Sveinn Larus Hjartarson made quite the change to his life when he applied to enter The Film School

I had been working at a car lube service station and a friend of mine had applied to study to become a doctor in Slovakia. That somehow was a bit of a kick in the ass to do something I had always dreamed of, entering the film business. I applied to Acting after some careful thought of whether I would go for Screen writing and Directing or Acting. In the end I chose Acting and do not regret it.

Among the courses at The Film School is “The profession”. The course is meant to prepare the students for acting after graduation. Some practical information regarding building a career, like making a resume, ongoing and re-education and what opportunities are available. Students will be trained to prepare for and participating in auditions and help and direction in making a show-reel.

The class went for an audition to Andrea Brabin at Eskimo and I did really well. I was then asked to come back in August, for 2 auditions and a last one in September. Then in October I had the part. I play Kiddi in the show “Valhalla murders” that are produced by True North. A very interesting character that will surely be a pleasure to portray.

After shooting of “Valhalla murders” finishes I will probably come back to school for the Screen writing course, but I have been writing a lot lately. Then it is all about getting some publicity here at home. I have also been looking at schools abroad to continue this study and to enhance myself as an actor.

Opportunity knocks while studying as well

We here at The Icelandic Film School strive to connect to the world in as many ways as possible. The thinking there being that our students, as well as others, can keep track of the work that goes on at the school and get information on events that the school runs. But on top of that we also want to run news outlets about the film industry itself, both domestic and international, the industry being the perfect platform for all nations to combine in their effort to create art.
Of course it is more enjoyable that as many as possible who are interested are able to connect to this service and therefor we wanted to introduce the media we provide.

INSTAGRAM

Here we combine both intresting photographs from within the school itself and the students at work together with the film industry at large along with other interesting material

FACEBOOK in Icelandic / FACEBOOK in English

We have two Facebook pages, one in Icelandic and one in English. On Facebook we mostly share news of the Icelandic film industry along with opportunities that are available for students in film making. We keep track of everyday workings within the school, follow both former and current students in the industry and share items of interest

Here we follow the film industry globally, share news from festival, new and coming films, the newest technology and processing options and so much more

And last but not least, we have these websites, where one can find all information to do with the school, as well as news and interviews with students and staff and people in the film industry

The Icelandic Film School on the World Wide Web

So​ ​I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​the​ ​Icelandic​ ​Film​ ​School​ ​at​ ​IBC​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​For​ ​those​ ​of​ ​you​ ​who don’t​ ​know​ ​what​ ​IBC​ ​is,​ ​it’s​ ​basically​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​broadcast,​ ​tv​ ​and​ ​film making​ ​expo in​ ​Europe.
It​ ​is​ ​held​ ​in​ ​Amsterdam,​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Rai​ ​venue​ ​which​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​leading​ ​international exhibition​ ​and​ ​congress​ ​center​ ​in​ ​Europe​ ​located​ ​in​ ​the​ ​south​ ​of​ ​Amsterdam. The​ ​expo​ ​is​ ​always​ ​in​ ​September,​ ​so​ ​if​ ​you​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​go,​ ​bring​ ​an​ ​umbrella​ ​since September​ ​seem​ ​to​ ​be​ ​the​ ​“monsoon​ ​season”​ ​in​ ​Amsterdam.

With​ ​over​ ​1500​ ​exhibitors​ ​showing​ ​off​ ​their​ ​latest​ ​gear​ ​and​ ​around​ ​55,000​ ​guests, the​ ​expo​ ​is​ ​a​ ​dream​ ​come​ ​true​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​get​ ​a​ ​kick​ ​out​ ​of​ ​seeing,​ ​and sometimes​ ​testing​ ​all​ ​the​ ​new​ ​stuff​ ​that​ ​is​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​in​ ​the​ ​broadcast/cinema​ ​world.
Networking​ ​is​ ​a​ ​big​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​expo.​ ​While​ ​I​ ​was​ ​there​ ​I​ ​met​ ​some​ ​friends​ ​of​ ​the school​ ​and​ ​made​ ​some​ ​new​ ​ones.​
​The​ ​biggest​ ​part​ ​though​ ​is​ ​getting​ ​to​ ​see​ ​all​ ​the new​ ​things​ ​that​ ​are​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​from​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​names​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Industry.​ ​That Sony​ ​camera​ ​that​ ​everyone​ ​has​ ​been​ ​reading​ ​about​ ​for​ ​6​ ​months?​ ​It’s​ ​there.​ ​The latest​ ​post​ ​production​ ​software​ ​that​ ​will​ ​finally​ ​make​ ​your​ ​workflow​ ​perfect?​ ​It’s​ ​there. There​ ​is​ ​so​ ​much​ ​to​ ​see​ ​and​ ​even​ ​though​ ​the​ ​expo​ ​stretches​ ​over​ ​6​ ​days,​ ​it’s​ ​barely enough​ ​time​ ​to​ ​see​ ​everything​ ​you​ ​want.

