Run of success for Icelandic film

Icelandic director Rúnar Rúnarsson’s new film Þrestir (meaning ‘thrushes’) is continuing its run of award success by winning a Silver Hugo at Chicago International Film Festival on Saturday.

This is the third major award the film – a poetic drama about a 16-year-old boy – has picked up in quick succession. The previous weekend, it won a major award at the Warsaw Film Festival and, last month, the film was given the Golden Shell award for best picture at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

“Above all, I am proud of my team, who came through hell and high water to make Þrestir possible,” says Rúnarsson. “It is wonderful to be reaping the rewards of our efforts. The film is attracting interest from all around the world, which is great.”

This is Rúnarsson’s second feature length film, after Eldfjall (meaning ‘volcano’) which premiered at Cannes in 2011.