The 18th edition of Iceland’s Skjaldborg Festival unfolded from 6-9 June in Patreksfjörður, a quaint village with a population of 700 nestled in the remote Westfjords peninsula. Held annually over the Whitsun weekend since its founding in 2007, Skjaldborg serves as a dedicated platform for the premieres of Icelandic documentaries, cementing its role as a vital hub for the country’s non-fiction community.

This year, the festival paid poignant homage to late Icelandic critic and journalist Ásgeir Ingólfsson, who passed away in January. Ásgeir was not only an influential voice in Icelandic cinema, but was also the subject of one of the work-in-progress projects pitched during the festival, titled The Cultural Smuggler, produced and directed by Jón Bjarki Magnússon and Haukur Már Helgason.

To honour his legacy, Skjaldborg introduced the Ásgeirinn Award, bestowed for the first time upon the festival’s most loyal viewer – a tribute to Ásgeir’s steadfast presence throughout every edition.

The gathering also revealed the winners of its core awards. The Skjaldborg Audience Award, known as Einarinn, went to The Farmer and the Factory, a compelling portrayal of a farmer from Hvalfjörður locked in a David-and-Goliath struggle against bureaucratic indifference and industrial domination. Directed by Barði Guðmundsson and Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir, and produced by Hrafnhildur’s Krumma Films, the pic resonated deeply with viewers.

The Skjaldborg Jury Prize for feature-length documentary, Ljóskastarann, was awarded to Amateur’s Paradise, a heartfelt and humorous film by Janus Bragi Jakobsson and producer Tinna Ottesen, of Stefnuljós. The film offers an intimate glimpse into the lives of Icelandic men from four generations sharing their experiences on YouTube, blending family moments, opera singing and candid reflections.

As for documentary shorts, the jury honoured Undefeated with the Skjaldan Prize. Helmed by Jóna Gréta Hilmarsdóttir, the film follows her father, Hilmar Pál Jóhannesson, as he engages in a prolonged and personal battle with the City of Reykjavík over a disputed plot of land in Gufunes.

The festival jury consisted of distinguished figures from the documentary and programming world: Maks Piłasiewicz, a production manager and festival programmer with experience across European film festivals; Ása Baldursdóttir, programme director at Bíó Paradís and a stalwart of the Icelandic arthouse scene; and Sighvatur Ómar Kristinsson, an award-winning editor with two decades of experience and a rich background in documentary film editing.

Notably, Skjaldborg’s guest of honour was Italian director Alessandra Celesia. With a background in literature and drama, Celesia has made significant contributions to theatre and non-fiction filmmaking in Northern Ireland and Italy. On 7 June, Colm O’Herlihy moderated a talk with Celesia, following the screening of her acclaimed feature The Flats [+lire aussi :
critique
interview : Alessandra Celesia
fiche film], which has already garnered major accolades, including the top prize at CPH:DOX 2024 and Documentary of the Year at the Irish Film Academy Awards.

Skjaldborg’s partners include the Icelandic Film Centre, the Westfjords Regional Culture Fund, the Westfjords Energy Company, Vesturbyggd municipality, Kukl, Trickshot, Phantom Music & Sound, Film in Iceland and the National Film Archive of Iceland.

Here is the list of this year’s award winners:

Skjaldborg Audience Award
The Farmer and the Factory - Barði Guðmundsson, Hrafnhildur Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland)

Skjaldborg Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature
Amateur’s Paradise - Janus Bragi Jakobsson (Iceland)

Skjaldborg Jury Prize for Best Documentary Short
Undefeated - Jóna Gréta Hilmarsdóttir (Iceland)