The​ ​first​ ​day​ ​I​ ​was​ ​there​ ​I​ ​spent​ ​mostly​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​find​ ​my​ ​directions​ ​around​ ​the​ ​place. The​ ​Rai​ ​is​ ​huge,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​expo​ ​is​ ​divided​ ​into​ ​15​ ​different​ ​halls.​ ​I​ ​spent​ ​most​ ​of​ ​the time​ ​in​ ​halls​ ​10,11​ ​and​ ​12​ ​since​ ​that’s​ ​where​ ​all​ ​the​ ​film making​ ​equipment​ ​could​ ​be found.​ ​All​ ​the​ ​big​ ​names​ ​were​ ​there,​ ​Sony,​ ​Canon,​ ​Panasonic,​ ​Atomos,​ ​Aputure, Arri,​ ​Dedo,​ ​Cartoni….​ ​I​ ​could​ ​go​ ​on​ ​and​ ​on.
So​ ​what​ ​did​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​see?
Well​ ​I​ ​am​ ​what​ ​you​ ​would​ ​call​ ​a​ ​Camera​ ​enthusiast,​ ​or​ ​nerd​ ​if​ ​you​ ​want.​ ​So​ ​I​ ​was very​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​new​ ​cameras​ ​from​ ​Sony​ ​and​ ​Panasonic.
The​ ​EVA1​ ​from​ ​Panasonic​ ​is​ ​the​ ​one​ ​I​ ​was​ ​most​ ​excited​ ​about.​ ​Why?​ ​Well​ ​it’s​ ​price for​ ​starters.​ ​It​ ​costs​ ​around​ ​8000$​ ​and​ ​what​ ​you​ ​get​ ​for​ ​that​ ​is:

EF​ ​mount
2.6lb​ ​camera​ ​body
4k​ ​up​ ​to​ ​60p,​ ​2k​ ​up​ ​to​ ​240p
5.7K​ ​raw​ ​output​ ​via​ ​future​ ​firmware​ ​upgrade
V-log​ ​&​ ​V-gamus
400​ ​Mbps​ ​Recording
Dual​ ​SD​ ​card​ ​slots
4:2:2​ ​10​ ​Bit
2/4/6​ ​stop​ ​ND​ ​filter​ ​wheel
Removable​ ​IR​ ​filter​ ​via​ ​wheel

I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​try​ ​it​ ​out​ ​for​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​with​ ​a​ ​beautiful​ ​angenieux​ ​zoom​ ​lens​ ​and​ ​the​ ​images​ ​it​ ​can produce​ ​are​ ​quite​ ​something.

Another​ ​camera​ ​that​ ​people​ ​were​ ​drooling​ ​over​ ​was​ ​the​ ​more​ ​expensive​ ​Sony VENICE​ ​6K​ ​CineAlta​ ​camera. The​ ​specs​ ​are​ ​amazing​ ​and​ ​they​ ​should​ ​be​ ​since​ ​the​ ​price​ ​is​ ​around​ ​40,000$

Full​ ​Frame​ ​Sensor​ ​24×36​ ​mm
6K​ ​Full​ ​Frame​ ​6048​ ​x​ ​4032​ ​maximum​ ​resolution
4K​ ​Super35​ ​window Full​ ​Frame,​ ​full​ ​6048​ ​photosite​ ​width​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sensor
Widescreen​ ​spherical​ ​2.39:1​ ​or​ ​Large​ ​Format​ ​Scope
Super35​ ​full​ ​height​ ​2.0x​ ​squeeze​ ​Anamorphic
8-Step,​ ​8-Stop​ ​Internal​ ​NDs​ ​(0.3​ ​to​ ​2.4)
PL​ ​and​ ​Ruggedized​ ​E-mount​ ​(E-mount​ ​native)
Spherical​ ​FF​ ​&​ ​S35
Anamorphic​ ​FF​ ​&​ ​S35
15+​ ​Stops​ ​of​ ​Exposure​ ​Latitude
Native​ ​ISO​ ​500
Retains​ ​highlights​ ​and​ ​color​ ​detail​ ​6​ ​stops​ ​overexposed​ ​and​ ​9​ ​stops​ ​into​ ​the shadows
Power:​ ​both​ ​12​ ​VDC​ ​and​ ​24​ ​VDC

