For its 13th edition, the Reykjavik International Film Festival (September 29-October 9) has 11 films by first and second time directors in its competition section New Visions, including Johannes Nyholm’s The Giant. On the festival’s jury are director Grímur Hákonarson , best-selling author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Gothenburg Film festival’s artistic director Jonas Lindberg.

In the Open Sea section are nine titles such as The Commune by Thomas Vinterberg, the documentary The War Show by Andreas Dalsgaard and Obaidah Zytoon, Late Summer by Henrik Martin Dahlsbakken and Pyromaniac by Erik Skjoldbjærg. Nine new feature films are screening at Icelandic Panorama, such as the world-premiere of the German/Icelandic crime Mystery of Westfjord starring Franka Potente and the documentary The Sea Within (InnSæi) by Kristín Ólafsdóttir and Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir.

The directors will take part in a panel discussion about whether film can contribute to peace, as part of the festival’s main focus on Peace and Human Rights. The seminar will be held in collaboration with Reykjavik’s newly established Peace Centre, a joint venture of the City of Reykjavik, the University of Iceland and RIFF. The popular documentary section has 16 films, including the Nordic films and co-productions White Rage, Diving into the Unknown, Cheer Up, Brothers, Bugs, The Sex Temple and Mr Gaga.

This year’s guest of honors are directors Darren Aronofsky, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Deepa Mehta and actress Chloe Sevigny.

The parallel Industry Days will be held October 06-08, 2016. For further information check: www.riff.is