Of Horses and Men

Giddy up, giddy up, gallop along with NoFF! Are you ready for a very special film experience? Then come to Hiddema State in Zuiderburen on Saturday, November 8. In the indoor arena of this beautiful horse boarding facility, we will be screening Of Horses and Men, the debut film by Benedikt Erlingsson. Upon arrival, there will be coffee and tea, and you can warm up by the cozy fires. Discover a special location just a 20-minute bike ride from de Harmonie and enjoy a fun Icelandic film in a setting that perfectly matches this black comedy. As a prelude, you will also be treated to a surprising short film! What's more, the director, who is also the festival's guest of honor, will be present to introduce the main film.

In an inhospitable Icelandic valley, life is simple and revolves around horses, neighbours and their behaviour, which is closely observed through binoculars. The Icelandic horses, with as much character as their owners, take the lead in love in this comical feature film debut by Benedikt Erlingsson, something the stiff villagers hardly dare to do. 

Of Horses and Men shows a series of absurd, dryly comical situations: from the clumsy romantic attempts of Kolbeinn and Solveig, to drunkenness on a Russian fishing boat and arguments about driving routes. Against a backdrop of stunning landscapes, the horses steal the show and demonstrate that humans and four-legged creatures share a deep, sometimes surprising kinship in the magnificent natural environment.

Of Horses and Men was Iceland's entry for the 86th Oscars in 2014 and won the audience award at the Tromsø International Film Festival that same year. The film was also awarded the Nordic Council Film Prize, which particularly praised its originality. Of Horses and Men was also the opening film of NoFF in 2014.

This film is part of the Spotlight retrospective of director Benedikt Erlingsson, who is this year's guest of honour at the Noordelijk Film Festival. 

Practical information 

The film dialogue is Icelandic with Dutch subtitles! The screening will take place at Stalhouderij Hiddema State, Suderbuorren 6, 9086 CE Hempens. You cannot come here by car. We have arranged bus transportation (ticket €7,50), or you can come by bicycle on your own.

Buses 

Outward journey

Would you like to travel with one of our buses? A bus ticket is €7,50. The pick up point is the Wite Mar bus stop in Leeuwarden (see below). Departure time is 15:00 exact, so be on time. The bus ride takes about 10 minutes and after arriving you have the opportunity to look around the coach station, where there is plenty to see and do. 

The pick-up point is at the Wite Mar bus stop in Leeuwarden. Click here for the exact location. Park your car in one of the parking lots near MFC Màrkant, Wite Mar 7, 8939 CC Leeuwarden. Follow the instructions of our traffic controllers.

Return journey

The screening ends around 6:00 p.m. at Stalhouderij Hiddema State, afterwards the bus will take you back to bus stop Wite Mar. The bus ride will take about 10 minutes. Departure time of the bus is approximately 6:15 p.m. .

Bicycle

Would you like to travel to Stalhouderij Hiddema State on your own? Then you can come by bicycle. Please make sure you arrive no later than 15:45 p.m. at the location.

One more thing

Coffee and tea are available on site for a fee. Unfortunately, we cannot predict what the weather will be like on November 8, so dress warmly and bring a blanket just in case. The screening is indoors, but the temperature is similar to outside. The bus pick-up points are outside and not covered so bring an umbrella. Smoking is not permitted on the premises.