07/10/2024 - The first solo feature by Japan’s Kohei Igarashi has won the New Visions competition at the 21st edition of the gathering, while A Different Tomorrow saw the victory of A New Kind of Wilderness

After its 21st edition, which invited South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari, her Swedish counterpart Jonas Åkelund and legendary German actress Nastassja Kinski as guests of honour, the Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF), directed by Hrönn Marinósdóttir and with Frédéric Boyer in charge of the artistic direction, has wrapped and unveiled its winners for 2024.

In the main New Visions competition, dedicated to first and second features, the French-Japanese co-production Super Happy Forever [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kohei Igarashi
film profile] by Kohei Igarashi (which was first revealed in the Venice Film Festival’s Giornate degli Autori) walked away with the Golden Puffin, handed out by a jury comprising Ava Cahen, Elad Samorzik and Ingvar Sigurõsson.

A Special Mention was bestowed upon Norway’s Helga Guren for her performance in Loveable [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lilja Ingolfsdottir
film profile] by her fellow countrywoman Lilja Ingolfsdottir (Jury Prize, Best Actress Award and Europa Cinemas Label at Karlovy Vary this year).

Meanwhile, the winner of the A Different Tomorrow competition was deemed to be the documentary A New Kind of Wilderness [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Norway’s Silje Evensmo Jacobsen (Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival back in January).

Here is the full list of winners:

New Visions

Golden Puffin
Super Happy Forever [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Kohei Igarashi
film profile] - Kohei Igarashi (France/Japan)
Special Mention
Helga Guren - Loveable [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Lilja Ingolfsdottir
film profile] (Norway)

A Different Tomorrow

A Different Tomorrow Prize
A New Kind of Wilderness [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Silje Evensmo Jacobsen (Norway)

Young People’s Jury Award
G-21 Scenes from Gottsunda - Loran Batti (Sweden/Denmark)

International Short-film Competition

Best International Short Film
The Exploding Girl - Caroline Poggi, Jonathan Vinel (France)

Icelandic Short Film Competition

Jury Prize
The Bride - Hjördís Jóhannsdóttir
Special Mention of the Icelandic Short Film Jury
Blue Boy - Nikulás Tumi Hlynsson

Icelandic Student Short Film Competition

Best Icelandic Student Short Film
Sleepwalker - Alfreð Hrafn Magnússon
Special Mention for Icelandic Student Short Film
Game Over - Salvör Bermann

RIFF Talent Lab

Golden Egg
A Good Day Will Come - Amir Zargara (Iran/Canada)

(Translated from French)