Echo

Bergmál

60th TIFF: Greek Premiere

In the opening stages of this elegant mosaic, a farmhouse goes up in flames in the midst of the breathtaking Icelandic landscape, reminding Andrei Tarkovsky’s Sacrifice. Bystanders idly record this ominous and eerie spectacle on their phones. In times such as ours, there is no room for theological or metaphysical concerns. A compelling collage of 56 independent scenes that draws a biting yet tender portrait of contemporary society, set against the backdrop of the frenzy Christmas holiday season. A distant echo of a confused world, which nails but at the same time reshapes fragments of reality.

Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Rúnar Rúnarsson

Script: Rúnar Rúnarsson

Cinematography: Sophia Olsson

Editing: Jacob Secher Schulsinger

Sound: Gunnar Óskarsson

Music: Kjartan Sveinsson

Actors: Sigurmar Albertsson, Bent Kingo Andersen, Sif Arnarsdóttir, Ari Arnarson

Production: Nimbus Iceland, Pegasus Pictures

Producers: Rúnar Rúnarsson, Live Hide, Lilja Ósk Snorradóttir

Co-production: Jour2Fête, Bord Cadre Films, Media Rental, MP Films, Nimbus Film, Halibut

Co-producers: Sarah Chazelle, Etienne Ollagnier, Dan Weschler, Jamal Zeinal-Zade, Jim Stark

Costumes: Júlíanna Lára Steingrímsdóttir

Executive producer: Birgitte Hald, Bo Ehrhardt, Snorri Þórisson, Einar Sveinn Thordarson, Elli Cassata

Make Up: Júlíanna Lára Steingrímsdóttir

Format: DCP

Color: Color

Production Country: Iceland, France

Production Year: 2019

Duration: 79´

Contact: Jour2Fête, contact@jour2fete.com

Rúnar Rúnarsson

Rúnar Rúnarsson’s feature career starts in 2011, when he presents his debut film Volcano at the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. The film received 17 international awards in a vast number of festivals. His second feature Sparrows (2015) similarly garnered wide acclaim, winning 20 international awards, including La Concha Ora, the main prize at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Four years later, after being selected for the Cannes Atelier, his third feature film Echo premieres at the Locarno Film Festival, and went on to win six international awards. In addition to his feature films, Rúnar Rúnarsson has received critical acclaim for his shorts. The crossroads trilogy The Last Farm (Oscar nomination in 2006), 2 Birds (Cannes Official Selection and European Film Awards nomination in 2008) and Anna (Cannes Directors’ Fortnight) have received over 100 international awards.