Friday, November 20, 2015
Artistic Achievement Award in Thessaloniki
Thursday, November 5, 2015
A triumph in Mostra
The film "Sparrows" by the Danish / Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson, was the big winner of the 39th the São Paulo International Film Festival.
"Sparrows" was awarded the jury prize for best film and also the best screenplay, given by the Association of Film Authors.
More info
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Official Competition in Les Arcs
A tempting seventh edition for Les Arcs
by Fabien Lemercier / cineuropa
- The Les Arcs European Film Festival has unveiled a tantalising programme for its seventh edition, which will take place from 12-19 December 2015
Very popular with European industry professionals and a highly effective springboard for launching co-productions and promoting movies (as proven by recent titles Son of Saul [+],Sparrows [+] and The High Sun [+], all of which were funnelled through the alpine resort at one stage or another of their production process), the Les Arcs European Film Festival has revealed the mouth-watering programme for its seventh edition (12-19 December 2015).
Selected by artistic director Frédéric Boyer, the features in competition for the Crystal Arrow 2015 include Sparrows by Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson (which won at San Sebastián), Chevalier [+]by Greek filmmaker Athina Rachel Tsangari (unveiled in competition at Locarno, going on to win awards at London and Sarajevo), Venice competition entries A Bigger Splash [+] by Italy’s Luca Guadagnino and 11 Minutes [+] byJerzy Skolimowki, Family Film [+] by Slovenia’s Olmo Omerzu, and four titles that turned a lot of heads at Toronto: Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) by French director Eva Husson (read the article), The Ardennes [+] by Belgian filmmaker Robin Pront, the British-Franco-Belgian film Couple in a Hole [+] by Tom Geens (which won at Dinard) and the French production Parisienne by Lebanese director Danielle Arbid (read the article). We should also point out that a tenth movie is due to round off the competition shortly. MORO INFO
Friday, October 30, 2015
Official selection
Sparrows will be in the main competition at this year’s Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which takes place between the 6 -15 of November
More info
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Competition in Tallinn
Sparrows has been selected to the competition the 15th edition of Just film festival that will be held from 13-22 November 2015 in Tallinn
more info
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Sparrows will be screened at the 29th Braunschweig International Film Festival (2.-8. November). More info
The Zagreb premiere in 13th ZFF’s competition
Official competition
Sunday, October 25, 2015
SPARROWS wins at Chicago International Film Festival
Sparrows, Rúnar Rúnarsson's most recent feature, has won the Silver Hugo award in the New Directors competition at the 51st Chicago International Film Festival. This continues a strong opening festival run for Sparrows. It recently won the Golden Shell award for Best Film at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and best film in the 1-2 Competition at the Warsaw Film Festival, following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist
"Festival of Festivals” is a traditional Molodist program, which includes this year’s prize winners at the biggest festivals in the world" The program will open with “Dheepan” by the cult French director Jacques Audiard - winner of the “Golden Palm” at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. "
“Aferim!” by Radu Jude won in the category “Best Director” at this year’s Berlinale.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (USA), winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance International Film Festival.
“Bob and the Trees” by Diego Ongaro received the Grand Prix at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
“Mustang” by Deniz Gamze Ergüven was presented in the “Directors forthnight” at the Cannes Film Festival, where it received aEuropa Cinemas Label Award.
The second feature film by Rúnar Rúnarsson “Sparrows” graces this year’s “Festival of Festivals” as a winner of the San Sebastian Festival. Some time ago Rúnarsson debuted at Molodist with his film “Volcano”.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Sparrows by Rúnar Rúnarsson is in the narrative film competition of the 57th Nordic Film Days in Lübeck. More info
Competition in São Paulo
The screenings dates are:
Winner of 1-2 Competition in Warsaw
The Jury members of 1-2 Competition at the 31st Warsaw Film Festival: Katarzyna Jungowska (Poland), Zornitsa Sophia (Bulgaria), Elad Keidan (Israel) gave the award to:
SPARROWS / WRÓBLE, dir. Rúnar Rúnarsson (Iceland, Denmark, Croatia)
"For it's masterfully and poetically crafted journey of an anti-hero, up to an unforgettable humanistic ending."
More info
SPARROWS wins Best Film at San Sebastián
Sparrows, Rúnar Rúnarsson's most recent feature, has won the Golden Shell award for Best Film at the prestigious San Sebastián International Film Festival in Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain. Rúnarsson, along with producer Mikkel Jersin and co-producer Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir, accepted the award at the festival's closing ceremony on September 26.
More info
44th Festival du nouveau cinéma
Sparrows, an Icelandic-Danish-Croatian coproduction that recently awarded Best Film at the San Sebastian Film Festival, directed by Runar Runarsson, will be screened in the Panorama programme.
