss actor-turned-director Flurin Giger presented A Year Without Summer, a historical survival drama inspired by the global aftermath of the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, which led to the so-called “year without summer” in Europe.

Through the eyes of a young farmer’s daughter and her family, the film captures the despair, hunger and resilience of those facing the last great famine in European history. Produced by Aline Schmid and Cécile Tollu-Polonowski, of Beauvoir Films, the project draws parallels between past and present climate crises.

“Climate change, hunger, displacement, faith and death are not only topics of the 19th century. They are contemporary, constantly present in the flow of images and news flickering across our mobile screens,” says Giger. “What happened back then is by no means over. I want to make this film because I am convinced that looking at the past gives us a sharper view of the present.”

Currently in development, with €280,000 confirmed of a €3 million budget, the production is seeking a Scandinavian co-producer. Its austere tone and visual ambition suggest a work poised for high-profile festival exposure upon completion in 2026/2027.

Death of a Horse – Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson, Óskar Þór Axelsson (Iceland)
Directed by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson (Under the Tree [+see also:
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trailer
interview: Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson
film profile], Either Way [+see also:
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interview: Hafstein Gunnar Sigurdsson
interview: Hilmar Gudjônsson - Shootin…
film profile]) and Óskar Þór Axelsson (Black’s Game [+see also:
trailer
film profile], I Remember You, Trapped), the six-part crime-drama series delves into the competitive and eccentric world of Icelandic horse riding, centring on a woman who investigates the mysterious death of her champion horse after police dismiss her claims.

Produced by Jonas Marberg, of ACT4, the project boasts a €7 million budget and is already in production (see the news), with a release expected later this year. Blending Nordic noir, social satire and rural realism, the series continues Iceland’s strong tradition of high-quality scripted content with international appeal.