It’s a wrap for the tenth edition of the Stockfish Film & Industry Festival, which ran in Reykjavik from 4-14 April. The Icelandic gathering, which includes a selection of features and a rich industry sidebar, hosts a competitive section for Icelandic shorts called Shortfish. Shortfish is made up of four different strands – Narrative, Documentary, Experimental and Creative Music Videos.

Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter’s Fár was crowned with the Award for Best Narrative Short. According to jurors Silja Hauksdóttir, Þorvaldur Davíð Kristjánsson and María Reyndal, the short shows “sensitivity and boldness in approach, and raises relevant questions about contemporary culture and ethics, allowing the audience to interpret [them] freely.

“The cinematography, sound design and overall art design, along with the multifaceted performance, all support the artistic vision at the core of the work, which becomes both ambiguous and clear at the same time. The director skilfully exploits the magic of form to the utmost degree, and transcends its boundaries with rich content and nuance”, the statement continues. Fár also received the Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking, a new prize for creators in the shorts programme. It is designed to honour the legacy of the acclaimed Icelandic filmmaker and producer who passed away last June after her battle with cancer.

Next, the Award for Best Documentary Short went to Rakel Jónsdóttir, director of Empath Fridges. “With an academic background and artistic approach, the director has made an inspiring and thought-provoking film that touches upon the subject of humanity in urban society. Can we heal something that we have lost via sharing food on a daily basis with people we have never met? Empath Fridges is a research-based short documentary that, with the open and artistic approach of director Rakel Jónsdóttir, sheds light on the culture of empath fridges in Iceland. The film is a pleasure to watch and leaves the audience meditating on small solutions to enormous problems, such as that of food waste,” reads the official statement. The jury was made up of Jörundur Ragnarsson, Daiga Livcane and Helga Rakel Rafnsdóttir.

Alda Ægisdóttir’s Soulmates snagged the Award for Best Experimental Short. The picture drew the jurors into “a primitive yet strangely familiar world. […] We were enveloped in a wonderful spectacle of colours and organic elements, charmed by the beings that we encountered and in awe of the intimate interactions between the lifeforms. We were faced with our own feelings toward our soulmates, both an ancient and a modern concept, and we felt the creator managed to achieve what we expect from experimental filmmakers,” said jurors Helena Jónsdóttir, Thomas Brennan and Gústav Geir Bollason.

Finally, the Award for Best Music Video went to Snæfríður Sól Gunnarsdóttir, the director of the video for alt-synth rock band Flesh Machine’s song “Problems”. “This audiovisual piece is unique and engaging, marked by its playful nature and relatability. It stands out by reducing social tensions, and offering a clear and engaging story set in a relatable yet enjoyable setting, filled with characters that are both realistic and intriguingly odd. This work leaves a gentle but lasting impact, memorable long after you've watched it. This imperfectly sincere video draws out the positive emotion from beginning to end,” stated jurors Ninna Pálmadóttir, Vytautas Dambrauskas and Katrín Björgvinsdóttir.

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

Best Narrative Short
Fár - Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter (Iceland)

Best Documentary Short
Empath Fridges - Rakel Jónsdóttir (Iceland)

Best Experimental Short
Soulmates - Alda Ægisdóttir (Iceland)

Best Music Video
“Problems” by Flesh Machine – Snæfríður Sól Gunnarsdóttir (Iceland)

Eva Maria Daniels Award for Vital Filmmaking
Fár - Gunnur Martinsdóttir Schlüter