The icelandic film miracle – Ragnar Bragason on icelandic filmmakers

Film making in Iceland has seen some amazing things happening in recent years. Icelandic director Ragnar Bragason made a revealing list of events and impressive facts concerning the business in Iceland on Facebook the other day and we believe there is a valid reason to share his words with you.

Icelandic filmmakers are on a roll. Incredible things have happened internationally in the past 12 months. Highlights include:
Of Horses and Men gets the Nordic Council Film Prize.
Johann Johannsson receives an Golden Globe for Best Soundtrack and a nomination for an Oscar.
Thor Sigurjonsson, Skuli Malmquist and Joni Sighvatsson produce Z for Zachariah with big name stars and premiere at Sundance.
Virgin Mountain receives three major prizes at Tribeca.
Rams wins Un Certain Regard at Cannes and then a price at every other festival. Variety predicts that it will be nominated for Best Foreign at the Oscars.
TV series Trapped is sold to all major networks in Europe and will be distributed by The Weinstein Company in the US.
Baltasar Kormakur directs Everest, opening film at Venice and tops the box office in over 15 countries. He also receives the Filmmaker of the Year prize from The National Association of Theatre Owners in the US for his past successes.
And today Runar Runarsson’s Sparrows wins Best Film at San Sebastian.
Not mentioning other numerous awards and critical successes of other Icelandic features, documentaries and shorts.
I don’t think people fully realise how incredible this is for a nation of 320.000 people