The hosts | Hornstrandirfilmfest

The 2025 HFF hosts

HFF 2025: The Women Bringing Film to the World’s Most Remote Festival

In 2025, the Highland Film Festival (HFF) will redefine film festivals by bringing stories and cinema to one of the most remote locations on Earth. At the heart of this groundbreaking event are visionary women who lead the festival into uncharted territory.

Vision and Courage

These women, from diverse backgrounds, share a passion for film, sustainability, and innovation. They are directors, entrepreneurs, and organizers who challenge the impossible, ensuring stories reach audiences in bold, new ways.

A Remote Yet Unique Experience

Set in an untouched natural landscape, the festival offers an immersive experience where film and environment coexist in perfect harmony.

Leadership and Impact

More than organizers, these women are pioneers redefining film festivals. They create a space for new voices, stories, and a fresh cinematic future.

Sustainability and Innovation

HFF 2025 is committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly solutions in every aspect—from energy to travel. It stands as a model for how creativity and environmental responsibility can merge.

Legacy and the Future

By bringing HFF to this remote location, these women are setting a new standard for film festivals, proving that cinema belongs everywhere—even in nature’s purest settings.

KRISTÍN

Kristín Sigurdardóttir has always had a holistic approach to health. Throughout her career she has advocated health and wellness, with a focus on lifestyle, prevention and resilience. Kristin has been a distinguished clinician and thought leader in the field of Medicine.

Her contributions initially as the Program Director of the Emergency Department at the University Hospital, at the Icelandic the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Iceland, various committees on behalf of the Icelandic Medical Association, amongst them chairing the Educational Committee, as a guest teacher at the University of Reykjavík and position on the Icelandic Transportation Safety Board, have established her as a respected authority in medical education, prevention, communication and Holistic Health.

Kristín is a popular public speaker, for corporate talks, courses and conferences. Her influence and reputation are a testament to her expertise and the efficacy of her work in promoting holistic approaches to well-being and health, both for humans and the environment.

HAFDIS HANNA

Hafdís Hanna Ægisdóttir is a sustainability leader, ecologist, and public speaker with a passion for environmental and societal change. As Director of the Sustainability Institute at the University of Iceland, she works at the crossroads of science, leadership, and collaboration, promoting sustainability across disciplines and sectors. Her work and research have taken her to some of the world’s most remote regions, including Antarctica and the Amazon. A frequent speaker on local and global stages, from TEDx Reykjavík to the UN, Hafdís Hanna brings big ideas to life. When not working, she finds joy in jazz singing and hiking, always drawing inspiration from nature.

BJARNEY

Bjarney Ludviksdottir, entrepreneur, director and producer with years of experience in the marketing and film industry, today working both in Iceland and in the United Arab Emirates. Bjarney is the visionaire behind Hornstrandir Film Festival and founded the event alongside like minded women, who shared their passion for the environment, climate and health. Together they created the most remote film festival in the world, where stories highlighting these topics are at the center stage.
Over the years, Bjarney has focused on creating impactful documentaries that bring untold stories to light. Her work highlights subjects often overlooked, like "Seeing the Unseen," a documentary that shines a spotlight on 17 courageous women on the autism spectrum and their battle to fit in. "How the Titanic Became My Lifeboat," an transformative journey of a young autistic boy building the world's largest LEGO replica that changed his life. Barney's third documentary, "Acting Normal with CVI," set to premiere in September 2024, shares the story of a young woman chasing her dreams despite living with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI).

RUNA

Her passion for storytelling and human potential extends into film, making her a natural host of the Hornstrandir Film Festival—a celebration of cinema that explores climate, nature, wildlife, and health in one of Europe’s last wilderness areas.

Rúna is also the author of three transformative books:
📖 Branding Your X-Factor
📖 The Story of Boxes, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
📖 Beyond Gender, The New Rules of Leadership

At the core of everything she does, Rúna champions bold leadership, deep connection, and meaningful action for a more sustainable and inclusive future.

RAKEL

An engineer by mind, an adventurer by soul, and a bit of a geek by nature—Rakel is a fusion of logic, grit, and wild-hearted curiosity. She’s as comfortable decoding algorithms as she is dangling from a cliff or maneuvering a superjeep through Iceland’s most unforgiving terrains. A search and rescue volunteer, a guide through both landscapes and life, and an entrepreneur who thrives on solving problems—whether they're digital or deeply human.

But Rakel’s story isn’t just about conquering mountains; it’s about rewriting the rules of what’s possible. When a brutal ankle injury threatened to keep her grounded forever, she turned to nature, resilience, and holistic healing. Six years later, she stood on a peak doctors told her she’d never climb. Proof that sometimes, the greatest code to crack isn’t one on a screen—it’s written in your body, mind, and spirit.

At the core of everything she does, Rakel champions exploration—of the world, of knowledge, and of the limitless power within us all.

BERTA

Berta is a dental technician, helps people to rebuild their smiles and chewing ability. Runs a dental lab in
Reykjavík, mother of two and has familyroots in Aðalvík in Hornstrandir. She has general interest in
health,nature, people and good communication. She loves music, singing, traveling, reading good books
and watching films that are moving and educating. Loves all kinds of sports, swimming, running, yoga,
hiking and skiing but surfing is the most exciting and moving because there is a special connection to
mother nature and yourself when you catch a wave!

BESSÝ

Bessý: A Seeker of Resilience in the Stories of the Past

Bessý is a psychologist who has dedicated her entire career to the field of aging. From her early days as a clinical psychologist to her later roles as a leader and specialized project manager in ministries and the City of Reykjavík, her work has always centered on the well-being of the elderly.

Her passion lies in resilience—how we, as modern individuals, can learn from the endurance and strength of those who came before us. She is captivated by stories of the past, drawn to the wisdom embedded in lives lived under harsh and unforgiving conditions. Perhaps this is why she loves Hornstrandir, a place where the echoes of those who once braved the wilderness still linger. In those stories, told by the wind and the waves, she finds a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching resilience in today’s world.

HELENA

Helena is an adventurous nature lover with a degree in environmental sciences, sustainability, and education. Throughout her career, she has focused on empowering individuals, businesses, and societies to build resilience and develop the skills needed to tackle global challenges in a complex world of climate change, humanism, and politics.

An avid outdoors person, Helena enjoys skiing, running, and sailing. She is a member of Seiglurnar, Iceland's only all-female sailing crew, whose mission is to encourage more women to sail and raise awareness about the environmental challenges facing the world's oceans.

Helena continuously returns to nature for rest and nourishment, as well as to gain strength and power. She knows Hornstrandir like the back of her hand, both land and sea. Accompanied by her running shoes, sailing equipment, and watercolors, she will join HHF 2025 in Hornstrandir.