A piercingly honest portrait of adolescent sexuality that effortlessly and evocatively captures a place and time, Heartstone unfolds in a remote Icelandic fishing village where young teens Thor and Christian experience a turbulent summer as the former tries to win the heart of a more mature girl and the latter develops new feelings toward his best friend.

This poignant coming-of-age story is seen through the eyes of short, baby-faced Thor who is experiencing the emotional pangs of adolescence, but has fallen behind on the physical development aspect. He is envious of the tall, handsome, confident Christian who draws girls like moths to a flame. Thor lives with his single mother and two older sisters who can't resist teasing him over just about everything.

"Guðmundsson's formally imposing debut visually and tonally recalls the work of his compatriot Rúnar Rúnarsson-whose own somber 2015 coming-of-ager, Sparrows deployed similar physical terrain to much the same emotional effect." Guy Lodge, Variety

Winner: Queer Lion, Venice; Audience Award, CPH Pix Copenhagen

Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson – Director