But​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​another​ ​thing​ ​with​ ​IBC​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​great.​ ​You​ ​get​ ​to​ ​see companies​ ​that​ ​are​ ​up​ ​and​ ​coming,​ ​many​ ​of​ ​whom​ ​have​ ​products​ ​that​ ​can​ ​make your​ ​film​ ​look​ ​great​ ​without​ ​breaking​ ​the​ ​bank.

One​ ​of​ ​my​ ​favorite​ ​companies​ ​in​ ​this​ ​industry​ ​at​ ​the​ ​moment​ ​is​ ​Aputure.​ ​They​ ​have taken​ ​the​ ​market​ ​by​ ​storm,​ ​offering​ ​competitive​ ​prices​ ​on​ ​LED​ ​light​ ​solutions​ ​and they​ ​also​ ​have​ ​a​ ​selection​ ​of​ ​some​ ​great​ ​on-camera​ ​monitors.

I​ ​spoke​ ​to​ ​Ted​ ​Sim,​ ​The​ ​chief​ ​creative​ ​officer​ ​at​ ​Aputure​ ​about​ ​the​ ​Lightstorm​ ​300d, a​ ​light​ ​they​ ​a​ ​releasing;

The​ ​new​ ​Lightstorm​ ​300d​ ​is​ ​a​ ​game​ ​changer​ ​for​ ​LED​ ​lighting.​ ​The​ ​light​ ​has​ ​what​ ​is called​ ​Chip​ ​On​ ​Board​ ​technology​ ​to​ ​replicate​ ​a​ ​single​ ​point​ ​source​ ​light.​ ​In​ ​practical terms​ ​this​ ​means​ ​the​ ​light​ ​casts​ ​one​ ​shadow​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​multiple​ ​shadows​ ​you typically​ ​get​ ​with​ ​the​ ​banks​ ​of​ ​LEDs​ ​on​ ​panel​ ​lights. There’s​ ​now​ ​a​ ​magenta​ ​filter​ ​that​ ​adds​ ​a​ ​touch​ ​of​ ​correction​ ​to​ ​the​ ​COB’s​ ​light,​ ​and tweaks​ ​the​ ​fixture’s​ ​TLCI​ ​score​ ​up​ ​to​ ​(a​ ​claimed)​ ​98


​Ted​ ​claims​ ​it’s​ ​comparable​ ​to​ ​a​ ​traditional​ ​2K​ ​HMI,​ ​putting​ ​out​ ​31,000​ ​Lux​ ​at​ ​1m.
That​ ​is​ ​quite​ ​impressive​ ​for​ ​a​ ​light​ ​that​ ​only​ ​costs​ ​around​ ​1,000$

The​ ​LS1​ ​Led​ ​panel​ ​is​ ​another​ ​light​ ​from​ ​Aputure​ ​I​ ​am​ ​quite​ ​fond​ ​of. The​ ​specs​ ​are​ ​impressive​ ​for​ ​a​ ​compact​ ​led​ ​panel
● High​ ​CRI​ ​98,​ ​perfect​ ​color​ ​of​ ​sunlight​ ​and​ ​ensure​ ​that​ ​its​ ​light​ ​is​ ​natural​ ​and lifelike
● Daylight​ ​5500K​ ​color​ ​temperature
● Unique​ ​light-control​ ​separation​ ​design
● Tough​ ​and​ ​Professional​ ​Aero-Aluminum,​ ​Ultra-Small​ ​Size

I​ ​got​ ​to​ ​use​ ​it​ ​on​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​of​ ​shoots​ ​and​ ​I​ ​love​ ​it​ ​because​ ​of​ ​it’s​ ​output,​ ​portability​ ​and the​ ​remote​ ​option.​ ​Plus​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​ ​well​ ​built​ ​so​ ​it​ ​can​ ​definitely​ ​take​ ​a​ ​knock​ ​or​ ​two.

