To celebrate The Icelandic Film Schools 25th year we will be showing selected short films from graduated students through the years. We present the short film “Dear Kaleb” from the fall semester 2010.

The shortfilm “Dear Kaleb” was the gradution project of Erlendur Sveinsson and Anton Smári Gunnarsson that graduated from Directing and producing and Creative technology in the fall of 2010.

Speaking with Erlendur, he said;

I have worked in the film industry since I graduated from The Icelandic Film School in 2010 and have mostly focused on advertisements, films and television shows. I live in New York at the moment where I am beginning my final year in getting a Masters diploma in Directing at the Columbia University. My studies at The Icelandic Film School have proved very valuable, it was there that I took my first steps in the industry and got the freedom to create and met wonderful people that I have worked with closely ever since

As we here at The Icelandic Film School celebrate our 25th year, we will be showing selected works of our graduated students. This time it will be the short film “Freyja”

The short film “Freyja” was a 3rd semester project by Marzibil Sæmundsdóttir, that graduated from Script writing and Directing in the spring of 2013.

We contacted Marzibil, who both directed and wrote the film;

The studies at The Film School teaches you all you need to learn to become a good film maker, it is up to you to use the experience to the fullest. The teachers are a goldmine and offer you anything you need, if you want it. I own a producing company with two others today, we are right now making short- and documentary films, as well as preparing a full length film. All that I do and live off today is connected to films. I am the manager of Stockfish film festival, I teach at the film school and make movies with arCus Films which is our production company. If you truly want to make great films, The Films School will give you all that you need

Næsta mynd er “Freyja” eftir Marzibil Sæmundsdóttur

The first semester of Directing/Producing sat a course in script making with the scriptwriter and director Reynir Lyngdal (Okkar Eigin Oslo, Hraunid) and began a course in commercial making with the master of commercials, Freyr Arnason. The third semester started taping a multi camera show, that was taped live under the direction of the experienced producer Jon Egill Bergthorsson as well as writing a script for their own short film with the direction of Tinna Hrafnsdottir (Munda) that they will direct at the end of the semester.

First semester students of Creative Technology finished a course in sound with the head of sound, Kjartan Kjartansson (101 Reykjavik, Englar Alheimsins). Second semester students sat a course with the whole second semester, where they will each shoot, edit and premiere a short film that shows their personal style. Guiding them are and.Third semester students sat a course in cinematography with where they shot live a multi camera show and began shooting a documentary. 

The first semester of Screen writing/Directing sat a course in the basic rules of screen writing under the direction of the head of types of scripts, Otto Geir Borg (Eg man þig, Astropia).Third semester students sat a course in integration where they will write the script for their own short film under the guidamce of  that they will direct at the end of the semester, as well as write a first draft for a full length film with. Fourth semester students finished writing a script for their graduation project with the screenwriter Huldar Breidfjord ( Under the tree, Paris Nordursins),sat a course in producing where they will be, among more, preparing their final film under the guidance of and began a course in directing with that is also used in their preparation for their graduation film. 


First semester students of Acting sat a course in vocal training with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos) and acting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL). Second semester students sat a course with other second semesters, where they will each shoot, edit and premiere a short film that describes their personal style. They will be directed by Agusta Margret Johannsdottir (UseLess) and Linda Stefansdottir (The Fifth Estate). Third semester students sat a course in acting technique and interpretation with Thorsteinn Bachmann (Lof mer að falla, Trapped) and worked with acting technique in front of the camera with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL).

Kinema, the Icelandic Film Schools student union, offered a Screen writing workshop, Karaoke Tuesday and a Game night Thursday as is traditional. They will also be celebrating The Pink Day next week. 


We then ended the week all together at film history, this time at Laugarasbio. 


A multi camera show shot live and students immersed in project filming

Knútur Haukstein is a versatile individual that graduated from the Acting department of the Icelandic Film School. Yesterday a music video with the band Major Pink was released, but in it Knútur directed and filmed as well as writing the script with the bands singer, Gunnar Ingi Valgeirsson. We got in touch with Knútur and got to pry a little bit.

