Award presented by president of Iceland

Danish director Susanne Bier received the Reykjavik International Film Festival’s Creative Excellence Award on September 29 at a reception hosted by the Icelandic president Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.

Guests at the reception, held at the Icelandic president’s residence included Bjork, Chicken With Plums director Marjane Satrapi and editor Stéphane Roche (in town to deliver an Emerging Masters masterclass), Dreams Of A Life director Carol Morley and producer Cairo Cannon and Meet The Fokkens director Rob Schroder.

Speaking at the ceremony, local director Fridrik Thor Fridriksson told Bier: “You have been a great inspiration for Icelandic film-makers… since you have shown you don’t need to make expensive films to entrance the audience and to be true to your vision at the same time.”

Ragnar Grimsson described Bier as “a remarkable film-maker and a leader in the field”.

Bier’s latest film Love Is All You Need is screening at RIFF alongside her films Open Hearts and After The Wedding.

The festival continues until October 7.