Cinema For All, And For Free: Stockfish 2025 Preview

Stockfish Film & Industry Festival is bringing an international programme to Reykjavík

“This year, we decided to sharpen the focus a bit further — we would like to situate ourselves on the border of cinema and other arts, such as music and other art forms,” says Dögg Mósesdóttir, Festival Director of the Stockfish Film & Industry Festival. Although newly appointed as the festival director, Dögg was part of the founding board nearly a decade ago.

In 2025, the festival will bring 30 international titles to Reykjavík, most of which have never been shown in Iceland before. And the best part for cinephiles? All screenings are completely free.

Opening doors

Stockfish first tested the waters with free screenings last year as a special treat for its 10th anniversary — and it was an overwhelming success. “We had such an increase in cinema-goers,” Dögg proudly exclaims. “A lot of young people came that normally can’t afford to go to the cinema every day. But they were there for the whole festival or almost the whole festival. The cinema was full the whole time!”

Dögg highlights that by offering free screenings once again, the festival aims to start a conversation about the increasing inaccessibility of cinema today, while also providing a “pay what you can” option for those who wish to contribute. “It’s basically free, but if you want to donate to the festival, you can do so through tix.is,” she explains.

The festival’s honorary guest this year is Floria Sigismondi, whose music video portfolio includes David Bowie, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, and Iceland’s own Björk and Sigur Rós. “She’s a legendary music video director but she also does painting, and experimental and narrative films,” says Dögg. Stockfish will screen Floria’s 2010 coming-of-age drama The Runaways about an eponymous 1970s girl band, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. The screening will be followed by a Q&A.

Still from Queer

Hand-picked films

Speaking about the programme, Dögg confidently says, “We’ve curated an amazing programme. I’ve seen like 90% of the films. There won’t be a disappointment, whatever you choose.”

The festival opens with Storm Alerts by Denmark-based director Bergur Bernburg. In Dögg’s words, it “dances on the border of documentary and fiction,” following Icelandic scholar Dr. Marteinn Helgi Sigurðsson as his world goes upside down after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

“And afterwards, we’re going to auction a statue of David Lynch.”

This year’s country focus is Italy, bringing timeless films like Cinema Paradiso to the festival’s programme. “Italy has great cinema history, amazing food and culture that we want to celebrate and also just bring a little bit of warmth into this cold and scary world, you know?,” says Dögg. “It’s a good contrast with all the other things that are happening around the world.”

And by “other things,” Dögg, of course, means the political instability and harrowing events happening. “The state of affairs in the world is always something you consider when curating a festival,” she says. A major theme this year is LGBTQIA+ representation, with premieres like Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. As an industry festival, Stockfish also features workshops and panels, including one focused on inclusion.

Among Dögg’s personal recommendations is Intercepted, directed by Oksana Karpovych. The film shows the stark reality of war-torn Ukraine, mixed with intercepted phone calls between Russian soldiers and their families. “You really get into the mindset of the Russians and the propaganda they’ve been fed,” she says. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

The official programme is rounded out by Shortfish, a short film competition, and a works-in-progress section.

In memoriam

In a tribute to David Lynch, who passed away in January, Stockfish is screening David Lynch: The Art Life, a documentary where the director reflects on his upbringing and how it influenced his creative process. Additionally, a selection of his short films will be shown, followed by a Q&A with poet Sjón and Sigurjón Sighvatsson, Lynch’s collaborator and Icelandic producer. “And afterwards, we’re going to auction a statue of David Lynch,” adds Dögg.

Another screening honours the memory of film critic and poet Ásgeir Ingólfsson, who passed away suddenly earlier this year. “He was a regular at every film festival and he’s greatly missed,” says Dögg. Ásgeir’s favourite Czech film, Waves, a historical thriller set during the Prague Spring, will be screened. All ticket proceeds from this screening will go to Ásgeir’s memorial fund, which aims to preserve his work.

Along with its exciting lineup of hand-picked films, Stockfish offers a platform for networking with industry experts, regardless of your experience level. And after the screenings, you can join the afterparties — like the one with director Árni Sveinsson DJing film music at Kaffibarrinn.

“There’s a lot to choose from every day. But the thing is, we don’t always have two screenings, sometimes we only have one,” says Dögg. “So people really have to stay alert.”

Stockfish runs from April 3rd-13th at Bíó Paradís. Screenings are free or PWYC.

See the full festival programme here: stockfishfestival.is