October 20, 2025
Only in Iceland can you watch a movie beneath the earth’s surface—surrounded by mineral-streaked rhyolite walls and echoes that turn every sound into suspense. The Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) transforms the 5,200-year-old Raufarhólshellir lava tunnel into one of the most surreal cinemas on Earth.
Cave Cinema, now a RIFF favorite, returned on October 3, 2025, and sold out fast. This year’s most awaited screening was The Descent (2005), Neil Marshall’s claustrophobic horror classic about cave explorers discovering they’re not alone in the dark. Watching it inside an actual lava tube turned the whole thing into a sensory 5D experience—flickering lights, eerie echoes, and a damp chill made the movie feel almost too real. Pure bliss for horror fans.
Few hours before, the same tunnel traded terror for tenderness with a family-friendly screening of The Exploits of Moominpappa—Adventures of a Young Moomin (2021). Families gathered in the chamber for a cozy, curious experience lit by the soft glow of the screen reflecting off the stone. Laughter and joy echoed through the cave.
Over the years, RIFF has become one of Iceland’s most unpredictable and innovative cultural events, pulling film lovers to Reykjavík every fall. It’s known for taking movies beyond the theater—screening them on glaciers, in geothermal pools, libraries, prisons, and caves. Wherever you are, RIFF finds a way to bring film to you.
If you missed this year’s underground show, Cave Cinema will be back in 2026 with more unforgettable films—and limited seats. So book early, wear something warm, and maybe… bring someone to grab onto when the shadows start to move.
