We got hold of Arnar Benjamín Kristjánsson, managing director, and were able to delve a little bit into the companies beginnings, but it started when they were students at The Film School. Their venture began in 2011 and has grown steadily since.

Most of us began working together at our second term in The Film School in 2011, when we made the shortfilm „Eitt skot“. At that time we were only four persons of the eventual eight, but when the school had to temporarily close in the fall of 2011, the schools director let us know that the equipment rental would be open to us during the closing and we took him at his word and made the web series „Ævintýri á einkamál“. At that time three more people were added and the group became a team. Later one of the group withdrew and Hilmar Loftsson, who was not from The Film School, but had studied animation and special effects at Tækniskólinn, joined the team. We formally started the company in 2013 and we have made two full length films and 12 short films so far

With a plethora of ideas they saw an opening in the market

We just want to tell stories. When we were students the subject of how Icelandic films tended to be dull and similar was often approached and we simply wanted to change that. Mankind has the ability to tell stories and where would we be without that?

The team is extremely varied and can therefore accept many different projects and challenges, including on an international scale

We are eight owners and founders, but we also have three coworkers that are not owners but work with us in most of our projects. Arnar Benjamín is the managing director and producer, his job is to finance the films as well as schedule shoots and more. Guðni Líndal is a director and scriptwriter, who is also the head of development, that is he develops most of the assignments we take and works with incoming directors to adjust his scripts before they starts shooting. Páll Ingi is a script writer and is also VP of development; Viggó Hansson is a cameraman and films most of our projects. Stefán Örn is also a cameraman but is mostly a „focus puller“ and first assistant cameraman. Ari Rannveigarson is our soundman, Eyjólfur Ásberg is our assistant director and Hilmar Loftsson does our graphic design. Then we have three others: Einar Pétursson producer who is located in the States and will be in charge of our offices that we plan to open there in October, Haraldur Thorlacius is also a producer and Simon Deely has recently joined us as a script reader in London and will be in charge of reading the scripts we receive in English.

They obviously do not have a quiet moment and plenty of items in the works

We just finished shooting two short films in Edinburgh in Scotland. „Donor“ is directed by Guðni Líndal who also wrote the script and then „A Skinny Girls Guide to Gaining Weight” that was also written by Guðni but directed by Sölmundur Ísaks. We plan on them being ready at the beginning of October and will submit them to international film festivals. On top of that we have acquired the rights to the book „Þín eigin þjóðsaga“ by Ævar Þór Benediktsson and are working on transforming it into a television show that Guðni and Ævar are writing together.
We are also in the development stages of a film called „Among Shadows“ in collaboration with both Swedish and Finnish producers, as well as working on a full length feature film by Guðni Líndal, so we have many projects running.

A lot of work has gone into building the company and that shows

We have spent five years to build up a reputation and recognition in the field and all that work is slowly starting to pay off. We are opening an office in Los Angeles next fall when Hilmar will be moving there and he and Einar will head up that office.
Our dream is to be able to do our own projects as we so have many exciting ideas to choose from.

It will be interesting to follow the productions of Fenrir Films in the future and we wish them the best of luck on their endeavors

The staff at Fenrir Films are working on exciting projects and among them are former students of The Film School

To celebrate the 25th year of operations of The Icelandic Film School, we will be showing 25 graduation films of our students of the years past. This time we are showing the short film “White men” from the winter of 2011/2012

The short film “White men” was the graduation project of Vivian Olafsdottir that graduated from Acting in 2012

Studying at The Icelandic Film School was a gift from me to me. I took Acting, that I recommend for everyone and I also got a good basic knowledge in film making that I have been able to utilize well and will continue to do in the future, but that base opened my job opportunities even further. I tell everyone that asks me about the studies at The Film School, that the “tools” I got and learnt to use are not only the technique to be a great actor, but also tools to live a better life. Besides all that, I met my husband at the school and will always be grateful for that, along with some great friends and people that are immersed in the same things I am, acting and film making

Our thanks to Vivian for this and hope you enjoy the film

We have updated the curriculum but the latest edition represents 2015 – 2016. The curriculum is reviewed every year, specifically in terms of strengthening and increasing the quality of the school and education. All current students and students to be, should explore this document well because it offers the most accurate guide to the structure of the programs available and defines what the Icelandic Film School is all about.

