The next RIFF was held from September 29 to October 9, 2005, and was a leap forward in size and scale compared to the year before.

The programme had also grown to incorporate over one hundred films, a number of master classes, symposiums and panel discussions – and even managed to cram a few concerts in too.

Grbavica by Jasmila Žbanić was the 'Discovery of the Year' and RIFF's first time FIPRESCI jury awarded Red Road by Andrea Arnold.

Aleksandr Sokurov was given the lifetime achievement award and Atom Egoyan accepted recognition for his creative excellence.

Among them was Aki Kaurismäki, who received the Reykjavík International Film Festival honorary awards, presented by the president of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

Hungarian film Iska's Journey by director Csaba Bollók was named Discovery of the Year.

Peter Greenaway visited Reykjavík, held a lecture and was awarded for his life achievement as a filmmaker.

The Art of Crying raises awareness of the fragility of life, moves the audience and calls for discussion and responses," is stated in the jury's motivation.

The movie Tulpan received the Golden Puffin, RIFF's main award, and was named Discovery of the Year.

Venkovský ucitel by Bohdan Sláma from the Czech Republic received the Gay-friendly award given by Iceland's National Association of Gays and Lesbians.

A talent campus was held where young people from Europe and America were invited to meet in Reykjavík and see what the film industry had to offer on the other side of the globe.

Todd Burns of Stylus Magazine concluded his article on the 2006 event with these words: "If it continues down this path, it won't be one of the best-kept secrets of the film festival circuit for long," and Brian Brooks from IndieWIRE had this to say: "Quite simply, in my humble opinion as a minor vet on the festival circuit, this event has instantly become one of my favorites.

Of course, the lure of Iceland and its eccentric beauty helps, but Reykjavík's residents seem to have embraced the event, filling many of the festival's screenings."

Dario Argento got the Lifetime Achievement Award and Susanne Bier won in the Creative Excellency category.

RIFF guests and visitors had the opportunity to participate in joke-cinema, midnight movie, cave-cinema, screenings in 'Borg' restaurant, various discussions with film creators, talent lab for youngsters and many other events.

Golden Puffin and FIPRESCI Award in 2013 was given for Italian film director Uberto Pasolini and his work called Still Life.

Mike Leigh was given a Lifetime Achievement Award and his latest movie Mr. Turner was screened to a full audience.

The recipient of The Golden Egg was Canadian directors Harry Cherniak and Dusty Mancinelli for their project Winter Hymns.

It was part of the "New Visions" category, which features debut or sophomore films by the directors and challenge cinematic conventions.

The plot centres on a nurse who traffics ID cards of demented patients and according to this year's jury "the film combines the downbeat suspense of a medicalized crime story with a subtle portrayal of the agony in a post-communist society where redemption is only glimpsed in the sacral world of music."

It was Roser Corella's film Grab and Run that won the Environmental award for the category A Different Tomorrow.

This year's honorary guest included film maker Werner Herzog and director Olivier Assayas.

RIFF Industry days is the title of a series of events and talks held during the Reykjavík International Film Festival together with the 1st edition of the Icelandic Market Forum.

The prime objective of RIFF Industry Days is to encourage meetings, generate debates and establish dialogues, providing the support that makes original ideas last.

The IMF aimed to facilitate better mutual knowledge and understanding between important players in the international audiovisual market and to form a basis for joint direction within the Icelandic film industry.