R&A Shorts: Filmmaker in Focus – Hilke Rönnfeldt

R&A has been following writer-director Hilke Rönnfeldt’s career for many years. Over time, every short film by this prolific filmmaker – who has worked across multiple countries – has been screened at the festival. Now, they are brought together as a single, curated showcase. The Filmmaker in Focus screening offers a fascinating look not only at Rönnfeldt’s artistic evolution but also at the discovery and strengthening of her distinct voice as a filmmaker. Her films are united by themes of human connection and understanding, and many works also reflect a bond with nature – particularly with water, an element that carries special significance in her storytelling.

Two early works are set in Iceland. Swim follows Anna, who arrives for her evening shift at a swimming pool, only to have her routine disrupted by a strange encounter with a swimmer. Silence of the Fish tells the story of teenager Sara, living with her mother Hildur at a remote fish farm. As summer fades into autumn, a tragedy strikes.

In Fence, Denmark and Germany build a barrier to keep wild boars away from farm pigs and prevent the spread of deadly swine flu, while obstacles also begin to form between Ebba and her girlfriend.

The supernatural doomsday musical Opera Night follows Angeli, who discovers a mysterious crack in the foundations of the Copenhagen Opera. As water levels rise, she desperately tries to alert others to the impending danger, but no one listens.

An award-winner at multiple festivals, A Study of Empathy is the story of Dana, who invites art student Penelope to her home to participate in a performance piece. Their meeting takes an unexpected turn, leaving Dana unsettled and uncertain. To uncover what really happened, she gathers her courage to face Penelope at her graduation show opening.

The program concludes with Rönnfeldt’s latest short, Duty Free, set around a ferry’s duty-free shop. This dance-infused, sensual film drifts moment by moment deeper into a dreamlike, mysterious atmosphere.

Annu Suvanto