What allures me the most to film making is that it is an art form that can bring together so many different artistic expressions. Films are stories, music, photographs, graphic novels and paintings, combined together under one group called “Films”. The possibilities are endless but they do have in common that you can tell a story with moving pictures.

Music is obviously also tantalizing and Knútur has been able to combine these passions well.

Knútur Haukstein Ólafsson tells us about his projects and the variety of work he has been doing since graduating from the Film School

Frostbiter horror film festival will be held in Akranes this weekend and among the films shown are quite a few that have been made by students of The Icelandic Film School. Here are a few more to add to the ones already named;

Mr. Renfield, a traveling salesman, seeks out a rich customer situated in Carfax Abbey. Meanwhile Dr. Van Helsing sets out to investigate a series of strange disappearances around the same area

Knútur Haukstein Ólafsson, a graduate from Acting at The Film School, directed with Arnór Elís Kristjánsson and Heimir Snær Sveinsson.


The movie tells about four youngsters who go out for a trip to a cottage, but on the way they have an unfortunate accident

This short film is by Sigurður Ingi Sigurðsson

A young couple takes the advise of a local and seeks shelter in an abandoned farm house. As daylight begins to fade, strange things start to happen

Daði Einarsson is a graduate from the Screen writing and directing department

Here below is the festival schedule and we trust you will enjoy

Frostbiter film festival, November 10th – 12th

Yesterday marked the end of the first course in the Core when 1st semester students screened their one minute films.

All their work was analyzed and criticized by Hilmar Oddsson, the dean of the IFS and Ágústa Margrét Jóhannsdóttir, the head of Core.

Their feedback was positive, finding the films of excellent quality and both thought the group was very promising. The students will now proceed to the next level of their education, in the departments of their choice.

First impression of our 1st semester students  – Watch the interview

These last days have been lively at the Icelandic Film School. Students are busy working on a pilot, Puppet game, shot at our oldest theatre in central Reykajvík, Iðnó and a church nearby the capital.

It is a project were departments of the school work closely together, both teachers and students. The original idea of Puppet game comes from Head of acting, Hlín Agnarsdóttir and the screenplay was written with the student by Atli Friðbergsson, which also directs the pilot.

The group of actors consists of 3rd semester acting students and they are joined by one of Icelands most prestigious actors, Arnar Jónsson. Their teacher this semester is Þorsteinn Gunnar Bjarnason. Students in 2nd semester Creative Technology are in charge of the set and costumes, guided by Linda Stefánsdóttir with 3rd semester students take care of cinematography, led by Jonathan Devaney.

1st semester students in Directing/Producing are organizing everything as well as seeing to everyone getting at least some nutrition. When all the shooting is done the processing will be in the hands of 3rd semester Creative Technology.

We went along to the set yesterday with the camera.

Puppet game created by different departments of IFS – Exciting process

Vigfus Thormar Gunnarsson, Casting Director in “Let me fall”

It’s that time of year. The students who have been with us for the last 2 years are taking their leap into the big world of cinema and have shown their final projects in Bíó Paradís, Iceland’s beloved cinema, this week. Graduates come from 4 different departments; Directing/Producing, Creative Technology, Screenwriting/Directing and finally Acting. As usual, we have a full house of hungry movie goers.

The time is upon us but at 1 PM the graduation ceremony begins and we will leave these talents to their craft of filmmaking.

Magnús Ingvar Bjarnason is a graduate from Creative Technology at the film school and his graduation film, „Reflection“ was recently chosen to compete at the Nordisk Panorama short-and documentary film festival. We got a chance to ask Magnús about where his interest in films came from, about his short film and the process of making it.

I was an immense video cassette-child and would sit for days on end in front of the television. My favorite cassette was „Moonwalker“ with Michael Jackson and Joe Pesci . The film was Michael Jackson’s music videos and a story line was made between them to connect them into a whole. As anyone should know, Jackson’s music videos were often very surreal and unique and it intrigued me so much that the tape rarely left the VCR and endured being played hundreds of times.
And that is what interests me in film making, how we can experience new and exciting worlds and dimensions that are different from our reality, something that tickles the brain and stays with you after you have watched. Then when I got older the DVDs took over and on them you would often find a feature „behind the scenes“ and then finally you could get a taste of how films were made and I found my self often being more interested in that than the films themselves. When I then got a chance to take a short film course as a child, there was no going back.