The​ ​software​ ​solutions​ ​at​ ​IBC​ ​were​ ​quite​ ​impressive​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​I​ ​checked​ ​out​ ​an​ ​event at​ ​the​ ​Blackmagic​ ​design​ ​booth​ ​where​ ​they​ ​were​ ​showing​ ​of​ ​all​ ​the​ ​new​ ​potentials​ ​in DaVinci​ ​Resolve​ ​14.​ ​This​ ​version​ ​is​ ​their​ ​biggest​ ​update​ ​yet,​ ​and​ ​they​ ​claim​ ​it​ ​is revolutionary.​ ​Once​ ​DaVinci​ ​was​ ​only​ ​used​ ​for​ ​color​ ​grading.​ ​Now​ ​with​ ​the​ ​new version​ ​you​ ​can​ ​do​ ​all​ ​your​ ​editing,​ ​grading​ ​and​ ​post​ ​sound​ ​work​ ​in​ ​the​ ​application.​ ​I was​ ​actually​ ​amazed​ ​how​ ​simple​ ​and​ ​user​ ​friendly​ ​it​ ​looked.​ ​I​ ​would​ ​not​ ​be​ ​surprised if​ ​Amateurs​ ​and​ ​pros​ ​alike​ ​start​ ​using​ ​DaVinci​ ​Resolve​ ​for​ ​their​ ​work.

Here​ ​is​ ​some​ ​info​ ​on​ ​DaVinci​ ​from​ ​Blackmagic​ ​Design:
DaVinci​ ​Resolve​ ​14​ ​has​ ​hundreds​ ​of​ ​new​ ​features​ ​for​ ​editors,​ ​colorists​ ​and​ ​now,​ ​for the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​audio​ ​professionals.
The​ ​new​ ​playback​ ​engine​ ​dramatically​ ​increases​ ​responsiveness​ ​with​ ​up​ ​to​ ​10x better​ ​performance​ ​for​ ​editors.
You​ ​also​ ​get​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​new​ ​page​ ​with​ ​the​ ​full​ ​Fairlight​ ​audio​ ​post​ ​production​ ​tools​ ​that let​ ​you​ ​record,​ ​edit,​ ​mix,​ ​sweeten​ ​and​ ​master​ ​sound​ ​with​ ​full​ ​3D​ ​audio​ ​space​ ​and​ ​up to​ ​1000​ ​channels.
Colorists​ ​will​ ​find​ ​amazing​ ​new​ ​Resolve​ ​FX​ ​that​ ​include​ ​automatic​ ​facial​ ​recognition and​ ​tracking​ ​for​ ​quickly​ ​smoothing​ ​skin​ ​tones,​ ​brightening​ ​eyes,​ ​changing​ ​lip​ ​color and​ ​more!


So​ ​I​ ​could​ ​go​ ​on​ ​and​ ​on​ ​about​ ​IBC​ ​but​ ​I​ ​think​ ​there​ ​is​ ​only​ ​one​ ​way​ ​to​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know​ ​it. Go​ ​there!​ ​Flights​ ​from​ ​Iceland​ ​are​ ​cheap,​ ​hotels​ ​can​ ​be​ ​pricy​ ​but​ ​there​ ​is​ ​always Airbnb​ ​and​ ​hostels.

Finally​ ​I​ ​will​ ​give​ ​you​ ​some​ ​tips​ ​if​ ​you​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​go​ ​to​ ​IBC​ ​2018:
● Register​ ​early​ ​(early​ ​bird​ ​registrations​ ​are​ ​free,​ ​but​ ​if​ ​you​ ​miss​ ​out​ ​on​ ​that​ ​you can​ ​find​ ​some​ ​companies​ ​who​ ​are​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be​ ​exhibiting​ ​there​ ​and​ ​many​ ​of them​ ​offer​ ​a​ ​coupon​ ​code​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can​ ​get​ ​a​ ​free​ ​pass​ ​to​ ​IBC)
● Bring​ ​an​ ​umbrella​ ​and​ ​a​ ​raincoat​ ​(trust​ ​me)
● Reserve​ ​a​ ​place​ ​to​ ​stay​ ​early​ ​(I​ ​was​ ​quite​ ​late​ ​in​ ​booking​ ​a​ ​place,​ ​but​ ​me​ ​and my​ ​girlfriend​ ​found​ ​an​ ​AirBnb​ ​apartment​ ​for​ ​a​ ​reasonable​ ​price)
● Buy​ ​a​ ​Tram​ ​Card​ ​(taxis​ ​can​ ​be​ ​expensive​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Tram​ ​system​ ​in​ ​Amsterdam is​ ​great)

