14/04/2025 - The Icelandic festival wrapped in Reykjavík on Sunday, after handing out a flurry of awards

The Icelandic Stockfish Film & Industry Festival (3-13 April) wrapped on Sunday, with Honorary Awards going to Floria Sigismondi and Dóra Einars. Short films were also noticed, with the Best Fiction Award going to the coming-of-age drama In Rhythm by Hanna Hulda Hafþórsdóttir. It was also given the Eva Maria Daniels Award, celebrating the producer who passed away in 2023 – and coming with 1.5 million Icelandic Króna (roughly €10,350) towards developing the director’s next project. A Special Mention went to Merki by Rúnar Ingi Einarsson.

Godspeed by Klāvs Liepiņš took home the Award for Best Experimental Short, and Magnús Leifsson picked up Best Music Video for Úlfur Úlfur’s “Myndi Falla”. Bókin by Flóki Larsen was named Best Documentary Short, and a Special Mention in that category went to Ég er bara Elma by Elma Dís Davíðsdóttir.

Acclaimed Italian-Canadian director and photographer Sigismondi, known for Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart, as well as for her groundbreaking music videos, picked up her own trophy. She was called a “trailblazer” by managing director Dögg Mósesdóttir. “She’s been especially important for female filmmakers and weirdos like me who are longing for something different. Something a little darker and more twisted than what mainstream cinema had to offer. Floria finds the beauty in darkness and brings it up to the surface so that we can see the light.”

Throughout her career, Sigismondi has collaborated with the likes of Rihanna, Björk, David Bowie and The White Stripes. One of her recent music videos, for Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ “Unholy”, received five MTV VMA nominations.

“I’d like to say something to the young filmmakers here in this room. I use art to learn about myself and the world around me. There’s nothing more magical than seeing an image in your mind’s eye and watching it come to life. It never fails to thrill me,” she said. “Stay excited, break boundaries, and don’t be afraid to be strange.”

The festival also gave out its second-ever Icelandic Honorary Award, intended to “lift up people who often go unnoticed in the film industry. People who work behind the scenes, not only fighting for our projects, but also fighting for our rights,” noted Mósesdóttir. It went to artistic director, costume designer and producer Dóra Einars (Einarsdóttir).

“I come from a family that was against me going into the art world. My father asked: ‘Dora, can’t you be an artist on weekends and have a normal job during the week?’ I said, ‘Daddy, I have my wings. I need to fly.’ Luckily, I’ve had to ask for a job only three times in my life. Wherever I am in the world, my work comes to me,” Einars shared with the audience, underlining that while working, she’s not afraid to do “everything that needs to be done”.

“I wash the dishes; I clean the floor. If the coffee machine is empty in a tent in Morocco or up on the glacier, I’ll make the coffee for my friends that I work with because I respect them. Film is a very hard job. You are like a fisherman. You stay away from your family and your friends for many, many months. You need to be tough. If you want to become a filmmaker, don’t be a snob. Do what needs be done.”

Just like Madonna.

“When I was in New York, Madonna was still cleaning the tables and picking up glasses. We all had five or six jobs. That’s how you become a filmmaker: you start from the bottom and build yourself up. Don’t start by saying: ‘I won’t do the dishes, because I’m a director.’ And remember to stick together because that’s how we move mountains and glaciers.”

Here is the full list of award winners:

Best Short
In Rhythm – Hanna Hulda Hafþórsdóttir (Iceland)
Special Mention
Merki - Rúnar Ingi Einarsson (Iceland)

Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking
In Rhythm - Hanna Hulda Hafþórsdóttir

Best Documentary Short
Bókin - Flóki Larsen (Iceland)
Special Mention
Ég er bara Elma - Elma Dís Davíðsdóttir (Iceland)

Best Experimental Short
Godspeed - Klāvs Liepiņš (Iceland)

Best Music Video
Úlfur Úlfur’s “Myndi Falla” - Magnús Leifsson (Iceland)

Honorary Award
Floria Sigismondi

Icelandic Honorary Award
Dóra Einars