BÓKADAGAR 2026: Conversation with Beinir Bergsson

Welcome to a conversation about Kim Simonsen’s new interdisciplinary book Áin, followed by a screening of the short film of the same name.
The book Áin explores water, grief and the relationship between human beings and the landscape. The river is presented not merely as a landscape, but as a living Faroese network of water, stones, plants, birds, weather, history and traces of memory.
The event consists of a conversation with Kim Simonsen, a short reading from the book and a screening of the short film Áin (9 minutes). The film is directed by Thomas Koba, features poetry by Kim Simonsen and music by Heðin Ziska Davidsen.
The conversation will explore how a book can become rooted in a particular place and landscape, as well as geopoetics, trauma and how water and nature can become part of who we are, what we remember and what we carry with us. The starting point is the river Traðará in Strondum, where the author grew up.
The film was submitted to Geytin, the Faroese short film competition, in 2026 and has been screened in Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, China and Italy.
Participants Beinir Bergsson is the moderator, a writer and translator. His poetry collection Sólgarðurin (2021) was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2022. Beinir is also active as a commentator on contemporary art and creative practice.
Kim Simonsen is an author and publisher, holding a mag.art. degree and a PhD. He owns and runs the Publishing House Eksil. His poetry collection Lívfrøðiliga samansetingin í einum dropa av sjógvi minnir um blóðið í mínum æðrum (2023) was nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2024. His work explores the relationship between humans and nature, the sea, and now a river.
Thomas Koba is a film director and one of the founders of the production company Kovboyfilm. Together with his brother Michael Koba, he has been making films and commercials in the Faroe Islands for more than 20 years.
Heðin Ziska Davidsen is a musician and composer. He holds an MA in New Audiences and Innovative Practice from the Iceland University of the Arts, a programme that focuses on using innovative and interdisciplinary approaches to creating and communicating music.
Organiser: Forlagið Eksil