IFS Icelandic Film School opens its international department

Four of our actors graduate now in December. All students take active part in our singing-course which finishes off with a concert in on of Reykjavíks most popular venue, Café Rósenberg.

Last night the four graduates, Bolli Már Bjarnason, Knútur Hauksteinn Ólafsson, Ragnar Gabríel Ragnarsson and Svanur Pálsson had a great success with their graduation concert according to Hlín Agnarsdóttir, Head of Acting.

They simply charmed the concert guests, sang and interpreted their songs with sincerity, warmth and a lot of humour and joy. In the picture you find them singing an Icelandic song, Fragrance of women. The programme varied each of them had their shining moment in a solo number.

Successful concert of our acting graduates in Café Rósenberg

Hafsteinn Hafsteinsson, a graduate from Acting at The Film School, just finished acting in a full length film about Axlar-Bjorn, who is suspected of being Iceland’s only serial killer. We got to ask Hafsteinn a few questions

We began by asking Hafsteinn what film he remembers first being enthralled by

It was “Grease”. I knew all the songs by heart and pretended to swing in the armchair in the living room while I sang the song  “Sandy” over and over again. Of course fell head over heels for Olivia. My sister owned the record and I did not always have access to it. I therefor asked my parents, who were on their way to Spain, to buy the tape. They did. I then excitedly put the tape in the tape recorder and pressed play. It then became apparent that the music was dubbed, Spanish singers sang over all the songs.

Studying Acting was always in the cards for Hafsteinn

I love films and have always been interested in acting and dancing. I dance a lot and have for instance shown Bollywood dancing under the direction of  Yesmine Olsson at The Harpe and more places, and I studied ballroom dancing as a child and am quite the Lindy hopper. My greatest wish is to act in a song and dance musical film. I started acting in commercials around twenty years old and found out that my acting did not get negative comments, so I started to believe that I could do good things as an actor. I then started acting in short films and got decent reviews on my acting. Finally I decided to study acting even though I was quite successful in my job as a mediator and psychology consultant.It was a challenge to leave my comfort zone almost daily but it was amazing studying, difficult but fun. It was extremely important for me to be able to develop and evolve my talents in a protected environment.

Unfortunately not much, commercials and acting in short films  and a few minor roles in full length films, I then decided that I needed to take things into my own hands, as no one else was going to make my dreams come true. I have therefor been developing and producing a project where I play the main role, direct and write. Situation comedy that will hopefully be shown on television in a year or two, but I have already gotten positive feedback from some heavy hitters in the business.

Hafsteinn has now taken on portraying one of the most infamous Icelander of all times

I have sometimes hoped that I would get an offer to play a depressed, middle aged booze hound, living in the Thingholts. But having said that no one makes your dreams come true, I want to say that finally a talented director and script writer, David Charles Fridbertsson,  offered me a leading role in a very remarkable film, a film even my wildest dreams did not expect me to star in. My first leading role in a full length film is actually a periodic costume film that takes place in the 16th century. I play Axlar-Björn, but he is according to general knowledge the first and only Icelandic serial killer. It is a murder-love story with a very dark sense of humor. The film was recorded by an extremely talented cinematographer that has already filmed 14 full length films. All the framework was very professional and the crew was amazing. The film is now being edited and processed and will be premiering early next year.

We are excited and will of course not miss seeing the film in 2019, the lead being portrayed by a great talent

Axlar-Bjorn, Iceland’s only serial killer, returns

Sveinn Larus Hjartarson graduated from Acting in the spring of 2018 and here you can enjoy his showreel

We congratulate him and will follow the future with excitement

Sveinn Larus Hjartarson, a graduate of Acting

Twelve IFS graduates worked on Iceland´s largest TV-production, Trapped

Konni Gotta graduated from Acting at The Icelandic Film School and recently signed a contract with Áttan.
We had a chance to speak við Konni and pry a little about him, the studies and the future

I went to the theater when I was 7 years old and saw Stefán Karl play the dentist along with other roles. I was blown away and decided then and there that I would become an actor when I grew up. That thought never changed and I was always the clown in my group of friends. Then in 2010 I applied to study acting in The Film School and all of a sudden, studying was fun!