More info
Thursday, September 24, 2015
SPARROWS by Rúnar Rúnarsson is one of 16 titles that will take part in
1-2 Competition for the best debut or second feature film at 31st Warsaw
Film Festival. The International Jury consisting of
1-2 Competition for the best debut or second feature film at 31st Warsaw
Film Festival. The International Jury consisting of
- Katarzyna Jungowska, director and producer from Poland,
winner of Janusz "Kuba" Morgenstern "Perspective" Award for the film '
Fanciful' (WFF 2014)
winner of Janusz "Kuba" Morgenstern "Perspective" Award for the film '
Fanciful' (WFF 2014)
- Zornitsa Sophia, the director from Bulgaria, her directorial debut,
'Mila from Mars' (WFF 2004) won the Grand Prix in Sarajevo,
and several other awards;
'Mila from Mars' (WFF 2004) won the Grand Prix in Sarajevo,
and several other awards;
- Elad Keidan, writer and director from Israel,
winner of the Cinefondation Competition at Cannes (2008);
his feature debut 'Afterthought' premiered this year in Cannes, and will
participate at the WFF in uncompetitive Special Screenings section;.
winner of the Cinefondation Competition at Cannes (2008);
his feature debut 'Afterthought' premiered this year in Cannes, and will
participate at the WFF in uncompetitive Special Screenings section;.
Friday, September 11, 2015
OFFICIAL SELECTION IN CHICAGO
The longest running competitive film festival in North America , The Chicago International Film Festival (Oct 15-29, 2015) announced that Sparrows is in the lineup for its New Directors Competition.
“For over 50 years the Chicago International Film Festival has been devoted to the discovery of new voices in filmmaking. This competition truly embodies that spirit,” says Programming Director Mimi Plauché. “The New Directors Competition is always very exciting, as it showcases rising talents from around the world.”
"Another one that I was so thrilled about — it just had its world premiere at San Sebastian — is Sparrows. We have three great Icelandic films this year, actually, and this is one of them. Did you see Volcano? It's Rúnar Rúnarsson. It was one of my favorite films that year, so it's his next film. It's a coming-of-age story about a teenage boy who gets dropped in small town Iceland. It's the town that he was born in, but his parents divorced, and he's been subsequently living in Reykjavík and is forced to go back and live with his father in this town where he no longer has a place. So it's about him figuring out how to assert who he is and find his place. It's beautifully told. "
"Another one that I was so thrilled about — it just had its world premiere at San Sebastian — is Sparrows. We have three great Icelandic films this year, actually, and this is one of them. Did you see Volcano? It's Rúnar Rúnarsson. It was one of my favorite films that year, so it's his next film. It's a coming-of-age story about a teenage boy who gets dropped in small town Iceland. It's the town that he was born in, but his parents divorced, and he's been subsequently living in Reykjavík and is forced to go back and live with his father in this town where he no longer has a place. So it's about him figuring out how to assert who he is and find his place. It's beautifully told. "
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Vancouver International Film Festival 2015
Vancouver International Film Festival will be screening Sparrows in this years edition
of Cinema of Our Time.
A spectacular showcase of narrative films from around the globe, featuring both today's masters and tomorrow's visionaries.
With a selection of works from more than 30 countries—including of all the major film producing nations—Cinema of Our Time is the place to see the very best films from the leading auteurs of our time, award winners from the most prestigious film festivals such as Cannes and Berlin, and exclusive premieres of some of the most highly anticipated features that will hit cinemas next year.
"Gripping and quietly powerful, director Rúnar Rúnarsson sophomore displays a disarming emotional tenderness while never tempering its dark truths. At its heart, Sparrows is a searing story of love, loss and finding your way. But discovering your direction in life can be a trial when you’re stuck in world where you don’t belong."
Sparrows is on the THE MUST SEE list of Montreals Van Ramblings with the grade A
MORE INFO
Sparrows is on the THE MUST SEE list of Montreals Van Ramblings with the grade A
MORE INFO
Friday, August 28, 2015
SPARROWS TRAILER
The international trailer for Runar Runarsson’s second feature, Sparrows is out.
The film will have its world premiere on Sept 11 at Toronto as part of the Contemporary World Cinema strand.
The Iceland-Denmark-Croatia co-production is about Ari, a 16-year-old boy who has to leave his home with his mother in Reykjavik to move back to his former hometown, in the beautiful but isolated Westfjords of Iceland.
He has to navigate a rocky relationship with his father as well as the childhood friends who have grown up quickly.
The cast features Ingvar Sigurdsson (Jar City), Atli Óskar Fjalarsson and Rakel Björk Björnsdóttir. Denmark’s Mikkel Jersin (who was one of Screen International’s Future Leaders 2015) produces for Nimbus.
Versatile handles international sales.