Stefán Loftsson went to IBC on behalf of The Film School

Rannveig Elsa Magnúsdóttir graduated from Acting in the spring of 2018 and here you can enjoy her showreel

We congratulate her on the achievement and will follow her career in the future

Rannveig Elsa Magnúsdóttir, a graduate from Acting

The Icelandic Film Web Klapptré has published a list of films currently being shown in the polish cities Gdańsk, Poznań, Warszawa.

The films are a part of a project called Ultima Thule – At the End of the World , a cultural cooperation by the two nations.

The interesting thing about the films is that many of them are products of Icelandic Film School teachers, 11 of the 27 films to be exact.

The Seagull‘s Laughter by Ágúst Guðmundsson

Either Way by Hafsteinn Gunnar Sigurðsson

City State and Brave Men´s Blood, script by head of Screenwriting/Directing

Films by IFS teachers shown in festival Poland

Kinema, our wonderful student organization

First semester of Directing and Producing sat a course in production with Hlin Johannesdottir (Bokeh, Svanurinn) and directing where they worked with actors under the guidance of Thorsteinn Bachman (Let me fall, Vonarstraeti) along with first semester students of Screen writing and Directing. Third semester went to SAM, where they had a chance to work with other students shooting.

First semester students of Creative Technology sat their first course in editing under the direction of David Alexander Corno (Undir Halastjornu, Woman at war) as well as a course in film editing under the guidance of Sigurgeir Arinbjarnarson (Everest, Star Trek Discovery). Second semester students sat a course in sound editing with Kjartan Kjartansson (Sodoma Reykjavik) and also a course in after effect with Sigurgeir Arinbjarnarson (Everest, Star Trek Discovery). Third semester engaged in the first part of choosing their specific area of focus and will get an assigned mentor to explore that particular field in details. 

First semester of Screen writing and Directing sat their first course in full length scripts with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki) where they will begin working on a script that they will continue working on through the coming semesters, and in direction where they will work with actors under the guidance Thorsteinn Bachman (Let me fall, Vonarstaeti) along with the first semester of Screen writing and Directing. Third semester finished their course in full length scripts with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki) where they wrote their first draft of their full length script. Fourth semester students began shooting their graduation films.

In Acting, first semester students sat a course in vocal training and singing with Thorunn Erna Clausen (Loi), acting and movement where they work with the expression of the body, guided by Gudmundur Elias Knudsen, and acting interpretation with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL).  Second semester students sat a course in vocal training with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos) and did acting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL). Third semester students went to SAM, where they got an opportunity to work with other students shooting.  


Kinema, the Film Schools student organisation, offered a Script Workshop and Karaoke night on Tuesday and Game night on Thursday.


The week ended as usual with film history at Bio Paradis movie theater. 



SAM visit and shooting has started on graduation films

First semester students at the school (Directing/Producing, Creative Technology, Screenwriting/Directing, Acting) finished filming their one minute film and began editing under the direction of Agusta Margret Johannesdottir (UseLess)

Third semester in Directing/Producing had a period in producing with as well as study under the experienced producer Jon Egill Bergthorsson in a course on multi-camera work and are writing the script for their own short film under the direction of Tinna Hrafnsdottir (Munda),that they will direct at the end of the semester.

Students in Creative Technology began a course in editing under the tutelage of where they edit, among more, individual projects that they shot in a cinematography course. They also sat a class in art history by Lee Lorenzo Lynch.  Creative Technology third semester students finished a course in sound editing and sound mixing with as well as starting a course in cinematography with Tomas Orn Tomasson (Arctic, Lazy Town) where they will shoot their own documentary.

Third semester students of Screenwriting/Directing had an intergration course where they will write a script for their own short film under the direction of that they will direct at the end of the semester. They also started a course in script writing, where they will write a first draft for full length films with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki). 

