11/10/2021 - Other winners at the 18th edition of the Icelandic festival included Zinder, Wild Men and Clara Sola

Jury member Trine Dyrholm handing Rafn Sigurðsson, from the Greek embassy, the Golden Puffin for Moon, 66 Questions by Jacqueline Lentzou

The 18th Reykjavik International Film Festival (30 September-10 October) wrapped on Saturday with an awards ceremony held at the city's Nordic House, which saw Greek filmmaker Jacqueline Lentzou's feature debut, Moon, 66 Questions [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacqueline Lentzou
film profile], pick up the Golden Puffin, which recognises the best film in the main competitive strand, New Visions. The film world-premiered in the Berlinale's Encounters.

In addition, the jury, comprising actresses Trine Dyrholm and Aníta Bríem, head of programming at the Thessaloniki Film Festival Yorgos Krassakopoulos, filmmaker Gagga Jónsdóttir and actor-director Gísli Örn Garðarsson, gave out two Special Mentions: to Wild Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Thomas Daneskov
film profile] by Thomas Daneskov and Clara Sola [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
film profile] by Nathalie Álvarez Mesén. The latter also won the Young People's Jury Award.

Meanwhile, Aicha Mackey's Visions du Réel entry Zinder [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aïcha Macky
film profile] triumphed in the A Different Tomorrow competition, composed of documentaries that deal with environmental and/or human rights issues.

In the International Shorts section, Swiss director Nora Longatti picked up the main award for Strangers, while France's Isabelle Prim received a Special Mention for State of Elevation. Free Men by Óskar Kristin Vignisson won in the Icelandic Shorts competition, and the Award for Best Icelandic Student Short went to Aftersight by Björn Rúnarsson. A Special Mention was handed to Ásta Sól Kristjánsdóttir for The Last Date.

Finally, in the Golden Egg selection of films from up-and-coming directors participating in the 2021 RIFF Talent Lab, the award went to Drowning Goat by Sweden's Sebastian Johansson Micci.

Here is the full list of RIFF 2021 award winners:

New Visions

Golden Puffin
Moon, 66 Questions [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Jacqueline Lentzou
film profile] - Jacqueline Lentzou (Greece/France)
Special Mentions
Wild Men [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Thomas Daneskov
film profile] - Thomas Daneskov (Denmark)
Clara Sola [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nathalie Álvarez Mesén
film profile] - Nathalie Álvarez Mesén (Belgium/Costa Rica/Germany)

Young People's Jury Award
Clara Sola - Nathalie Álvarez Mesén

A Different Tomorrow Award
Zinder [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Aïcha Macky
film profile] - Aicha Macky (France/Germany/Niger)

International Shorts Award
Strangers - Nora Longatti (Switzerland)
Special Mention
State of Elevation - Isabella Prim (France)

Icelandic Shorts Award
Free Men - Óskar Kristin Vignisson (Denmark/Iceland)

Icelandic Student Shorts Award
Aftersight - Björn Rúnarsson (Iceland)
Special Mention
The Last Date - Ásta Sól Kristjánsdóttir (Czech Republic/Iceland)

The Golden Egg Award
The Drowning Goat - Sebastian Johansson Micci (Sweden)