The source of each idea is different and Magnús clearly enjoys collaborating with others

In the beginning I only had a concept idea but was lacking the story behind it. As I hav little interest or patience to sit down and write, but do enjoy throwing ideas around, I got in touch with my fellow student, Eyþór Jóvinsson and we worked closely together with the script as well as with my instructor Óskar Þór Axelsson.

It can often be complicated to get from an idea to a production, but it worked well for Magnús

It went surprisingly well, I had a goal from the beginning to design the script so that I needed only a minimum amount of actors, film crew and shoot locations and rather try to make the script more interesting. I got Eyþór to direct as I was stuck behind the camera and luckily we are both very organized and had a good complete overview of the assignment so that the filming came easy.

The film has gotten some well deserved attention and been awarded prizes at film festivals

„Reflection“ won awards 2 national short film festivals, both the „Gullmolinn“ short film festival in Kópavogur and then the Frostbiter horror film festival that was held for the first time in Akranes last year. And then recently it was nominated for a best short film category at the Nordisk Panorama film festival that will be held in Malmo in Sweden next September.

After graduation I decided to not get trapped in any work outside the film industry, as I knew that it was what I wanted to do. During the next summer and fall I participated in most of the projects I was offered, most unpaid work, just to gain more experience, knowledge and connections. Thankfully I had some of the student loans left. Today it has been just over a year from the time I graduated and I am working for the production company Tjarnargata as a cameraman and editor, but recently I have also been working on some short films. I have never been much for planning the future, I rather go with the flow. But my dream is still to direct another short film and shooting a full length film, but that dream just might come true sooner than expected

The shortfilm „Reflection“ by Magnús Ingvar Bjarnason has garnered some well deserved attention

The Icelandic Film School wishes all it´s friends a happy new year.

The year 2015 has proved very prosperous for IFS.  The school has proudly followed it´s   graduates and seen them make their mark on Icelandic film making or enjoy success abroad.

The end of 2015 also marked a new beginning for IFS when it´s leaders signed a new agreement with Iceland´s Ministry of Education, securing it´s funds for the future.  The school is therefore looking towards the new year 2016 with optimism and excitement.

Gunnar Orn Arnorsson was a student in Screen writing and Directing at The Film School and graduated in 2018. At the moment he is in the process of writing a screen play with Otto Geir Borg for a film Andreas Prochaska, best known for making the television show “Das Boot” (2018), has plans to shoot in Iceland, named “Dead End”. We recently had a word with Gunnar, prying a little into his process.

What is your first memory about films and their affect on you?

I had problems sleeping as a child and it was usually connected to films, if the film was a happy one I created fantasies from that where I was in the center of the adventure, and if it was frightening I was under the duvet crying from the nightmares. I started switching these “dream cassettes” (VHS was dominant at the time) when the night became unbearable and it usually worked. 
Besides that, my first film memory is sitting in the living room couch with my grandfathers hand around me and watching the dystopian satire “Brazil” by Terry Gilliam. I was excited and scared at the same time and during the most disturbing parts the old man would put his hand over my eyes. I could still see through his fingers, which I did, even though I did not want to. I had to know what happened, even though it scared me.

Where did the idea for the screen play of “Dead End” come from?

The idea comes from the class act, keyboard fiend and my mentor, Otto Geir Borg. He had already made a 2 page synopsis when he recruited me to develop this further. We worked with Urdur, Verdandi and Skuld (the Norns of Norse mythology) as a backbone, with an emphasis on the demons of the past and a settling with them to ensure a greater future. We follow a mother and daughter on the run from the girls father, that seek shelter in a small village in the west fjords at the end of the world with the seafarer Urd, a seasoned strong woman. Mothers instinct is the driving force through the story.

