What We’re Looking For:
Hornstrandir Film Festival (HFF) seeks powerful, thought-provoking films that explore the relationship between humans, nature, climate, wildlife and health.

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We welcome both feature-length and short films that bring audiences closer to the natural world, its beauty, its fragility and its profound connection to human wellbeing.

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We are drawn to stories that challenge perspectives, spark meaningful conversations and have the potential to change the way we think about ourselves and the world around us.

HFF is not a traditional film festival.

Selected filmmakers are invited to join us on a unique journey through the remote wilderness of Hornstrandir Nature Reserve in Iceland.

Together, we hike between screening locations, carrying our gear on our backs and crossing mountains, valleys and rivers. We sleep in tents and wilderness huts and experience the films in the very landscapes that inspire many of the conversations surrounding them. There is little to no mobile coverage, limited access to electricity and no guarantee of good weather.

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Filmmakers Joining Must Be Prepared To:
- Hike with their gear across challenging and remote terrain
- Carry their own personal equipment and essentials throughout the journey
- Cross rivers and travel through mountainous landscapes
- Adapt to unpredictable Icelandic weather
- Camp and stay in remote wilderness huts
- Spend several days with little to no mobile coverage and limited access to electricity

 

Curated, Small and Intimate, HFF is intentionally small:
Each year, we select only four feature films and four short films to become part of the festival journey.​ The films are screened across 3–4 remote locations throughout Hornstrandir Nature Reserve. Every screening is different, shaped by the landscape, the weather, the journey and the people experiencing it together.​ Filmmakers, guests and the HFF team travel together as one group, with a maximum of 40 participants.

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By keeping the festival small, every selected film becomes an important part of the shared experience and creates space for deeper conversations and genuine connections between filmmakers and audiences.

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It’s not about quantity. It’s about presence, quality and creating unforgettable encounters between film, people and nature.

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2027 Submission Requirements:
- Submission deadline: March 1, 2027
- Feature films: Maximum runtime of 80 minutes (sometimes we do exeptions)
- Short films:
- Films must have premiered no more than one year before the 2027 festival
- Films must not be publicly available online
- Password-protected screeners submitted for festival consideration are accepted
- Films must not have previously screened in Iceland
- Films in all languages are welcome, provided English subtitles are available
- Films should explore subjects related to climate, nature, wildlife or human health

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The Stories We Want to Discover:
We are looking for films that do more than simply tell a good story.
We want stories that provoke thought, challenge assumptions, educate, advocate and inspire change. Stories that make us reconsider our behaviour toward our most valuable resources, our planet, its wildlife, its ecosystems and our own health. We are looking for filmmakers who believe storytelling can make a difference.

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If that sounds like you, we would love to discover your film and perhaps take it with us into the wild.