Film making is an amazing adventure and Konni has certainly found himself a part of it

What fascinates me the most about film making is how varied the job is. I love acting and writing material and I am the kind of person that can not be stuck in a certain routine and that is why film making is for me.
Stefán Karl, Jim Carrey and Robert Downey Jr are men I look up to, they all have an insane control of their bodies and that fascinates me completely

The school studies are not easy, but it is up to each pupil to confront it as they best can

I matured immensly at The Film School and the most important lesson I learned was to take risks, it is alright to fail if you learn from it. I also learned to take critisism. I had the urge to headbut my teacher Darren when he first told me I was completly messing up, but the slowly I learnt to accept it and then I was able to work on what I needed to improve

The first steps after graduating might have been small, but he took a leap recently

When I graduated from The Film School I had plans to work for one year and save up so I could go abroad and keep learning, but saying it is easier than doing it. When one has been studying his whole life and then finally gets a fair amount of money, one tends to spend it rather than save it and that is what happened to me. I worked as a truck driver both for MS and Papco, and then I often drove for different projects in between, like in advertising and such as they always need people with truck driving capabilities for them. I have done a bit of standup and been a presenter at yearly celebrations for companies and such. I acted in a few commercials and then I have been active on Snapchat both on attan_official and konnigotta .
Since I graduated unfortunately acting has only been a side line job for me, until now. I signed a contract at the end of summer with Áttan and now my job is a hell of a lot of fun. There I am able to put my ideas into actions, act, film videos, travel and so much more.
I have yet to play a major part in a movie, perform on stage and be part of making Áramótaskaupið, but give me 7 years and I will have completed it all and started focusing on my next goals

Here is one of the newest show from Áttan, but in it you can also see Hafsteinn Vilhelmsson and Mokina Orlowska, both graduated from The Film School and it was shot by Dagur De´medici Ólafsson :

There is no question that Konni is on the fast track in his carreer and we wish him the best of luck

Konni Gotta, a graduate of Acting, allowed us to pry a bit

Even if Bylgja Babýlons graduated from the Icelandic Film School as an actress she has increasingly been working as a stand up comedian.

Currently Bylgja is working in London and having just returned from a tour in the Baltic countries. She discovered yesterday that a video she had sent to Jokenation, a stand up competition held by Montreux Comedy had been chosen to take part in their online voting.

“I´ve never sent anything of this sort before and to be frank I had completely forgotten sending this one about a month ago until I by chance found out that this was online for the voting since 1st October.”

Bylgja points out this is probably the cause of her attention deficit disorder. No wonder she has had little or no time to follow this up since she´s been on the road for a while.

“I´ve just finished off a tour of four days with Comedy Estonia, to Estonia, Latvia and Finland and from there I went straight to London to take part in some Open Mic evenings me and my friend Snjólaug were invited to after having sent them some samples of our work to Smile emotion. ”

And Bylgja is still in London. She says her acting training at IFS has been a great asset for the stand up career. We ask her if it isn´t difficult to change gear like that from the Baltic countries to London and her answer is that it´s not so difficult. If you make sure to change out some of the private jokes of the locals…

“…it seems all nations find the same urge to laugh at problems our trips to the toilet cause or what difficulties we run into during this one time of the month, the period.”

We recommend that you tune into Bylgja Babýlons act at Jokenation and that you give her your vote. And of course we wish her all the best in here adventures in London.

Acting is a great preparation for Stand up comedians

Knútur Haukstein Ólafsson, a graduate from Acting at The Icelandic Films School, was awarded, along with a talented group,  “Best Editing: Music Video” at the “WideScreen Film & Music Video Festival” in Miami, Florida, USA, for the music video “Hope” . The origin of the video can be traced to his days at The Film School and we got to pry a bit about it

The idea behind the music video to the song “Hope” by the band Major Pink, manifested when I was on my second semester in Acting at The Film School. During this time I was wrestling with a deep sense of loneliness, depression and suicidal thoughts that eventually lead to the making of the video. As bizarre as it might sound, the movie “Taxi Driver” (1976) by Martin Scorsese, was one of the greatest influence behind the video. The line said by Travis Bickle ;”I’m God’s lonely man” sounded in my head constantly, but it came to me to flip it and change the line to  “I’m God’s lonely woman”, but the video is about a lonely nun that has no one to turn to at the precipice of Armageddon. The reason behind that then reveals itself. The video is really about freedom from self created pain. As an aware being, the human is in many regards insane, but that insanity has its roots in different thoughts that more often than not appear in the form of suffering. The video is about getting rid of the head, ripping off the chains and throwing away the pain, that in this instance is manifested as a nuns robes.Some trivia, our video, that does not have more than three thousand views on Youtube and cost less than 15.000 ISK to produce, beat out another video with almost two and a half million views and definitely a bigger budget.