Together we created from the story marble a 12 thousand word treatment. We then sent that to Ingvar Thordarson and Andreas Prochaska and they wanted to take it further. After that we have been hammering out a script and are in the final stages.  

You can not ask for better professionals for this assignment than Ingvar Thordarson and Julius Kemp, the producers (Kisi), and Andreas at the directors helm. Everyone is truly coordinated and we will continue our work in making this film the best it can possibly be.

It of course depends on who you are writing with because not everyone can be synchronized together. But writing with Otto has been easy. Almost embarrassingly so. We have different styles but come together well. There is always feedback between us and that is what we need while writing, leaving the ego at home and getting all the flaws of the script corrected.

Otto taught me at The Film School and always gave me the truth straight up. But he is fair and a good teacher, one of the best, an even better co-worker and it is my honor to collaborate with him.

What tone are you hoping to get with the screen play?

We are writing a western with action and a thriller element. The thread going through it is still the human aspect that connects us all. Love. What we are willing to do for it and how it changes us when we lose it. Ordinary people that have been backed into a corner, geographically and personally, and have to face horrible circumstances.

How would you describe your time at The Film School and the studies?

When I got to the school I was a dull knife in a drawer of repressed authors. I had never dared to just go for it and try to enhance my ability. But the school pulled me out of it and with tremendous teachers I was able to gain the skills and use them. You get from the studies what you put in them. With hard work and endurance you will make it, the ground work is there, it is up to you to build on it.

Learn from your teachers and fellow students. Help whenever you can and ask for help whenever you need it you need it, without fear of failure, because from the mistakes there is a vast possibility of experience. Everyone is taking this trip together, so help each other. 



The school not only gave me tools for my trade but also a new family, which I love. I am not sure if I showed my appreciation after I graduated in the spring of 2018, but I will now. Thank you !

Students from The Film School at Stockfish

To celebrate our 25th anniversary we will be showing 25 specially selected short films from graduated students from years gone by. “No homo” is the film we chose from spring semester 2012.

The short film “No homo” was the graduation project of Guðni Líndal Benediktsson that graduated from Screenwriting and Directing in the spring of 2012.

While chatting with Guðni, who both directed and scripted the film, he said;

My education in The Icelandic Film School was a great beginning for pursuing further studies in Screenwriting that I enrolled in in Scotland. The film makers networking that formed at the school is invaluable and has been a key part of my continuing work in film making. Recently I have been living in Edinburgh, I work in an escape room during the day, and in between I write books and scripts. I just finished shooting a short film that will be ready in October and my aim is to spread it as widely as possible

No Homo from Icelandic Film School on Vimeo.

The 3rd installment of our 25 short films made by our students, “No homo”

Ylfa Marin Haraldsdottir graduated from Acting in the spring of 2018 and here you can enjoy her showreel

We congratulate her and will be following her future projects with excitement

Ylfa Marin Haraldsdottir, a graduate of Acting

The film “Footsteps” is a Fenrir film production in co-operation with Fígúra, and Fenrir films can trace its roots back to The Film School.

The film “Footsteps” has had great success all around the world

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Time for Kaleb

Næsta mynd er “Freyja” eftir Marzibil Sæmundsdóttur

A multi camera show shot live and students immersed in project filming

Knútur Haukstein Ólafsson tells us about his projects and the variety of work he has been doing since graduating from the Film School

The Film School moves to a new building

Frostbiter film festival, November 10th – 12th

Wonderful success of a graduation film

First impression of our 1st semester students – Watch the interview

Puppet game created by different departments of IFS – Exciting process

Vigfus Thormar Gunnarsson, Casting Director in “Let me fall”

Paradise

The shortfilm „Reflection“ by Magnús Ingvar Bjarnason has garnered some well deserved attention

Happy new year

Gunnar and the Norns

Students from The Film School at Stockfish

The 3rd installment of our 25 short films made by our students, “No homo”

Ylfa Marin Haraldsdottir, a graduate of Acting

The film “Footsteps” has had great success all around the world

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