We are honoured to welcome Icelandic filmmaker Rúnar Rúnarsson, whose cinema stands as one of the most emotionally resonant and visually subtle voices in contemporary European filmmaking. Rúnarsson is a distinctive voice, deeply rooted in Nordic minimalism and poetic realism. Today, we’ll explore how his films—ranging from shorts like The Last Farm, O to features such as Volcano, Sparrows, Echo and When the Light Breaks—capture the subtle emotional currents of daily life with rare sensitivity and nuance.

His storytelling unfolds through characters poised in transitional moments: caught between youth and adulthood, life and death, strength and fragility. What defines Rúnarsson’s poetic realism is his masterful use of silence, patient observation of raw everyday rituals, and the presence of nature as an almost breathing entity, constructing very personal cinematic time nappes that imbue his cinematic world with a poetic fiber weaving together narrative and atmosphere.

TIFF FOCUS is putting the spotlight on his cinema by showcasing a selection of his most significant titles, curated by Blerina Hankollari, offering a unique opportunity to engage deeply with his work. Throughout this masterclass, we will examine how his intimate and tender portrait of Iceland becomes a canvas for ethically complex human experiences, inviting us to engage with cinema as empathetic observers of life’s quiet truths.