Icelandic music video wins international award

Vala Elfudottir Steinsen 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

Vala Elfudottir Steinsen, a graduate of Acting

We are proud to announce that two new department heads have been added to our team at The Icelandic Film School.

We welcome Valdis Oskarsdottir as head of Editing.

She enters the school loaded with experience and has both been nominated and has won multiple awards, amongst them a Bafta award for her work on “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and The Edda for “The Sea”, which was directed by Baltasar Kormakur.

You can get further information on her work on the following webpages;

We also welcome Ari Kristinsson that will be head of Cinematography

There are few jobs within the film industry that Ari has not encountered and besides degrees in Arts he has decades of experience in film making. He has worked on numerous Icelandic films, among them “Children of Nature”, Iceland’s nomination for The Academy awards and he was awarded honorable Montréal World Film Festival awards for Best Artistic Contribution for.

Further information on Aris work can be gotten on these websites; IMDB and  The Icelandic Cinematographers Society

New department heads have begun employment at the school

We had a chance to chat with Anton Smari, a former student, in our effort to keep track of our excellent graduates !

What made you decide to go to The Icelandic Film School?

I was finishing my studies at MH and was going to enter political science to become a diplomat until my good friend Erlendur Sveinsson asked me to join him for his interview at the school as “moral support”. I had not even heard of the school before then but ended up having an interview myself. Then a light bulb went off, I could work at something that I had been mesmerized by since I was able to sit upright in front of the TV screen. There was no turning back then.

Any fun memories from your years at the school?

So many fun memories, most of which I would not make public however. One great memory is from my first Technology course during my first semester. The group had just started to get to know each other and we were all at the studio in Lynghals where Sindri (the head of sound processing at the time), was showing us that it was possible to enjoy a film with quality sound and bad cinematography, but it was much more difficult to enjoy a film with bad sound and good cinematography. I thought this was very logical and opened my eyes to the importance of film sound. I think most people in the room agreed except one woman raised her hand. When Sindri responded to her, her translator answered that she did not agree. She happened to be deaf. I have never before or since seen Sindri as flabbergasted that ended with everyone in the room laughing.

Where did you get the idea for your graduation film?

I did a joint graduation film “Dear Kaleb“, with Erlendur Sveinsson, and it had a long process. We spent many good hours in Vikurhvarf brainstorming ideas. We ended up doing a film about a boy during his teen years and all that comes with it. We could both connect easily with that subject and I believe that is one of the main reasons it was so successful. Erlendur sat down to write and I did my best to support him in that process. Shooting took 6 days total and we got 4 days for the whole post production to edit, sound mix, color correction and finish the film. Very memorable sleepless nights in Vikurhvarf.

Any important lessons from the school you carry with you?

I learnt so much during my time at The Film School, as I truly involved myself in the studies and made use of the facilities and the professionals as best I could. If there was some one thing above others, it was the importance of cooperation.  I was truly happy with my fellow students and and believe those were two of my best years, mostly thanks to the people I tirelessly worked with during that time, both teachers and students.

After graduation I started working as a contractor, first as an assistant in a lighting department. For the next few years I worked in different departments within the Technology divisions. I learnt a lot from the wells of wisdom that are Icelandic film makers, in my opinion up to the highest standards world wide. I also worked at KUKL equipment rental that was an immensely valuable experience to me. Then three years ago I followed my better half to England, got a job at ARRI Rental, left there about a year ago and have been working as a camera man since.

There are some fun projects ahead, for one a music video that I will be shooting next month which includes for instance  Rag‘n’Bone Man, a great favorite of mine. Also my first full length feature is on the horizon. An Icelandic horror film that I will begin shooting next year. Directed by Vilius Petrikas and produced by Hero Productions. I am extremely excited about this project.

