Icelandic films in Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival - world premiere of QUAKE
Quake by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir will have its world premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival which takes place from November 12 - 28 in Estonia.
A total of four Icelandic films will be screened at the festival; Quake by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir; Birta by Bragi Thór Hinriksson; Lamb by Valdimar Jóhannsson; Heartless by Haukur Björgvinsson.
Quake will be screened in the festival's Current Waves section. The film is written and directed by Tinna Hrafnsdóttir and it is her debut feature film. The film is based on a novel by Audur Jónsdóttir and tells the story of Saga, a single mother in her late 30s. She recovers from a sudden and severe epileptic attack, repressed memories start to return, revealing painful truths about her and her past. The film stars Aníta Briem, Edda Björgvinsdóttir and Jóhann Sigurdsson. The film is produced by Hlín Jóhannesdóttir for Ursus Parvus.
Birta will be screening in the Children's Competition Programme and compete for the ECFA Award. Birta tells the story of the strong and responsible Birta. She seeks ways to raise money after overhearing her mother worrying about financial problems and not being able to afford the family Christmas. But it's not so easy when you're only 11 years old. The film was written by Helga Arnardóttir and directed by Bragi Thór Hinriksson. They are also the producers of the film for H.M.S. Productions.
Lamb will be screened in the Discovery Showcase section at the festival. Discovery Showcase is a new initiative set up this year by the Black Nights Film Festival in collaboration with the European Film Academy and FIPRESCI to highlight the six directors nominated for the European Discovery 2021 – Prix FIPRESCI for their first full-length feature film.
Lamb was directed by Valdimar Jóhannsson, written by Jóhannsson and the acclaimed Icelandic poet, novelist, and screenwriter Sjón. The film is an Iceland/Sweden/Poland coproduction and Icelandic producers are Hrönn Kristinsdóttir and Sara Nassim at Go to Sheep.
The Icelandic short film Heartless is in the festival's Shorts Live-Action Competition. The film tells the story of a young couple, Anna and Gunnar. They live in a society in which people are assigned new spouses by lottery every seven years. When it comes time for them to get new spouses, they are full of heartache, anxiety, and fear. The film is written and directed by Haukur Björgvinsson and produced by Tinna Proppé and Björgvinsson for Reykjavík Rocket.