SLUICE EXPO + FILM FESTIVAL - ‘WORLD BUILDING’

May 2025 - Seyðisfjörður

The inaugural Sluice Film Festival launched during the Sluice Seyðisfjörður Expo from 23–25 May 2025, in eastern Iceland. Screenings took place at Herðubíó cinema, welcoming both local audiences and attendees of the Expo.

The 2025 theme, World Building, was inspired by the image of a chimera—suggesting the fusion of disparate elements, whether mythical, genetic or imagined. It invited artists and audiences alike to explore the boundaries of construction and collapse: weaving realities from fragments and imagining new worlds just as easily as old ones fall apart.

Located at the head of a fjord in the remote town of Seyðisfjörður—only reachable via the Fjarðarheiði mountain pass or a weekly summer ferry—the setting provided a striking context for the festival. In a landscape shaped by dramatic geological forces and an often inhospitable climate, the theme of World Building resonated deeply, prompting reflection on how we relate to both the natural and human-made world, and the stories we tell to make sense of that relationship.

Screenings were held at Herðubíó, the only cinema in east Iceland. With just 115 seats, its single screen offered an intimate setting for showcasing an international programme of artist films to a highly engaged audience. The festival brought the local artist community into dialogue with filmmakers from around the world, fostering connection and exchange in an environment far removed from the usual circuits of art and cinema.

In keeping with Sluice’s ethos of artist-led experimentation, all officially selected entries competed for three prizes:

• Jury’s Choice

• Director’s Choice

• Audience Choice

Festival co-director Karl England, also director of the Sluice Expo, reflected:

“The opportunity to work with Herðubíó and artist filmmakers from around the world to launch this film festival was incredibly exciting. Our goal was to create a platform where bold, independent voices could thrive—and Iceland’s striking landscapes provided the perfect setting for that ambition.”

Fellow co-director Sarah Wishart added:

“The film festival model offers a rupture in the usual rhythms of artistic production and reception. It creates a moment of intensity—where works are encountered in dialogue with one another, where ideas collide, and where artists are prompted to think beyond the confines of their usual contexts.

With Sluice Film Festival, we weren’t just showcasing work; we were creating a space for artists working in moving image to reconsider their practice, engage new audiences, and push ideas into unexpected territories.”

The prize for Jury’s Choice was selected by guest judges David Blandy and Kamilla Gylfadóttir, with the full programme screened over two days—23rd and 24th May 2025.