Students in the fourth semester were also busy with full length scripts with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki), rewriting their scripts from last semester as well as working on a script for their graduation projects with the screenwriter Huldar Breidfjord ( Under the tree, Paris Nordursins) 

Second semester Acting students did a singing course with Thorunn Erna Clausen (Rettur, Loi) and a course in improv and comedy with Mani Arnarsson (Improv Iceland). Third semester students did a course in acting technique and interpretation with Thorsteinn Bachmann (Lof mer að falla, Trapped), acting history with and also did clowning.

And as usual, the week ended in Bio Paradis where the whole school enjoyed Film History. 


The board of directors and dean would like to start by going through the response from The Icelandic Film School regarding the MeToo movement and the accounts of sexual offences within the film industry, among them at The Film School.

On Monday the 27th of November the accounts were published publicly. That day work was started to form a response team. The work was done in cooperation with the student council to man the team. An announcement was made to the students about the newly formed team on Wednesday the 29th of October. The official response of the school was then published in the news on the 1st and 4th of December. An outside professional, a nurse with both experience and qualifications in the subject, has been hired to assist the team and the first meeting will be held on Tuesday. From there there working standards will be set with the expressed point of eradicating anything that may be construed as sexual offences within the schools operation. The response team will also go through any older complaints in regards to how to handle them and will be sending out a report, likely by the end of next week.

During the time that the accounts are referring to, about 600 students have been at the school and teachers/counselors have been about 160. During this time many problems have been faced, as you can expect within a school, and response teams, both for bullying and violent matters have been formed, to successfully conclude these issues.

The expressed accounts that are being reported by Stundin have never been formally addressed by the schools board of directors. The complaints that were made seven years ago do not seem to have been handled in the proper manner. The schools directors and dean are extremely disturbed by the accounts published in the article, as by the account there was clearly inappropriate behavior by a counselor. There is full cause to apologize for the school not confronting this issue appropriately when the complaint was made. It should be made clear that this particular counselor no longer works for the school. This incident will however be fully explored from the standpoint of what we can learn from it and how we can improve.

The Metoo movement is a clear message that there are many cases of women being treated unjustly and trod upon in the film industry. The Film Schools board of directors and dean are well aware of the responsibility the school has in implementing a new and better culture within the industry. The Icelandic Film School should be exemplary, it being an educational institution for the people within the industry. The school is extremely saddened by this criticism and will be decisively handling the issue. We will announce the progress during the next days and weeks. Students taking the spring semester will notice different working practices.

Kind regards,
The board of directors and dean of The Icelandic Film School

Regarding Stundin´s report on The Icelandic Film School

Students of The Film School have many films at RIFF this year

Tonight at 8pm, we will be showing our students graduation films at Bio Paradis and you are all invited to join us and enjoy

A young man tries to reignite a dead spark between himself and his former girlfriend, but the situation has changed and he needs to face the ice cold truth.

A surreal short film about a young man suffering from self doubt. He travels to another world where he meets an old man and has to decide what course he will take in life.

A story about mythology or misunderstanding of both. A fairytale retelling the saga of the werewolf as a young woman getting her period: emotional volatility as strength

A young couple in their prime invite their parents for dinner. The evening takes a sharp turn when some unexpected news make a dent in the plans.

Who is Kolbeinn? A fighter. That is the only thing he knows about himself. Kolbeinn and his friends are young boxers, training for the Nordic Championship. However, a serious accident risks compromising the future of boxing in all the Nordic countries. Who will Kolbeinn be?

Thor lives in a world where men can not show emotions and vulnerability. He is faced with a shock and does all he can to forget it, be “strong” and suppress his grief.

Skjaldborg, the Icelandic documentary festival

First semester students at the school (Directing/Producing, Creative Technology, Screenwriting/Directing, Acting) finished editing their one minute film under the direction of Agusta Margret Johannesdottir (UseLessand then premiered their first film project. The films were interesting and varied, and we can surely say that it will be exciting to track their progress.

First semester in Directing/Producing began classes in Visual storytelling with with first semester students of Screenwriting/DirectingThird semester in Directing/Producing had a period in producing with as well as study under the experienced producer Jon Egill Bergthorsson in a course on multi-camera work and are writing the script for their own short film under the direction of Tinna Hrafnsdottir (Munda),that they will direct at the end of the semester.

