Dear All,
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the 9th edition of RIFF – R.E.D. International Dance, Art & Film Festival – where movement, sound, image, and place intertwine in powerful, surprising ways. Nestled by the Eina Fjord in Norway’s rural heartland, RIFF continues to grow as a space for artistic exchange and vibrant conversations across disciplines.
This year’s festival is now officially an interdisciplinary festival, combining film, dance, music and art. It unfolds through a series of curated film programs that reflect urgency, depth, and diversity. In Ardently Alive, we meet stories pulsing with emotion and bold expression. Beyond Beauty explores aesthetics that challenge norms and embrace complexity. Crucial Controversy tackles political, environmental, and social tensions head-on, a few feature films and documentary gems offers moving portraits of human experience, memory, and identity. Further on we pay tribute to artists who blend dance, film, and visual legacy into poetic forms with Art Hommage, Nordic Stories presents powerful works from the North, and Urban to Rural traces rhythms of place and movement – from cityscapes to quiet landscapes.
The visual arts program introduces Festival Artist Helga Feste Hunter’s Matriarchy. A cycle of resilience, fertility and myth that provides a deep feminine gaze through tactile print and textile works. Åse Frøyshov’s Indian Summer brings luminous colorful abstraction to the woven surface. Together, they anchor this year’s exhibitions in a tribute to life and nature.
RIFF also opens up space for performance, play, and participation. Children (and the young at heart) are invited into a magical forest with Julian Sæther’s circus show, while Justin Chirico hosts a wild, expressive painting workshop where everyone becomes an artist. In TechnoEcoFlesh, nature becomes an instrument, challenging our assumptions about technology and ecology, where the dance group Nesten Utsolgt (Almost Sold Out) will perform.
For the music lovers, Mads Gjetmundsen performs live with his full band, blending the Totning dialect with warm analog soundscapes. And for those nostalgic for sequins and swagger, Stian Olafsen & Frode Hermanrud present Shake, Rattle & Roll – a humorous, heartfelt tribute to Elvis.
This year, we also invite our guests to gather around round tables, plunge into refreshing morning baths, and share inspiring industry dinners – moments designed for exchange, reflection, and growth. We hope these settings will spark lively encounters and a heated yet enlightening panel debate on Art as Preparedness – “…then, what are we fighting for?”
Over the past nine years, RIFF has become more than a festival – it’s a gathering. A space to experience art in movement, to stretch perspectives, and to reflect on the world we’re in. We are grateful to all the artists, collaborators, and guests who shape RIFF with their vision and presence.
We warmly invite you to dive in, stay curious, and make space for new stories.
Ella Fiskum
Festival Director
Photos from RIFF 2025
film winners
The jury's remarks:
We chose this Iranian film as a prime example of excellent cinematography. The film masterfully combines expressive performative movements with a mystical tone, evoking curiosity with the arrival of a woman on horseback from the sea. Its political dimension subtly emerges in the fishermen's reaction to a vulnerable woman, offering a powerful look into Iranian culture. It stands in stark contrast to conventional American films that often follow a predictable formula. With all these virtues, The Mane is an exquisitely crafted and visually balanced film that has created its own unique cinematic style.
Short Film Winner: The Mane
The jury's remarks:
This amazing Portuguese film is a beautiful synthesis of body movement and cinematic suspense, presented in stunning black-and-white. With only two characters, it tells an eternal love story through emotionally charged and visually poetic scenes. The film's essence is found in its portrayal of forbidden love, teaching us to embrace emotion through long, beautifully composed shots. The Waning Sky is a true tribute to astonishing classical cinematography, where symphonic music, excellent imagery, and intense characters create the powerful sensation of witnessing a timeless and imposing masterpiece.
Feature Film Winner: The Waning Sky
The jury's remarks:
We were captivated by this Canadian documentary due to its relevant and interesting topic: how age impacts performers, dancers, and choreographers whose bodies are the very tools of their art. It's a charming and well-crafted film that, in a very short runtime, provides valuable insights that will allow audiences to see dance and performance through a new lens.
Documentary Winner: Dancing with Time
The jury's remarks:
"We've decided to give an honorary mention to A Dying Tree because it is a complete and compelling performative film, brought to life by a powerful actor and dancer. The film explores contrasts —man versus nature, man versus animal, man versus evolution, man versus chimpanzee— and goes beyond a mere performance. It is a fantastic experimental film that shows the dark side of humanity in a beautifully executed expressionistic way. This film is the perfect example of a powerful artistic expression and the evolution of visual language, prioritizing symbolic depth over narrative."
Honorary Mention: A Dying Tree
Program
performances, concerts & workshops
official selection
The jury
Knut Erik Jensen (NO)
Knut Erik Jensen is one of Norway’s most celebrated filmmakers, known for his impactful work in both documentary and fiction. With a career spanning decades, he has directed acclaimed series, feature films, and short films that have pushed the boundaries of Norwegian cinema.
His distinctive voice has influenced generations of filmmakers and brought experimental and modernist approaches to a broad audience. Jensen remains a vital force in shaping the narrative of Nordic film.
Ivar Sverrisson (IS/NO)
Ivar Sverrisson is an Icelandic actor based in Oslo, fluent in Icelandic, English, Spanish, and Norwegian. Educated at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts, he has worked extensively in theater, dance, and film. He is known for physically demanding roles and has performed with Jo Strømgren Kompani, The Norwegian Opera & Ballet, and national theaters in both Norway and Iceland.
As a dialect coach on HBO's Beforeigners, he guided actors in ancient Norse language. With a strong presence in the experimental scene, he also writes and directs his own work.
SPONSORS / FRIENDS / COLLABORATORS
Get in Touch
Address: Einavegen 1771, 2843 Eina, Norway
Phone: +47 915 63 424
E-mail: red.residency.danz@gmail.com