You can download the curriculum as a PDF document here or view it in your browser here. All published works are presented on a site called publishing where you’ll find graduation brochures, the curriculum and more.

We decided to grab a few upcoming graduates and ask them a bit about their time at The Icelandic Film School. We are starting with Inga Oskarsdottir, who will soon be graduating from Screen Writing and Directing

Why did you choose to study at The Film School and why did you pick Screen writing and Directing ?

I have always loved films and comedy. I guess my longing to make a comedy film got me here and in my department I can create my own stories and decide how to bring them to life, which is perfect

Can you tell us a bit about your graduation project?

My project is a comedy (big surprize) about a mother and daughter on their way to a funeral, but the way there is not the easy way. It has been extremely hard, but an extremely fun process. The film is called “Mother knows worst” and Ingibjorg Reynisdottir and Bjork Gudmundsdottir are in the lead roles

The preparation has gone up and down, like usually. There will be days where everything flows perfectly and then it can all go down the toilet the next day. But in the end everything seems to come together

What are your plans for after graduation?

My future plans lie in further education in the field of directing abroad and to create interesting projects for myself. I for instance am thoroughly excited about making a documentary as soon as I can

Do you have a memorable moment from your studies you can share?

During my 2. semester I was a runner for another students film and Egill Olafs was acting in the film. Among my duties I had to pick him up and drive him home after a day of shooting. We drove to Akranes together and back and he called me Skutlan (Shuttle). We have beautiful memories from those few days, Egill and I.
A second one was when my classmate Kristjan mistakenly threw an open amino box over the classroom table and the powder all covered Adalgeir, another classmate who was far too busy taking an important phone call to deal with the distraction. That was a good moment

Two important international nominations for IFS student´s music videos

There was a quiet calm over the school this week, as most of our students were either shooting their own films, or assisting other students with theirs. First semester students in all departments; Directing and Producing, Creative Technology, Screenwriting and Directing, and Acting, began shooting their short films. They will work in groups of 3-4 persons making 7 minute short films with no dialogue. Third semester students of Directing and Producing finished shooting their own short films. Second and third semester students of Creative Technology were on location with students, as well as taking a course in specializing, where students choose one of two specialized directions to increase their knowledge of the field. Third semester of Screenwriting and Directing were shooting their short films and fourth semester worked hard in editing their graduation projects.

Second semester students of Acting assisted and acted in their fellow students films and third semester kept working on their musical that they will premiere at the end of the semester, under the direction of Thorunn Erna Clausen (Loi), finished editing the scenes directed by visiting directors last week and began a course in television programming under the guidance of Baldvin Albertsson (Tjarnargatan). Fourth semester worked on editing their graduation films.

Kinema, the Film Schools student organisation, offered a Script Workshop and Karaoke night.

The biggest “on location” week of the year

Like every other country in the world, Iceland has been dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. The most important thing to remember is that every member of the society is in the fight against this scourge together. 

In response to the virus, The Minister of Health, Svandis Svavarsdottir,  declared a four-week assembly ban, which took effect at midnight on the 15th of March. This action was taken at the recommendation of the Chief Epidemiologist in order to impede the spread of Covid-19. Further information on the procedures can be found here: https://www.covid.is/categories/icelands-response

In accordance, the Icelandic Film School has temporarily suspended all teaching on the premises of the school and changed all classes to online teaching – teacher and students gathering in a digital space to learn the craft of film making. As soon as the assembly ban is over – expected in mid-April – students will return to the school for hands-on practice turning the school into a full force production house.

Although the crisis is serious, Iceland has a unique advantage to deal with it quickly and efficiently with minimal costs to the health of its citizens. The fact the country is a small, peaceful island, with a strong community, makes us confident that we will come out the other side of the crisis quickly and stronger than ever – and the Icelandic Film School starting strong next fall, with a crop of eager new students ready to make some films. 