To round this up, here is a show reel of what Anton Smari shot in 2017, clearly a talented man, so please enjoy !

Frostbiter, Icelandic Horror Film Festival was held at Akranes recently and in the category of Icelandic shorts, Sesselia Olafs won for her film “Umskipti”. Anna Saeunn Olafsdottir, a graduate from The Film School, was a producer on the film. We spoke with Sesselia and got to pry a little bit

“Umskipti” by Sesselia Olafs and Peter Callow

When three friends go to to a cabin on the thirteenth day of the Christmas holiday, events occur that no one would have expected when mystical beings from Icelandic folklore enter reality with consequences that will leave a mark on the girls lives.  

What film was the first to capture your attention?

I think it was “Beauty and the Beast”, the cartoon. I saw it at the cinema and was so happy to see a brown eyed female hero! But what most affected me was when the beast died, I was inconsolable. That year I had lost my favorite uncle and think that scene had released all that pain. The transformation to a prince did not sit well with me and I wanted the warm nice beast back.

The fact that films are a great medium for stories! I have always loved different mediums of storytelling, whether being through books, poems, songs, paintings or acting, because you can discover something interesting in each story the piece has to say. Films are in my opinion one of the most accessible medium for storytelling and I have often thought they needed more of a variety of the stories they are telling. Both in the subject and the viewpoint. I might want to make an effort to improve that.

Where does the idea for your film “Umskipti”, come from ?

I have always wanted to see our folklore heritage being used more in film making and I have wondered what the best way would be to approach that. Some years ago I took a trip with friends to a cabin and it dawned on me that the terror in the Icelandic elves from years gone by would be a perfect fit in the world of horror films, as many of our folklore are basically horror stories.

Shooting went incredibly well, no wonder with the talented people involved. It was a pleasure to work with Pete, my co-director. He was always so positive and focused and loves what he does and that is infectious. The actresses, Asta, Bergdis, Karen and Sandra were also amazing and it was a treat to see how well they fitted in their characters and also together as a group. The atmosphere and togetherness on set was also incredible and priceless, especially when it was freezing cold and the day long. The only thing that had the potential to be a problem was when it started snowing heavily on the last night and the surroundings changed completely, but it was saved by the fact that we had already done most of the outdoor filming. It actually made one of the elf shot in the movie even more mystique than was planned.

What is it that makes horror so seductive?

That is a good question. Most take a time period where they take engulf themselves in watching horror and I remember that period distinctly. There is something in the fact that horror stretches the imagination in every which way, plays on deep set feelings and pressures the boundaries we have. I think one is fascinated by ones own response and ones own fear of things and circumstances, that hopefully we will never have to face. It is also a good reminder of how lucky and prosperous we are.

Sesselia Olafs, winner of Frostbiter 2018

Students handed in their first idea workings for their final project, where they make a 7 minute long short film in small groups of 3-4 people. The teachers Sigrun Gylfadottir (Fangar),,and went over the ideas and it is safe to say that there are exciting projects in the making.

First semester Directing/Producing finished a class in visual storytelling with with first semester Screenwriting/Directing and began a course in Script writing with script writer and director Reynir Lyngdal (Okkar Eigin Oslo, Hraunid).Third semester Directing/Producing was in full prep for a multi camera show they will be recording next week, under the direction of the experienced recording producer as well as writing a script for their own short film under the direction of that they will direct at the end of the semester. 

Students of the first semester in Creative Technology took a course in sound with the head of Audio, Kjartan Kjartansson (101 Reykjavik, Englar Alheimsins).Second semester students finished a course in editing under the guidance of where they edit, among others, their personal assignments that they filmed in a filmmaking course. And began a course with other students on the second semester, where they will each film, edit and premiere a short film that describes their personal style. Leading the course are and.Third semester students sat a course in filming with Tomas Orn Tomasson (Arctic, Lazy Town) where they will shoot their own documentary as well as a multi camera show. They also finished a course in special effects under the guidance of Sigurgeir Arinbjornsson (Everest, Star Trek: Discovery)

