Mannvirki

On Iceland’s bleak north coast stands the concrete skeleton of an abandoned building, exposed to the merciless forces of wind and waves. This derelict structure lies at the heart of Mannvirki (Icelandic for 'structure' - or, as separate words: 'human' and 'fort'), an intriguing hybrid of documentary, fiction, and experimental cinema. As the ravages of time take their toll on the ruin, a new ecosystem emerges amidst the debris. Humans, flora, and fauna gather here, using quiet actions and rituals to bridge the gap between past and present, ultimately giving the building a surprising new purpose: that of a visual artwork. Defying easy categorization or genre labels, Mannvirki is an enchanting cinematic tribute that invites the quiet observation of impermanence.

Mannvirki marks the feature debut of Gústav Geir Bollason and premiered at IFFR in 2023. Writer, screenwriter and poet Sjón, who contributed to the project with his poetry, is the main guest of the 46th Noordelijk Film Festival. He will talk extensively about his work during the Spotlight Talk on Saturday afternoon and on Friday will be present at the screening of Lamb (2021), which he co-wrote with director Valdimar Jóhannsson. The Spotlight program also includes Dancer in the Dark (Lars von Trier, 1996), The Northman (Robert Eggers, 2022) and Grýlu Sker: An Icelandic Ghost Story (Kevin McTurk, 2026).