Runarsson’s debut feature Volcano drew strong reviews at Cannes Directors’ Fortnight in 2011.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
OFFICIAL SELECTION RIFF
Rúnar Rúnarsson, new feature film, Sparrows will have it’s Icelandic Premiere on RIFF on September 30th . Rúnars work will be in the New Visions competition which features the first and the second work of directors. Rúnars first film Volcano won two awards in that category in 2011. Sparrows will have it’s premiere on Toronto Film Festival in September where it will participate in the Contemporary World Cinema category. It has also been released that the film will participate in the main category on the San Sebastian film festival. The film will then be released in the middle of October in Iceland.
OFFICIAL SELECTION TORONTO
Revealing a new wave of films for their upcoming 40th edition, the Toronto Film Festival has named Rúnar Rúnarsson's "Sparrows" as part of their Contemporary World Cinema line-up. This marks the world premiere of the Icelandic director's new drama, which explores the emotions intrinsic to life's difficult changes through the story of Ari and his estranged father.
A few weeks back, the San Sebastian Film Festival announced the film as part of their line-up. Read Sparrows flying to San Sebastian
"Sparrows" follows Ari, 16, who has been living with his mother in Reykjavik and is suddenly sent back to the remote Westfjords to live with his father Gunnar. Here he has to navigate a difficult relationship with his father, and he finds his childhood friends changed. In these hopeless and declining surroundings, Ari has to step up and find his way.
"The poetic part and the emotions tell the story. That's something that intrigues me more than plot," says the director in our festival interview, which will be online on these pages from next week.
Ari is played by Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, while Gunnar is embodied by Ingvar E. Sigurðsson. The cast also includes Kristbjörg Kjeld, Björk Björnsdóttir and Croatian-born Hollywood actor Rade Šerbedžija ("Downton Abbey").
"Sparrows" is written by Rúnarsson, a graduate of the National Film School of Denmark. His feature debut "Volcano" (2011) premiered in the Cannes Festival's Directors' Fortnight side bar, and his student films "2Birds" (2008) and "Anna" (2009) were also selected for Cannes. Rúnarsson received an Oscar nomination for his short film "Last Farm" (2004).
The crew behind the camera includes editor Jacob Schulsinger and cinematographer Sophia Olsson, and producer is Mikkel Jersin for Nimbus Film and Nimbus Iceland, in a co-production partnership with Pegasus Pictures and MP Films.
Read Mikkel Jersin's account from Iceland At Nature's Mercy in Iceland
"Sparrows" is supported by the Danish Film Institute, the Icelandic Film Center, the Croatian Audiovisual Center, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, the Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Sena, RUV, TV 2 and SF. Paris-based Versatile Films is handling international sales.
OFFICIAL SELECTION SAN SEBASTIAN
Rúnar Rúnarsson, a graduate of the National Film School of Denmark, premiered his feature debut "Volcano" at Cannes' Directors' Fortnight in 2011. Now the Icelandic director is releasing his second film, Sparrows, as part of the competition line-up at the San Sebastian Film Festival taking place in September.
"Sparrows" is a drama about Ari, 16, who has been living with his mother in Reykjavik and is suddenly sent back to the remote Westfjords to live with his father Gunnar. Here he has to navigate a difficult relationship with his father, and he finds his childhood friends changed. In these hopeless and declining surroundings, Ari has to step up and find his way.
"I think Rúnarsson touches on something that feels true to audiences all over the world," says Mikkel Jersin, the film's producer. "Even though the story takes place in the remote Westfjords, it portrays strong themes that most people can relate to – themes of father-son relationships, adolescence and love." Read interview with Mikkel Jersin At Nature's Mercy in Iceland
Young Ari is played by Atli Óskar Fjalarsson, his father by Ingvar E. Sigurðsson. The cast also includes Kristbjörg Kjeld, Björk Björnsdóttir and Croatian-born Hollywood actor Rade Šerbedžija ("Downton Abbey").
"Sparrows" is written by Rúnarsson, whose feature debut "Volcano" (2011) was warmly received at the Cannes Festival's distinguished side bar Directors' Fortnight. His short film "Last Farm" (2004) was nominated for an Oscar, while the director's two student films, "2Birds" (2008) and "Anna" (2009), took home multiple awards and were selected for the Cannes Festival.
The crew behind the camera includes editor Jacob Schulsinger and cinematographer Sophia Olsson, and producer is Mikkel Jersin for Nimbus Film and Nimbus Iceland, in a co-production partnership with Pegasus Pictures and MP Films. "Sparrows" is supported by the Danish Film Institute, the Icelandic Film Center, the Croatian Audiovisual Center, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, the Icelandic Ministry of Industries and Innovation, Sena, RUV, TV 2 and SF. Paris-based Versatile Films is handling international sales.
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