Reykjavik International Film Festival
Reykjavik September 26 - October 7, 2019
Volunteer project: The international volunteers will help the organizers of the Reykjavík International Film Festival with different tasks before and during the festival. Our group will work closely with the team of Icelandic volunteers who are in most cases students of the Universities in Reykjavik.
We will put up posters and hand out leaflets and brochures around the city before the festival starts. Some of the volunteers might be asked to pick up international guests at the airport. During the festival, we will sell entrance tickets and festival passes, setup the venues before and after the movies and control the entrance if needed. There might be other tasks to be done and we will have to be flexible and willing to give a helping hand whenever necessary.
The festival is one of the most important cultural events in Reykjavik and the work of the volunteers is a crucial contribution to the event. Through participation in this international project, volunteers have the opportunity to experience the amazing atmosphere of the festival.
Language: English
Leisure time: On weekends, the central location of the accommodation is ideal for enjoying Reykjavik‘s amazing nightlife, which is world-renowned for its wide array of bars, clubs, and concerts.
Reasonably-priced weekend excursions can be organised to some of the most popular, beautiful areas and natural wonders that Iceland has to offer. Excursions include unique Icelandic sights such as glacial lagoons, waterfalls, volcanic and geothermal areas, glaciers, geysirs, lava forests, hot-springs, rhyolite mountain ranges, steam-vents, or even icebergs.
Accommodation: The volunteers stay in a house near to the old port in the heart of historical downtown Reykjavik. Volunteers need to bring their own sleeping bag, but beds and bed linens are provided. Wireless internet access is provided free of charge, and volunteers also have free access to shared desktop computers in communal areas. The accommodation is located within a short walking distance of many urban amenities, including banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, public swimming pools, restaurants, cafes, libraries, theaters, shops, museums, and bus stations.
Location: Reykjavik is a city full of energy, just waiting for you to experience it. Powered by heat from the earth below, with ever-changing weather sweeping across the landscape, its natural features are matched by the energy of its residents. Think of the qualities of a great city - fun, culture, nature, clean air - and Reykjavik has them in spades. All the advantages of a modern, forward-looking society are complemented by the beautiful natural setting. In a country of only just over 330,000 people, the Reykjavik Capital Area has a population of about 200,000. However, since it’s the only major city in the country, Reykjavik has a lot of the amenities that you would only expect to find in a much larger center elsewhere in the world.
Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital city and is centered on the Seltjarnarnes Peninsula. Come at the right time of year, and in favorable conditions you will see the city’s skyline silhouetted against the glowing, shimmering curtain of the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights. Reykjavik is framed by the majestic Mt. Esja and the blue waters of Faxafloi Bay to the north, while rugged lava-fields spread to the southeast. On a clear sunny day, the Snaefellsjokull glacier glitters on the western horizon like a crystal.
RIFF - Reykjavík International Film Festival is one of the biggest and most diverse cultural events in Iceland. For 11 days every fall since 2004, Icelandic locals and tourists alike are able to go to the cinema and enjoy the best and freshest of international film making. The guests can also meet and chat with directors about their works, attend panels and workshops, concerts and exhibitions, and even watch interesting films under even more interesting conditions, for instance in a swimming pool or in the filmmaker’s home. The festival shows a wide range of dramas and non-fiction films from over 40 countries. The festival highlights independent film making from all over the world with the emphasis on up-and-coming film makers, with the main prize – the Golden Puffin - being awarded only to first or second time directors.
Terminal: Flights arrive at Keflavik International Airport (KEF), just south of Reykjavik.
Age range: 18 and over
Extra fee: 350 Euro
The fee includes a minibus trip from the meeting point to the accommodation and the Golden Circle South Iceland excursion.
The extra fee is intended to support the local host of the project and is payable upon arrival.