Students in Creative Technology began a course in editing under the tutelage of where they edit, among more, individual projects that they shot in a cinematography course. They also sat a class in art history by Lee Lorenzo Lynch.  Creative Technology third semester students sat a course in cinematography with Tomas Orn Tomasson (Arctic, Lazy Town) where they will shoot their own documentary as well as taping a multi camera show. They also started a course in special effects under the direction of  Sigurgeir Arinbjornsson (Everest, Star Trek: Discovery)

Third semester students of Screenwriting/Directing had an integration course where they will write a script for their own short film under the direction of that they will direct at the end of the semester as well as a course in script writing, where they will write a first draft for full length films with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki). 

First semester Acting students started courses in vocal training with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos)andacting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL). Second semester Acting students did a singing course with Thorunn Erna Clausen (Rettur, Loi) and acting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL). Third semester students did a course in acting technique and interpretation with Thorsteinn and acting history.

And as usual, the week ended in Bio Paradis where the whole school enjoyed Film History. 


Hardworking students sat by their computers this week editing their short films that will be premiered in two weeks. Although the second semester of Creative Technology did sit a course in special effects with Sigurgeir Arinbjörnsson (Star Trek: Discovery, Everest) and the third semester took a course in specializing, where students choose two specialized directions to increase their knowledge of the field.

Students in their second semester of Acting were hard at work rehearsing for the premiere of a new play next week and third semester continued their work on the musical that they will be putting on at the end of the semester, under the guidance of Thorunn Erna Clausen (Loi) , and did 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.

You could say that the Icelandic Film School was taking this years local short-film festival Gullmolinn in Kópavogur by a storm.
The winner was “Það er margt myrkrið veit”, Inga Sandra Hjartardóttir´s graduation film from Acting last spring. The film was directd by Lovísa Lára Halldórsdóttir also a IFS graduate.
The film was produced by a firm “Anthems Of Our Youth” founded by three graduates from IFS, Margrét Buhl, Nanna Höjgaard Grettisdóttir and Lovísa in order to carry out their own ideas. Their main goal is to find ways to create opportunities for themselves and make women more visible in filmmaking.
Out of 13 short-films 9 were produced at the IFS this year. We send our congradualations to the winners as well as all participants.

IFS taking short-film festival Gullmolinn by storm

Black Magic Design in Iceland has donated two new high quality cameras to IFS.

The two cameras in question are Blackmagic URSA 4K Digital Cinema Camera – PL Mount. They give a 4K resolution and are considered a great addition to the IFS equipment.

IFS expresses it´s gratitude to Black Magic Design for this precious donation.

Black Magic Design´s generous donation to IFS

To celebrate the 25th year of The Icelandic Film School, we will be showing 25 chosen short films made by our graduates of the past. This time we have chosen “Echo” from the spring semester of 2015.

The short film “Echo” was the graduation project of Atli Þór Einarsson, who graduated from the Directing and producing department of The Film School in the spring of 2015.

The list is long when it comes to practical use of the things I learned at The Film School. Whether to do with organisation, the creative process, equipment, or simply human contact, you will graduate with a wealth of experience.Today I am working full time at the production company Tjarnargatan, doing all sorts of projects connected to film making. I got to know the company through the schools work incentive and am endlessly grateful for that

The play was written by 3rd semester students of Screen Writing/Directing, and the actors came from 2nd semester students from Acting. The play was directed by Runar Gudbrandsson. It is safe to say they all did a wonderful job and here you can enjoy some pictures from the performance.

The play “Birthday” was shown the other day

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Opportunity knocks while studying as well

The Icelandic Film School on the World Wide Web

Stefán Loftsson went to IBC on behalf of The Film School

Rannveig Elsa Magnúsdóttir, a graduate from Acting

Films by IFS teachers shown in festival Poland

Kinema, our wonderful student organization

SAM visit and shooting has started on graduation films

Last week at The Film School

Regarding Stundin´s report on The Icelandic Film School

Students of The Film School have many films at RIFF this year

Graduation films premiered

Skjaldborg, the Icelandic documentary festival

Never a dull moment at The Film School

Premiers on the horizon

IFS taking short-film festival Gullmolinn by storm

Black Magic Design´s generous donation to IFS

And the next short film is….

The play “Birthday” was shown the other day

Diplomas

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