Information about Iceland and the Covid-19 pandemic

1st semester students continued their first course, TAEK 107, where all the departments of the school learn the basics of film making and began shooting their first film, which they will be premiering soon.

2nd semester students of Directing and Producing finished a course in scheduling for television with the 3rd semester of Acting, under the guidance of Baldvin Albertsson, as well as taking art history with Lee Lorenzo Lynch. They also continued a course in Directing with Börkur Gunnarsson (Thetta Reddast) with the students of Script writing and Directing. 4th semester students did a script course with Huldar Breidfjords (Pabbahelgar, Under the tree) with the 4th semester of Script writing and Directing, where they will be working towards a script for their graduation project, as well as taking a course in directing with 
Hilmar Oddsson (Kaldaljos, Tar ur Steini) where they continued work on their graduation projects. On top of that the 4th semester sat a course in founding production companies and applications, as well as a class in current film history.


2nd semester students of Creative Technology sat a course in cinematography with .and each one shot a short film that they then took to an editing course guided by 
David Alexander Corno (Woman at war). 3rd semester students continued a course in sound editing with Kjartan Kjartasson (101 Reykjavik, Svartur a Leik) and began a cinematography course with 
Bjorn Ofeigsson (Gnarr, Lazy Town) where they will shoot their own documentary and sat a screen writing course with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki). 4th semester students took a production course with the 4th semester of Script writing and Directing under the guidance of Arnar Benjamins (A Reykjavik Porno, Þorsti) and continued preparing their graduation projects with their guide Olafur De Fleur (Borgriki, Malevolent).
On top of that the 4th semester sat a course in founding production companies and applications, as well as a class in current film history.


2nd semester students of Script writing and Directing sat a course in script writing for television, where they will write a pilot for their own show under the direction of Dogg Mosesdottir(Höfundur Óþekktur, Me & Bobby Fischer), art history with Lee Lorenzo Lynch and sat a course in Directing with Borkur Gunnarsson (Thetta Reddast) along with students of Directing and Producing.
4th semester students sat a course in producing with Arnar Benjamins (A Reykjavik Porno, Thorsti) and started a course in directing with 
Hilmar Oddsson (Kaldaljos, Tar ur Steini), as well as a course in founding production companies and applications, as well as a class in current film history.


2nd semester students of Acting did a course in acting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a Leik) and began a course in vocal work with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos). 3rd semester students finished a course in scheduling for television with the 2nd semester of Directing and Producing headed by Baldvin Albertsson with an introduction for guests from the industry and began a course in Acting history with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik) as well as working on acting technique with Hannes Oli Agustsson (Metalhead). 
4th semester sat a course in script writing with Kolbrun Anna Bjornsdottir (Svartir Englar) , a refresher course in vocal work with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos) and then a course in the making of a dance video with Kolbrun Anna Bjornsdottir (Svartir Englar) and They also did a course on how to make a showreel and practicing for auditions. On top of that the 4th semester sat a course in founding production companies and applications, as well as a class in current film history.

Kinema also had their game night, their regular writers room, gave out the school t-shirts and enjoyed their pizzas.

Students hard at work on their graduation films

Paramount Television Studios announces television series “Reagan & Gorbachev”

Despite multiple challenges faced this year, our students, both current and graduated, took part in some major projects, both here in Iceland and abroad, and here are just a few 

„My film is a documentary about when foals are taken in from the fields and we watch the first steps in the taming process. We take a look into the world of horse breeders and what expectations they have to the young horses. Recently there have been many changes made in the taming of horses and are the current methods examined,“ says Thury Bara Birgisdottir about her graduation project from The Film School. 

COVID worked with me on my final assignment

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The staff at Fenrir Films are working on exciting projects and among them are former students of The Film School

25 years of Icelandic films

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Two important international nominations for IFS student´s music videos

The biggest “on location” week of the year

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COVID worked with me on my final assignment

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