First semester Screenwriting/Directing finished a class in Visual storytelling with as well as first semester Directing/Producing and began a course in the basic rules of script making under the direction of Otto Geir Borg (I remember you, Astropia).Third semester students of Screenwriting/Directing sat a course in integration were they will be writing their own scripts for a short film under the direction of that they will direct at the end of the semester as well as a course in full length scripts, where they will write a first draft for a full length feature film with Hrafnkell Stefansson (Kurteist Folk, Borgriki).  Fourth semester students finished writing a full length script with and are rewriting their last semester script as well as work on their graduation project script with the screenwriter Huldar Breidfjord (Under the Tree, Paris Nordursins) 

First semester students of Acting sat a course in vocal training with Thorey SigThorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos),technique with and a course in acting and movement with the dancer Guðmundur Elias Knudsen. Second semester students of Acting finished a singing course with with a great singing performance and acting technique with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL),and began a course with students of the second semester, where they will each shoot, edit and premiere a short film in their own unique style.

Third semester Acting students sat a course in acting technique and interpretation with Thand worked with acting technique on camera as well as do a course in acting history with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL) 

All our students were then invited to to opening of RIFF – Reykjavík International Film Festival, on Thursday evening, for a viewing of the film and the opening festivities that accompanied.  

Shoot days for 3rd and 4th semester students short films were announced and the students have already begun their preparation for directing their projects. 

Kinema, The Icelandic Film Schools student association, introduced their schedule for October anhd there are some exciting things on the horizon. They offer a Script Writing workshop every Tuesday where script writing students offer counselling on the semesters projects. Tuesday is also at Gaukurinn and offers at the bar. On Thursdays there will be game nights in the schools cafeteria where students will get together and play board games. Then there are so many other events, like Charity day, Waffle tea, Beer bingo and Happy Hour. 

Then of course the week ended at Bíó Paradís where the whole school took film history together.


Singing introduction and students invited to the opening of RIFF, among other items this week

Anna Saeunn has had plenty to do and both made her own works and collaborated on others, since she graduated from Acting at The Film School. And with an exciting year ahead, it was ideal to get in touch with her

What is your first memory connected to films?

Anna Saeunn Olafs, a graduate from Acting at The Film School

As we are celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, we intend to show 25 selected works of graduated students during the next months

Fall semester 2012
The first film we will be showing is the short film “Monika”, a graduation film by Guðrún Helga Sváfnisdóttir, who graduated from Directing-and Producing in the fall of 2012.

Guðrún Helga says that her studies have been applicable in many different ways and fueled her to creative works in many areas. She has had a great interest in directing, preferably music videos, and script writing, but she has also directed in the theater. Her biggest project today is motherhood, as she has a 9 month old daughter who has a constant need for directing and is her source for all creation says Guðrún.

MONIKA from Icelandic Film School on Vimeo.

First semester of Directing and Producing finished 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, with third semester of Screen writing and Directing took a course in directing with Gunnar B. Gunnarsson (Gauragangur, Astropia), where they practiced the directors approach to scenes where there is an emphasis put on the interplay between acting and camera work.

First semester students of Creative Technology finished 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 art history with Lee Lorenze Lynch. They also finished a course in set making with Ari Birgir Ágústsson  (Hjartasteinn, Grafir og Bein). Third semester began editing their documentaries, that they shot in a film course earlier in the semester, under the guidance of David Alexander Corno (Undir Halastjornu, Woman at war).


First semester of Screen writing and Directing sat a 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, with third semester of Directing and Producing took a course in directing with Gunnar B. Gunnarsson (Gauragangur, Astropia), where they practiced the directors approach to scenes where there is an emphasis put on the interplay between acting and camera work. 


In Acting, first semester students finished a course in acting interpretation with Runar Gudbrandsson (Svartur a leik, XL), with an impressive show, as well as taking a course in  acting and movement where they work with the expression of the body, guided by Gudmundur Elias Knudsen.  Second semester students finished a course in vocal training with Thorey Sigthorsdottir (Agnes, Kaldaljos) and did a movement course with Alfrun Ornolfsdottir (Dis) where they work the body in yoga, with the third semester. Third semester students sat a course in acting and voicing with Thorunn Erna Clausen (Loi), where they continued work on a musical they will be showing at the end of the semester.


Kinema, the Film Schools student organisation, offered a Script Workshop on Tuesday.

Filming graduation short films continued through the week

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