Films from Iceland at Cannes 2024
When the Light Breaks by Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson will open the Un Certain Regard section of Cannes Film Festival 2024. This is Rúnarsson's fourth feature film and his second to premiere in Cannes.
The Icelandic Film Centre joins The Five Nordics in Cannes, representing a strong year for Nordic Cinema at the festival. A slate of new and upcoming Icelandic features, documentaries, shorts and TV series will be presented at the Nordic House in Cannes.
Here is your guide to Icelandic films in Cannes 2024 – May 14 - 25.
Un Certain Regard
When the Light Breaks (Ljósbrot)
Rúnar Rúnarsson
On a long summer's day in Reykjavik, the life of Una, a young art student, is turned upside down. From one sunset to another, when laughing turns into crying and beauty coexists with sorrow.
Sales: The Party Film Sales
Official screenings
May 15, 7:30PM | Debussy (premiere)
May 16, 8:30AM | Debussy
May 16, 4:15AM | Cineum Imax
May 17, 9:00AM | Cineum Screen X
May 18, 2:00PM | Cineum Screen X
Market screenings
May 15, 2:00PM | Palais I - Priority Badges only
May 18, 9:00AM | Arcades 1
May 21, 5:30PM | Lérins 4
Marché du Film
Grand Finale (Fullt hús)
Sigurjón Kjartansson
A chamber orchestra is in financial dire straits. To turn on the gold faucet of the sponsors, the group hires a renowned cellist to perform with them. Shiny on the surface, the cellist is rotten to his moral core. As the grand concert is being prepared, desperation grows and the members are ready to commit any crime for the concert to succeed.
Sales: Picture Tree International
Market screenings
May 19, 2:00PM | Palais I
May 20, 2:00PM | Online
Producers on the Move
Sara Nassim
S101
Producer Sara Nassim represents Iceland in this year's Producers on the Move, the networking platform for up-and-coming producers organized by European Film Promotion (EFP), which takes place annually during the Cannes Film Festival. The programme celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. 20 of Europe's most promising producers from 20 different countries will take part in the event.
New Films from Iceland
Feature:
Natatorium
By Helena Stefánsdóttir
A young girl stays with her grandparents in the city while she auditions for an art performance group. When the family, who have not met for a long time, gather to celebrate her acceptance into the group, an ugly family secret emerges and the evening ends with a tragedy that nobody could have foreseen.
Feature:
Skinny Love
By Sigurður Anton Friðþjófsson
When Emilý, a twenty-five year old content creator, learns that her long-distance girlfriend wants to move to Iceland and make their open relationship exclusive, she must face her anxieties about the future. All the while trying to support her teenaged co-worker and battle financial difficulties.
Feature documentary:
The Day Iceland Stood Still
By Pamela Hogan
On October 24, 1975, 90% of Icelandic women went on strike and showed their importance in the Icelandic economy. The day marked the beginning of Icelanders' journey towards their position on the equality scale. This is the best story you've never heard, about the power of women to transform their position in society.
Visit our works in progress section for information on Icelandic films, documentaries, shorts and TV series in production.